travel Archive

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Amazing Ranch on the Border of Zion National Park and #Win a Trip! #dadchat

lodges-in-zions-national-park

 

 

Want to win a Family Weekend to an awesome resort on the edge of Zion National Park? Enter Here until May 1 for a chance - http://www.usfamilyguide.com/Zion/?blogid=233

 

 

 activity-zion-national-park

Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort at Zion National Park ranks as one of the best active-life family destinations. We have 4,000 acres literally on the border of Zion. You may find that our canyoneering adventures are very unique (LINK) and very exciting for an active family. Please view the condensed information below (with links), and attached photos.

 

- 4,000 acre ranch resort adjacent to Zion National Park (literally against border of park)

- Overview of operation and location - here

- Aerial View of operation - here

 

 

Most activities (on property) of any destination resort in the region - http://www.zionponderosa.com/activities.htm

 

Swimming Pool (Two Level / Gravity Edge / Water slides) / Jacuzzi)

 

Lodging Options (Six Lodging Types)

Camping

Western Wagons

Cowboy Cabins

Cabin Suites

Vacation Homes/Cabins

RV

 

- Zion National Park

- Bryce Canyon National Park (75 minutes)

- Summertime rafting trips (90 minutes)

- Grand Canyon North Rim (105 minutes)

- Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument (20 minutes)

- Best Friends Animal Sanctuary

- Pipe Spring National Monument

- Coral Pink Sand Dunes

- Frontier Movie Town

 

They offer fine diningrelaxation / spa treatments and excellent accommodation options. We welcome your contact and questions.

 

 

 

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site’s Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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44

Madison Concourse Hotel and Governor’s Club – Luxury in Madison @MsnConcourseHtl

About the HotelWelcome to Madison’s hotel. The Hotel’s staying power is confirmed by their long-standing dedication to being downtown Madison’s premier hotel and they are proud to be one of the nation’s most successful independent hotels. The Hotel offers guests a special Madison experience through their distinctive customer focus and perfect location that cannot be found at a chain hotel.

Hotel Highlights

  • Situated in downtown Madison, Wisconsin near the State Capitol, State Street, University of Wisconsin campus, Overture Center, Monona Terrace Convention Center and Alliant Energy Center and More
  • Conveniently located near American Family Insurance, Alliant Energy Corporation, Kraft Foods-Oscar Mayer, Covance, CUNAMutual Group, TomoTherapy Inc., Epic, Promega, Sub-Zero/Wolf and GE Healthcare
  • 5 miles from Dane County Regional Airport, offering several non-stop flights into Madison
  • Complimentary airport shuttle 7:00 am – 11:00 pm daily and airline boarding pass kiosk
  • 356 guest rooms, including Madison’s exclusive and newly updated Governor’s Club and 27,000 square feet of renovated meeting space
  • Underground parking ($10 per night) Low clearance
  • Complimentary wireless Internet access and wireless printing from your guest room
  • Dayton Street Grille, The Bar and room service
  • Business center
  • Fitness center, indoor pool, whirlpool and sauna
  • Dry cleaning/laundry services and sundries shop

My Take on the Hotel

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site’s Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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7

Medieval Times ( @MedievalTimes ) in Myrtle Beach ( @MyMyrtleBeach ) Was A Blast! #myrtlebeach

Surrender to an age of bravery and honor and witness epic battles of steel and steed during our ALL-NEW SHOW. From ringside seats, discover a feast of the eyes and appetite with more action, more fun & more excitement than ever before.

As you thrill to a rousing live jousting tournament, marvel at awe-inspiring horsemanship and falconry, Medieval Times serves a four-course meal fit for royalty.

Hang on to your helmet. The show is about to begin.

My Take on the Attraction

I have enjoyed learning about and experiencing medieval times reenactments in the past, and have heard about Medieval Times in the past but have never had the chance to go to one of their shows. On my trip to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina my wife and I were lucky enough to be able to attend the show and experience what Medieval Times is all about. The show transports you back in time and allows you to experience what it might have been like to be in a King’s court while they had games to bestow honor upon knights and amongst worthy men of the Kingdom.

The show itself was fun and you get to witness some amazing horsemanship as well as combat skills. The waitstaff really got into their roles and you can tell that they work quite hard for the job that they hold ( so remember to tip them well). The food was great and quite delicious but just remember that you will be using your hands so plan to get a little messy. As a mention in my video below is important for you to arrive early to get a good seat, though there really isn’t a bad seat in the house. All-in-all this was a show that would highly recommend to anyone that’s interested in the Middle Ages, Kings, Queens, Knights and pageantry. The show will keep you on the edge of your seat, and you will leave with a smile on your face.

 

 

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site’s Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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2

The Sea Captain’s House Restaurant in Myrtle Beach ( @MyMyrtleBeach ) is Amazing! #myrtlebeach

A few weeks ago my family and I traveled to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina for a vacation and while there we had some great experiences and shared some very fun times. I was lucky enough to be able to work with the Myrtle Beach Tourism Bureau as a part of the trip and one of the things that they provided was a gift card to The Sea Captain’s Restaurant. I had never heard of this restaurant before so I ended up looking online to find out more. What I saw online look simply delicious and I could tell that I was going to completely enjoy myself when we went to this restaurant (as I love seafood)!

We ended up going to the restaurant on an evening after a very full day of other activities and by the time that we got there it was close to 7:30 pm (quite late with kids). We had not called ahead to get a reservation, but seeing at what time it was we thought it would not be too crowded… we were wrong. Even at this later hour, the restaurant was hopping! We ended up having to wait about 25 minutes for a table but the time went by quickly as they had wait staff to bring out drinks and games in the lobby as well.

When we got to our seats we were given a hot basket of hushpuppies and were able to see the amazing array of food that they had on the menu (so much more than just seafood).

My Review of the Restaurant

 

 

To conclude, this was an amazing restaurant with amazing food that I would highly recommend to anyone that is going to Myrtle Beach in the near future!

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site’s Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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2

My Family’s Day Out With Thomas on the Huckleberry Railroad at Crossroads Village

We had an amazing time last weekend at the Day Out with Thomas Event on the Huckleberry Railroad at Crossroads Village. I had never been to the Village before even though I grew up close to it, and I think I was as excited as the girls were to experience and see what it was all about.

The Village itself is a step back in time, where you get to see things the way they were. You can see a Mill making flour, a cider press working its magic, artisans making beautiful items in leather, tin and other goods, and so much more. On top of all of this the girls got to see Thomas the Train which was an exciting treat for them!

We were able to ride Thomas the Train, listened to story telling, went to a Bob the Builder Show, Shook hands with Sir Topham Hat, jumped in a bounce house, and simply had a great day together.

I was impressed with the ride on the Huckleberry Railroad as it was so much fun and comfortable as well. The ride itself was about 40 minutes long and you get to see and experience quite a bit in the 40 minutes. The kids loved the ride and I have to say that I did as well.

One of the exciting things was Diva-J was selected to be a part of a Magic Show that was occurring in the Village!

We had so many great memories from the day. Here are some additional photos from our day.



DETAILS:
Day out with Thomas is sponsored by Meg Bloks
Aug. 18,19 and Aug. 25-26 UNION IL

Parking: FREE

Food: Available for Purchase

For more details on the Thomas Train schedule and order tickets for Day out with Thomas visitevents.hitentertainment.com/us/day-out-with-thomas/index.asp

24

Myrtle Beach ( @MyMyrtleBeach ) Has Something For Everyone

I just came back from being in Myrtle Beach with my family and this alone with a few additional posts will share my experiences in this amazing city!


All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site’s Disclaimer for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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16

5 Little-Known Ways to #Travel Cheap as a Family

Canadian Rockies - JasperFamily trips can be some of the most memorable experiences in our lives. They’re an opportunity to really get to know one another, to reconnect in the midst of our harried modern lives. Yet, family travel can become expensive, especially for families with multiple children.
The good news is that, even if you’re on a tight budget, you don’t have to skip out on travel altogether. Here are five ways that you may not have thought of that can save your family significantly on travel expenses:

 

Consider staying in a vacation rental home. 
For families with more than four people, finding an affordable hotel can be something of a pain. Unless you want to pay for two separate hotel rooms (and hope that the hotel can provide you with adjacent or adjoining rooms) you’re looking at paying a premium rate. One way around this is to rent a vacation home.
The basic premise is this: someone owns a home or condominium. They don’t live there year-round, but it’s furnished and has all of the amenities you might need (like a kitchen). You will often be able to rent that vacation home for significantly less than a hotel room.

On top of the savings in hotel fees, you’ll also have more space, as well as a kitchen where you can (if you wish) save even more money by not having to eat out.
Many vacation rental homes are located in closed communities with access to a pool, activity center, and more.
Canadian Rockies - Jasper

Buy your necessities at home.
If you’re traveling to a tourist destination, you’re probably going to pay as much as twice for basic supplies like bug spray or sunscreen. The same goes for snacks and other foodstuffs. If you have the space, consider bringing these items with you.

If you must purchase these kinds of living essentials, it can be worth traveling outside of the tourist area to a surrounding city in order to find more reasonable prices.

Choose a destination with many inexpensive or free activities.
Some of the most popular travel destinations can be the most expensive. Yet, if you look around, you can usually find plenty of free or inexpensive activities for your family.

Take Las Vegas, for example. While you could certainly drop a lot of money in Vegas, there are also dozens of inexpensive and free things to do and see while you’re there.
Alternatively, picking a destination with few expense options – such as a woodland retreat or camping trip – can also reduce your overhead.

Travel off season.
Spring break and the holiday season are the worst times to go to some of the more temperate travel destinations. Not only are all of the popular tourist activities going to be terribly crowded, your travel will come at a premium.

While it can be a little bit tricky in terms of scheduling and logistics, traveling with your family either a few weeks before or a few weeks after most schools have time off can save you significantly.

Check into rates in your destination city, as well as with your airline. Each should be able to show you a rate sheet that notes when their off season dates occur.
Canadian Rockies - Jasper

Consider camping.
Now, we’re not talking about camping as a vacation, although that can be a relatively inexpensive option. We’re talking about providing your own lodging when you travel to your vacation destination.

You can tent camp, even with a large family, for less than $40 a night in most places. State campgrounds often come very reasonably priced , or there are national campground chains that may have frequent customer discounts. You can also make your own food using camp stoves or a campfire. If you have a recreational vehicle already, you can have even more of the amenities of home.

If you choose the right campground, you’ll have sufficient restroom and shower facilities to clean up before you head out to whatever attraction or activity it is you want to see. You can enjoy as little or as much of the outdoor aspect as you want.
Just because you’re on a budget doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy some vacation time together as a family. It comes down to effective planning, and avoiding those travel details that are likely to hike up the cost. Implement one or more of these five methods and you’re guaranteed to save money on your next vacation.

About the Author:
Dave Johnson is Social Media Coordinator at Palms Hotel & Spa, an elegant Las Vegas hotel that offers luxurious hotel rooms and a multitude of gaming options for those who love casinos.

 

25

Looking for Night Life in Chicago? Look No Further Than Navy Pier ( @navypier )

As I’ve mentioned in a few other posts, about two weeks ago my wife and I went to Chicago for a few days to celebrate our 14th anniversary. As part of this trip we wanted to see and try out many different things in the city. We had visited Chicago in the past one of the areas that we had never been to was Navy Pier. While we have driven by Navy Pier many times we had never visited it before, and during this trip we knew we wanted to visit this landmark.

In researching Navy Pier I was amazed to find the breath and depth of the vendors and activities that you can take part in while visiting the Pier. There were so many more things at this location than I ever would have guessed based on simply seeing the Ferris Wheel that you can see from Lakeshore Drive.

From where we stayed at Hotel 71 it was 4-5 long blocks to Navy Pier. My wife and I ended up walking this, though it was much farther than we would have first anticipated. When we arrived we were surrounded by people. This is definitely not the place for someone to go on a Saturday night if they are looking for a quiet location. Instead, you’re going to find it amazing number of people visiting Navy Pier, and the lines may be quite long.

When we arrived we did not have long before we were to be at the Cirque Shanghai presentation that we planned to attend. If have never been to a presentation like this being ready to be amazed. We had never gone to a show like this and our mouths were constantly on the floor. Below is a video that will give you a perspective of what you may see the performance:

This show was simply breath-taking and the artists within it should be complimented for their artistry as the show truly kept our interest and attention for the entire time.

After seeing this show we decided to explore the Smith Museum of Stained Glass Windows as both my wife and I love this type of art. If you, like us enjoy stained-glass you will be amazed at the amount of stained-glass that is displayed and at the remarkable workmanship that is shown within the stained-glass that is shared in this museum.

Next we visited a number of the vendors to see and shop, and we ended up purchasing at least one gift while we were there on top of some Garrett’s Popcorn!

Next, we explored some of the attractions and rides at the Navy Pier offers. We played a round of miniature golf and luckily for us, we ended up tying in score (so no fights between us). We also we able to go on the Ferris Wheel which offered wonderful views of the illuminated Chicago skyline. any of the other attractions had long lines that we did not want to wait in.

We ended our visit to Navy Pier by watching the fireworks that are sent off every Saturday night. The fireworks display was great and actually quite lengthy. The only thing I will say is that if you are going to stay for the fireworks, be patient afterwards as it will take some time to exit the pier and took it back to your destination due to the massive exodus that occurs at this period in time.

The wife and I were both very happy that we went and explored Navy Pier, and for us we only scratched the surface in the hours we were there. We actually did not even get to the very end of the pier as it is much larger and longer than I would’ve ever anticipated. I will leave that for another day and I know there’s much more that I can experience and explore the next time I return to Chicago.

 

28

Brunch at C-House at the @MileNorthHotel Provided A Nice End to a Great Weekend

About two weeks ago my wife and I went to Chicago to celebrate our 14th anniversary as many of you have read. We only stayed a few days, but in those few days we did a lot. On our final day, Sunday, we wanted to take it easy and simply enjoy some quiet time together. In looking for options we found out that the C-House Restaurant at the Mile North Hotel they offer brunch on Sunday mornings starting around 10:30. This was perfect as we wanted to sleep in and not have to rush.

We ended up walking from our hotel ( which was only about five blocks from where we were staying) and made it to the restaurant just prior to our reserved time. When we arrived there was only one other family there having breakfast so we had the restaurant to ourselves.

The restaurant provides a modern urban feel and you get to relax in very comfortable surroundings while you watch the kitchen do their work ( as it offers an open floor concept). I was impressed to see the wide variety of food on the menu, from traditional items that you would think would be there to items that truly were unique.

For our meal my wife decided to order a more traditional breakfast while I ordered the lobster club ( partly because I love lobster and partly because of the unique nature of the menu item itself).  We ended up having to wait a while for our food which was the only downside to the experience, but I will say that this offered my wife and I agreed opportunity to reconnect and talk about many different things which was nice as with kids you don’t always get this opportunity.

When our food did arrive both my wife and I were very pleased with not only how the food was presented, but once we started eating we were very impressed with the mixtures of flavors and the quality of the food that we received. I particularly enjoyed the lobster club. I waitress mentioned that many people order this item. I will make one caution with this sandwich though, and that is that the sandwich is a bit messy so be aware of this and know that you will need your napkin while you are eating.

Overall our brunch experience was very positive and I would return to the restaurant in the future to try some of their other Menu items and I encourage you too as well.

 

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site’s Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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23

Experiencing Amazing German Cuisine at The Berghoff ( @berghoffchicago )

I come from a German family, or at least part of my family is. My grandmother on my father’s side and all of her relatives were German and I was growing up I had the opportunity to grow up with a love of great German food. Living where I do now unfortunately there is not a lot of German influence in the restaurants surrounding the city so needless to say we do not have many opportunities to be able to he had German restaurants very often.

About two weeks ago my wife and I went to Chicago to celebrate our 14th anniversary and as a part of this trip I wanted to be up to go and experience a restaurant that I had heard about but never tried.  The Berghoff Restaurant in Chicago is a restaurant that has been around for many years. Actually the restaurant started back in 1898 and as you walk around the existing restaurant see hints of history all around you. The restaurant even has a menu from early in the 20th century right when you walk in, and when you look at this you will be transported back in time and will be amazed at the number of items that were on the menu at that and time and how much food and drink ended up costing.

In arriving at the restaurant we were greeted kindly and shown to our reserved table. The staff was friendly and it was busy for the night that we were there (as the server said most sites are). I noticed right away that the menu was not as extensive as the one you see walking into the restaurant, but you still have the opportunity to see some great looking items on the menu as well. One thing that I enjoyed seeing is that the menu provided to guests with a coded review of what you could order to have the true Berghoff experience.

Seeing that we were in Chicago for only a few days and that we would only visit this restaurant once, my wife and I wanted to experience the restaurant at its best. We ended up ordering the Alsatian Onion And Apple Soup to share and then each of us ordered Sauerbraten, both of which were listed as specialties.

When the soup arrived the presentation was amazing. The taste was something that I had not tasted before with a mix of sweet and sour it was completely delicious.

 

The Sauerbraten followed and we were both amazed had the amount of food we received and how wonderful it tasted. Again the mix of sweet and sour made to meat taste amazing, and with a mix of vegetables and whipped potatoes that came with it, you definitely left the restaurant filled ( in a good way).

For dessert we selected the Apple Strudel and for us this was simply delicious. The dessert itself simply melted in your mouth making the end of the experience a very satisfying!

If you I’m going to be in the Chicago area and are looking for an amazing German restaurant that offers history as well as great food at a reasonable price look no further than The Berghoff Restaurant!

 

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site’s Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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