06.26.08
Posted in Travel at 3:21 am by admin
If you love the theatre, and by love I mean a deep and abiding love for old and new alike, film and stage, then visiting Seattle might be a great idea for you and your vacation needs. Seattle has so much to offer the theatre buff that it is really frightening that one little town (well not so little really) that far west of New York could support the theatrical community that this city has.
Below I will provide a small sampling of the many theatres that abound in this great city. First of all there’s the 5th Avenue Theatre. With a tradition of vaudeville and silent films this theatre with an interior inspired by Beijing’s Forbidden City, the 5th Avenue Theatre is Seattle’s Premier Showplace. One of the great things about this theatre is that throughout the year they hold behind the scenes spotlight nights where they tell a little bit about the magic of theatre or the story behind the stories they are performing. These spotlight nights are free of charge and very well received. I highly recommend attending one of these if you have the opportunity.
If you want dinner theatre with a little bit of everything in between, then maybe you should check out Teatre Zin Zanni. This is a three-hour event that is served with a five-course meal. This show seriously has a little bit of everything. From singers and dancers, to acrobats and comedians, this show is sure to dazzle the entire audience. While the show is top notch, the food cannot be described as anything other than gourmet. With a meal like this and great entertainment too, who could really ask for more from a night on the town. And you get all of this in one great place. This is an evening that will definitely be remembered long after your trip has ended.
The Iniman Theatre goes for a more intimate approach when dealing with the audience. By having smaller performance space with close seating, every member of the audience is allowed a much more up close and personal view of the stage and the drama being performed. Special opportunities are created to allow audience members and patrons to have a more personal behind the scenes look at the production, even allowing some to sit in on technical rehearsals or post-play discussions. This is a great way to build a bond between the actors and the audience, particularly if the audience is made up largely of patrons or members who come to the theatre on a regular basis.
The Paramount is a different and unique theater. One of the special things about this particular theater is the phenomenal architecture. This theater has a fully automated adjustable floor that allows easy conversion from theater auditorium seating to ballroom seating. This means that those planning events here have more options available for seating guests. On the first Saturday of every month the Seattle Theatre Group gives public tours of the theatre, which allows the public to get a behind the scenes look at how this great theatre operates these tours are free. Another really cool thing about this particular theatre is Silent Movie Mondays. On Monday nights you can see different silent movies playing throughout the year.
Theatre has played an important role in the lives of many and if you are one who really has a passion for good theatre, then Seattle really is your city. You won’t have the prices to deal with that you would have in certain other cities, but you will still be able to appreciate the best that local talent has to offer and more as some of these theatres have traveling shows that have played on or slightly off Broadway that will travel the country in order to increase interest in their shows in New York. Regardless of whether you are getting local talent or the big guns, you are most likely in for quite a night of fun.
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06.23.08
Posted in Travel at 8:18 am by admin
Seattle Washington is a great place to visit for many reasons. Whether you are a nature lover or more into the things that define a civilization such as shopping malls, museums, and one Starbucks, Seattle has a little bit of everything to offer its visitors. In fact, visitors could quite easily find that they have done and spent all that they should have rather early in their travel time if they aren’t careful.
Below you will find a few great things to do on your trip that won’t require robbing the children’s college fund in order to pay for. I’m all for paying good money for good fun, but if I can find good fun for free, that means there’s more money left for things that would have otherwise been off limits because of prohibitive costs. So go ahead and plan the dinner train, you can make up the cost by eating breakfast from a box two mornings in a row or spending an afternoon in one of Seattle’s many great parks.
If you’d rather find indoor activities that are free, here are a few suggestions:
1) Frye Art Museum. Not only is the art top of the line, but the architecture is glorious as well. Through January of 2007, the Frye Art Museum is host to a very unique sound sculpture called Trimpin: Klompen this exhibit is comprised of 120 wooden Dutch shoes that literally dance before your very eyes. This exhibit is only one of many great exhibits that are sure to delight everyone in your group. This museum focuses on contemporary art from the 19th century to the present.
2) Museum and Arts Center. This particular museum is located about 50 miles outside of Seattle but might be worth the drive, especially if you enjoy taking in the scenery of the area. The fact that the museum is free is sometimes enough to make it worth the drive. Among the many exhibits that you or your children may find interesting is an exhibit of mammoth and mastodon in addition to a video on the mastodon excavation. In addition to this exhibit there are other exhibits that feature local artists and pioneer and historical displays.
3) Bellevue Arts Museum. This museum is only free on the first Friday night of every month. In addition to free admission and great art, there are live music and lectures from 5:30-9:00 pm. I feel this bears mentioning here because there are times to visit when this is free and I feel that this is a culturally significant activity that the entire family can enjoy.
4) Seattle Asian Art Museum. This museum is free on the first Thursday and the first Saturday of each month. Currently there is an exhibit of exquisite Buddhist art that represent the influences of Indian, Chinese, Tibetan, Korean, and Japanese artistic interpretations.
5) Wing Luke Asian Museum. This museum also offers free admission on the first Thursday of every month. Here you will find art and exhibits that are devoted to the Asian Pacific American culture. There is also a multimedia station that allows visitors to hear interviews with Japanese American citizens who were forced into internment camps during WWII. I think this is a museum that should be on everyone’s to do list whether you can make it on one of the free days or not. There is a lot to be learned here and I hope that you will be up for the lessons.
While these museums are for the most part smaller museums, they still represent a significant contribution not only of art, but history to the world of art and artists. Even if the cultural offerings of the many museums aren’t that appealing to you on a personal level, the benefits to your children might be surprising-especially when you consider the fact that you didn’t have to pay a dime for admission.
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06.21.08
Posted in Travel at 12:17 am by admin
If you are looking for a romantic getaway, look no further than Seattle Washington for your next vacation. There are so many wonderfully romantic things to do in this wonderful city and it rains literally half the time, which provides an excellent excuse for cuddling beneath an umbrella. Even those who are romantically challenged would be hard pressed not to find something romantic to do in this great city.
If you are at a complete loss as to where you should start, start by holding hands. Then you can hold hands all the way through the Woodland Park Rose Garden. Admission to the garden is free and scents and scenery are quite romantic, especially if your date is a flower lover. If he or she is not, then there are many other options so don’t despair.
Among those other options would be a wine tasting. If your date enjoys a nice glass of wine, there are several vineyards in and around Seattle that offer daily wine tours which end in a wine tasting. Even if this would be your first time drinking wine as a couple it could be a great deal of fun and you could have fun learning about each others likes and dislikes when it comes to wine. On the flip side there are also several breweries in the area where you and your date could sample beers and microbrews as well. Either way, trying new things together is a great way to strengthen your relationship, even early on.
If you really want to impress your date, book a hot air balloon ride. A ride like this, especially at the right time of day can not only be a lot of fun, it can also be extremely romantic. There is someone else to do the driving and the two of you are left to talk and enjoy the magnificent scenery that surrounds the great city of Seattle.
In addition to each and every one of these ideas there are several other things you can do to bring out your inner romantic fool. Try walking in the rain without an umbrella. You are in Seattle after all; there should be rain at some point during your travels. Try a night at the theatre or ballet. Guys you cannot imagine how effective this is in proving your love to your lady. There are several theatres within the city to choose from. If you like old silent movies and will be in town on Monday night, you can catch Silent Movie Mondays at the Paramount.
You can ride the Space Needle to the Observation Deck and look out at the city lights or you could take a romantic sunset cruise on one of the many charter boats in and around the city. The Wooden Boat Museum is a great place to find a nice romantic boat to charter, or if you would rather go during the day in hopes of sighting some whales, there are several larger excursions that you could charter as well.
The bottom line, is that anything you do together that you both agree on and look forward to can be a romantic outing. The purpose of your trip is to build your relationship and have fun together. So go out, have fun, and remember why you love each other in the first place.
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06.18.08
Posted in Travel at 1:40 pm by admin
Seattle Center is the heartbeat of modern day Seattle and a must see for anyone visiting the Seattle Washington area. It is perhaps one of the most famous places in Seattle if for nothing else, for the Space Needle that is housed here. The Space Needle is one of if not the most easily recognized landmarks in the U.S. Northwest.
The Seattle Center has evolved over time and now hosts many cultural aspects of Seattle City life. Among these cultural centers is McCaw Hall, which is the home of the Seattle Opera and the Pacific Northwest Ballet. In addition to these establishments, Seattle Circle is also home to several theatres. Among them are: the Bagley-Wright Theatre, Leo Kreielsheimer Theatre, Poncho Theatre, and the Intiman Playhouse.
If theatre, opera, and ballet is a little too ‘high brow’ for you, then you will also be interested in knowing that Seattle Circle is home to Key Arena where the Seattle Sonics play as well as the Thunderbirds (Seattle’s Western Hockey League team).
If you enjoy music, you should be sure to check out the Experience Music Project while you are here. This is essentially a museum of rock memorabilia and multimedia displays. Seeing the building itself is almost worth the hefty admission price, but the actual exhibits makes it a good bargain. You can make your dollar go even further by purchasing combo tickets for the Experience Music Project and the Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame. Both of these are located within Seattle Circle and they each offer a unique look at the cultures of today and the past. The Science Fiction Museum is one of my favorite places in Seattle to visit and I think even the stodgiest and most humorless among you would be hard pressed not to find something of interest in either of these museums.
For the younger members of your vacationing group, Seattle Center offers a great deal to do. First of all it is home to the Children’s Museum. This is an incredibly fun, interactive, hands on learning experience for big and little kids alike. You could easily spend an entire day at the Children’s museum without seeing the same thing twice. Even better is the knowledge that your kids will learn a lot and you can disguise their learning as fun. They will never know what is really happening.
Another point of interest for small children is Pacific Science Center, which is home to the Boeing IMAX Theater. The museum consists of eight buildings and houses not one, but two IMAX theaters, a tropical butterfly house, a planetarium, and several hands-on exhibits that are constantly changing and traveling around the country and to other museums.
In addition to all of these wonderful places, there are several fountains and gardens throughout the circle in addition to many restaurants that will appeal to all kinds of tastes and desires. But perhaps the most interesting feature of Seattle Center to the teen crowd is the skate park.
As I’ve said, you could very easily spend a day or even a week in the Seattle Center area and never run out of fun things to do. If you are planning a visit to Seattle Washington any time in the near future you will want to be sure that a stroll through Seattle Center is pretty high on your itinerary.
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06.15.08
Posted in Travel at 5:39 pm by admin
If art is of interest to you, there is plenty to keep you occupied during your visit to Seattle, Washington. From small galleries to big museums and places where you can create art of your very own, there is a little something that will appeal to almost any art lover.
I could begin by telling you about the various art museums in the area, but I think that is how I will end. I would first like to tell you about some shops that offer unique experiences with art and the processes of creating art. The first of these called Art By Fire. This unique little shop not only displays the artwork of artists but also offers classes in Glass Blowing. The classes are probably not a good choice for those vacationing as they meet once a week for four weeks and each lesson is four hours long. But, regardless of whether you are planning an extended stay or just curious about the offerings, there is great glass artwork to be seen here and I hope you will take me up on my suggestion that you stop by. They also offer bead making classes that are far less intensive and only require two nights effort (usually consecutive nights) that may be of interest to you as well.
The next shop I want to tell you about is called Glazed and Amazed. Slowly we are seeing more shops along these lines crop up across the country, but not everyone has discovered them and they are a great, fun way to bring out the inner artists in you and the rest of your family. You start by choosing a piece of ceramic to paint. You paint your masterpiece, then the kind folks at Glazed and Amazed fire it for you and you get to pick up your finished product in a couple of days. I recommend stopping by this shop early on in your trip as it does take a couple of days for the firing process. I believe you will have a lot of fun here and any children you have should really enjoy the experience as well. I know mine do.
Just a short drive from Seattle, in Tacoma, Washington is the Museum of Glass. While this doesn’t exactly sound like an art museum, it is just that. One of the neatest things about this particular museum is that you can actually watch glass being made in the Hot Shop Amphitheater. This is perhaps the greatest thing about the glass museum, because here, you can actually watch glass become art. This museum is different enough to make it well worth the drive from Seattle to Tacoma and I really hope you will consider the drive if you have a passion for art. I really believe that the experience is one of a kind.
While you are in Tacoma, assuming of course that you visit the Glass Museum, it would probably be a good idea to head on over to the Tacoma Art Museum. You can see more beautiful works of art including more blown glass by Dale Chihuly who is truly is a master of the art.
Whatever your personal interest in art, whether watching it, observing it, or creating it, there is plenty to feed that need in and around Seattle. I hope that you will find this great city to be as much of a home to your artist heart as it is to many other great artists.
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06.13.08
Posted in Travel at 4:39 pm by admin
Visiting Seattle Washington is like walking into a refreshing spring rain. Well, it is about half of the year at any rate. The climate here is great for being outdoors as long as you don’t mind getting a little wet. My recommendation is not to even bother with an umbrella, wear comfortable waterproof shoes, and hide your hair beneath a funky hat of some sort that will handle getting a little wet.
Whatever you do, don’t let the rain spoil your good time. Rain is a fact of life in Seattle and most of the locals are quite accustomed to it. If it really does bother you, you may wish to plan an alternate indoor activity for every outdoor activity you are considering. The good news is that there are plenty of both to choose from so you really shouldn’t ever run out of things to do while on vacation here.
If all else fails, there is plenty of great shopping in and around Seattle that will get you off the streets and into the stores. While I love shopping, unless we are talking small local stores, I can do that for the most part at home. I love visiting the local shops and galleries and buying pieces of pottery or art by local artists, other than that, I have shopping malls and chain stores at home and have rarely found something new and rare at one of these stores that I couldn’t have found at home or online. But some of us are addicted to shopping in any form and really; there is no shame in that. I have a serious weakness for shoes so I can completely relate on some level.
Other than shopping the local shops and stores, there are a few other indoor activities I recommend checking out. First of all there is the Experience Music Project, The Seattle Children’s Museum (surprisingly fun for all ages), the Pacific Science Center, the Spirit of Washington Dinner train, Redhook Brewery tours, SeaBear Smokehouse tours, and a ride up the Space Needle which is a must for any trip to Seattle (I suggest getting dinner elsewhere and simply taking the ride up if cost might be a factor).
In addition to these you can take the Boeing tour and see how these huge planes are made or trek to the Museum of Flight, which consistently ranks among the top museums of this type in the country. You can take in a movie at the IMAX Theater or enjoy the Seattle Aquarium, which will allow you to take a different point of view on the things that live in Puget Sound.
If food is something that interests you, there is plenty of great food to be had throughout the Seattle area, but nowhere offers the selection that can be found at Center House in Seattle Center. While you are there, be sure to check out the Northwest Craft Center Gallery for a nice selection of Native American and other artistry. Other great places for food and dining are the Pike Place Market where you can watch your meal prepared right before your very eyes. You can also elect to take a class or two in gourmet cooking through PCC Cooks if this is a skill you’d like to bring home with you.
As I’ve said, there are plenty of things to do indoors in Seattle if you need alternatives to those rainy day blahs. Of course, you could always make the best of the situation and try singing in the rain during one of the many outdoor activities that abound in this truly unique American city. Only you can decide best how to handle your trip and the weather that may intrude. But a vacation is supposed to be fun so it is best to have a backup plan that you find agreeable rather than spending precious vacation moments grumbling about the weather.
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06.10.08
Posted in Travel at 7:38 pm by admin
There is no better way to ruin your Disneyland
vacation than trying to walk around with blisters on
your feet! It is vitally important that you wear
comfortable shoes that are already broken in. You
will be doing more walking than you normally would
when you visit Disneyland.
It is also important that you bring a change of
clothing. You can rent a locker at Disneyland to
store your extra clothes. You can rub your thighs
raw if you ride water rides in denim shorts, then try
to walk around while you dry out! Enjoy the water
rides but then go change into dry clothing! Bring
extra shoes as well. Walking around in wet shoes
is not only uncomfortable; it can also contribute to
blisters.
More than blisters can cause discomfort. Some
people simply are not used to being on their feet all
day. If your feet are tired and sore at the end of the
day, soak them in cool water with Epsom salt. This
will offer more relief than soaking them in hot or
warm water. After a good twenty minute soak, your
feet will feel refreshed and ready for more walking!
Permalink
06.08.08
Posted in Travel at 3:38 am by admin
You may think that Disneyland is only about fun,
excitement, and activity but you would be wrong.
Disneyland is also about relaxation and pampering.
The pampering you receive at Disneyland may not
be the same that you would receive at a world class
spa, but it is relaxing and makes you feel special
just the same.
The easiest way to get pampered on your Disneyland
vacation is to book your room at one of the
Disneyland resorts, and upgrading your room to one
that includes Concierge services. The difference in
the price may startle you a bit, with rooms costing
up to $300 per night, but the service you receive will
be out of this world.
First, your room will be much nicer if you have the
Concierge service. You will have free bottles of water,
soft drinks, coffee, and tea at all times. You will be
able to check in and out faster at the Concierge
check in counter, and a nightly turndown service is
included.
Access to the Concierge lounge is where the
pampering really starts! You will enjoy a continental
breakfast in the lounge each morning. You can also
opt to take your breakfast back to your room. In the
afternoon, while the kids watch Disney Videos, you
will enjoy a wine tasting in the lounge as well.
There are many more perks available with the
Concierge service, differing at each resort. To
determine whether the Concierge service will benefit
you and your family, call the resort that you are
considering, and simply ask what perks are included
with this service. Ask to be connected with the
concierge desk to ensure that you are getting
accurate information.
Again, the cost of this upgrade is a bit high, but
when you close your eyes and dream of all of the
pampering and special treatment that you and your
family will enjoy, and you tally up the cost of the free
breakfast and drinks, you may find that the cost is
well worth it. In fact, depending on the size of your
family, you may even discover that the value of the
free breakfast and the free drinks even makes the
entire Disneyland trip a little less expensive for you!
Once youve experienced the Concierge Service on
a trip to Disneyland, you may not be satisfied with
anything less on future Disneyland trips. The
service is out of this world, and can only serve to
make your trip more relaxing and enjoyable.
Permalink
06.05.08
Posted in Travel at 8:58 am by admin
When visiting Seattle Washington, it is probably quite impossible not to notice the beautiful scenery that surrounds this great town. I can think of few cities in America that are so strategically located to take advantage of the best of nature. Not only are the surroundings lovely, but the climate is also very mild for most of the year. The drawback for some is the rain as it rains about 50 percent of the time in this city. I suppose that I could sacrifice humidity and stifling high temperatures in exchange for a few rain showers, but that’s just me.
It would seem that I am not the only one that has noticed the beauty that seems to surround the Seattle area as there are several national parks in these areas that are a sure sign someone else has noticed. In fact, that is what I’ll be discussing. The national parks that are within easy driving distance of Seattle Washington. If you love nature, any of these parks has a great deal to offer and if you are really adventurous, you can try visiting them all (though I really feel you would be hard pressed to get the most out of your experience in a national park after just one day).
The first national park on my list is the one that comes first to my mind when I think of Seattle even though it is a monument rather than a park. It is called the Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument and was created for the purposes of research, education, and recreation. Within the 110,000-acre National Volcanic Monument the environment is left to its own devices in recovering from the disaster. The last time Mt. St. Helens erupted was in 1980.
The next national park on my list is indeed a national park it is called Mt. Rainier National Park and is only a short drive from Seattle. Mt. Rainier is an inactive volcano and the park was founded in 1899. This park receives visits from nearly two million people each year. There are many activities that can be enjoyed here from camping, hiking, horseback riding, mountain climbing, and fishing to taking simple nature walks in order to enjoy the beautiful scenery. This is one park that I really don’t recommend trying to conquer in a day, there is simply too much ground to cover and you might miss something really cool if you rush through. I understand that time is limited and you may not have the time to properly explore all the park has to offer on one vacation. If that is the case, I seriously recommend finding one or two things to do and see while there and concentrating all of your efforts on those things.
Located about two hours outside of Seattle, Washington is the North Cascades National Park. Often referred to as the North American Alps, this mountain range is spectacularly beautiful. There are many activities available within the park such as camping, hiking, mountain climbing, fishing, and float trips along the Skagit and Stehekin rivers. For me, simply enjoying the stunning views of this national park would be enough without the benefit of the other activities that are available. This is a great way to spend a day, two days, or even an entire vacation. I especially recommend river floating if you have children. It is a great way to enjoy your time together and fairly enjoyable for everyone. You may even be able to get them to take the headphones off for a little while.
Everyone has certain things that appeal to him or her most about a prospective vacation location. For me, a great amount of appeal comes in the things I can see, touch, smell, and experience. Nature is one of the things that we can’t always experience at home or if we can, we simply take it for granted. While on vacation, the ability to experience the best that nature has to offer is a wonderful thing. I hope you will visit at least one of these parks during your visit to Seattle.
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06.02.08
Posted in Travel at 8:19 pm by admin
If you really want to delight your child or yourself
you should arrange to have a Disneyland Character
meal. This will allow you and your whole family to
have quality time with one or more of the
Disneyland characters. In fact, this is the best
way to really get to interact with them for any
length of time.
Start by making a reservation. This can be done
through the Disneyland Vacation Planning Services
Department. Reservations can be made up to sixty
days in advance, so dont leave this to the last
minute. Make these reservations while your
Disneyland vacation is being planned.
Character breakfasts take place each morning at the
park. You do not need a reservation for these meals.
These breakfasts take place in many of the parks
restaurants, but Goofys Kitchen is a great place to
start. It is located in the Disneyland Hotel, and there
are dishes to please everyone. Children under three
years of age get to eat free, which should be
considered when you are planning the budget for
your trip. Goofy is always there, with Pluto, but
other characters come and go all throughout the
day. You should definitely make reservations for
Goofys kitchen, as it is quite popular, and the wait
can be very long.
If dining with Princesses is important, than Ariels
Grotto is the place to be. Serving three course meals,
this is elegant dining that both kids and adults can
enjoy. Each princess will come spend a little time at
your table during your meal one at a time.
Reservations for Ariels Grotto are also recommended.
This is one place in the park where both alcoholic and
non-alcoholic drinks are served.
The Storytellers Caf is another place that is highly
recommended for Character Meals. Characters are
only here during breakfast, however. While time is
not spent at each individual table, the Characters do
interact with the children as a group. Both buffet and
menu dining are available, and again, reservations
are recommended. Lilo and Stitch also have a
Character Breakfast, as does Minnie Mouse.
Breakfast with Minnie and Friends is extremely
popular, so make reservations.
You should definitely include a Character Meal or
two in your Disneyland Vacation plans. This is
something that your child will remember forever and
interacting with the famous Disney characters that
we all know and love is part of what Disneyland is
all about! Be sure to make reservations as far in
advance as possible.
Permalink
05.31.08
Posted in Travel at 2:57 pm by admin
One source of frustration for many visitors at
Disneyland is the long lines for the rides. You can
literally spend several hours of the day standing in
line to ride popular attractions. These lines can be
avoided in one of three ways.
Get to the park early. The lines are shorter in the
morning when the park first opens. Instead of
jumping in line for the first ride you see, head for the
rides that you really want to ride the most the
most popular rides. Another option is to purchase
FastPass tickets for the rides that offer them. Again,
do this early to ensure that you get to ride those rides
earlier in the day.
The third option to avoid long lines at Disneyland is
to ride many of the popular rides later in the evening,
while the majority of people are enjoying the
entertainment. Disneyland has nightly entertainment,
and this is a good time to find shorter lines. Of
course, it will mean that you probably miss the
entertainment, so if you can use one of the other
options for shorter lines at Disneyland, you should
probably do so.
Permalink
05.29.08
Posted in Travel at 1:56 am by admin
As a parent, you already know that you dont want
to have to carry your child around in your arms all
day. You couldnt possibly make it through the day!
You also cant expect your child to walk all day long.
The obvious choice is to have a way to transport your
child without wearing you or the child completely
out.
Strollers are not only welcome at Disneyland, they
are highly recommended. In fact, Disneyland rents
strollers for a reasonable fee. Strollers can be rented
for less than $10 for the day, and you can get a huge
discount on a second stroller if it is needed. The
strollers are clean and well-maintained, but they do
all look alike. Tie something on the stroller, such as
a brightly colored ribbon, to help identify it from all
of the other strollers in the park.
Never leave your child unattended in the stroller, and
never leave any material items of any value in the
stroller either. Even if you bring your own stroller,
you should have some easy way to identify it there
will be other strollers that look just like it at
Disneyland.
(word count 192)
PPPPP
Permalink
05.26.08
Posted in Travel at 4:15 am by admin
You dont want to spend your entire Disneyland
Vacation standing in long lines. This can be avoided
by using Disneyland FastPass. FastPass can be
obtained from machines located near the rides that
accept FastPass. This doesnt mean that you get to
immediately move to the front of the line. It is more
like scheduling an appointment for the ride later in
the day at which time you actually will move to
the front of the line. In the meantime, you are free
to go enjoy other sites and rides around the park.
When you obtain a FastPass ticket, you will be
given a one hour time in which to enjoy the ride. For
instance, your FastPass ticket may say 11am to
12pm. This means that you can show up and move
to the front of the line between the hours of 11am and
12pm. You must have your Disneyland ticket in order
to obtain a FastPass ticket.
At Disneyland, FastPasses are available for Indiana
Jones, Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain
Railroad, Roger Rabbits Cartoon Spin, Autopia,
Space Mountain, and Buzz Lightyear.
Permalink
05.23.08
Posted in Travel at 5:55 am by admin
There is always something to see or do at
Disneyland, but Disneyland adds to this with nightly
entertainment during the peak season, and weekend
entertainment during the off-season. There is also
special entertainment during special occasions, such
as the Fourth of July and Christmas.
Fantasmic is held twice each night during the peak
season, and on weekends during the off-season.
The show takes place on Tom Sawyers Island, and
features many characters, music, and fireworks. For
the best seating possible, purchase tickets for
Fantasmic in advance, but note that free seating is
also available, and is included in your Disneyland
park admission price.
The Parade of Dreams features large colorful floats
accompanied by many Characters. This parade
takes place twice each day. During the parade, the
entire parade will stop three times to do a
choreographed show, and most of the Disney
Characters are portrayed in the Parade of Dreams.
In the Fantasyland Theater, you can see a musical
of Snow White. This show is held several times
throughout the day. This show should not be missed
especially if you love Snow White. Since the show
is held several times each day, reservations are not
necessary.
These are just a few of the shows that are available
at Disneyland. Again, entertainment is an ongoing
thing at the park, with each day bringing something
new. One thing that you can definitely count on, of
course, is the fireworks! The fireworks show is held
late each night before the park closes for the day.
Even if you cant stay for the fireworks, you can
probably see them out of your hotel window! Try to
get a view of the Fireworks from in front of Sleeping
Beautys Castle for the greatest effect. The fireworks
on the Fourth of July are out of this world.
To find out if there are any special shows or events
during the time that you will be at Disneyland, visit
the website, call the park, or ask your travel agent to
find this information out for you. You may also want
to inquire about special events during specific
months, so that you can plan your stay at
Disneyland for those days.
Most entertainment is provided free of charge, and is
part of your admission price. However, special
seating, or priority seating usually requires a fee, as
well as a reservation. Some events require an
admission price that is separate from your park
admission. Again, check the website, call the park,
or discuss events and fees with your travel agent
when planning your Disneyland vacation.
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05.21.08
Posted in Travel at 5:13 am by admin
Visiting Seattle Washington can be an infinitely fun experience. This experience can be magnified greatly if you find entertainment that is inexpensive of free. The good news is that this type of entertainment can be easily found in and around the Seattle area. The even better news is that I’m going to share some of the many great things you can do for free while visiting Seattle.
Some people tend to scoff at the ideas of freebies, and that is all well and good. Those people are perfectly willing to pay over inflated prices for their entertainment while I hope you will be wise enough to choose entertainment that doesn’t come with quite as much sting. Believe me when I say, you do not always get what you pay for and the clichs are correct. You will probably find that many of the best things you find in Seattle are absolutely free.
The first great place I’m going to tell you about is one of those absolutely free places to visit. Not only is it great fun but it is educational as well. I sincerely hope that you will not let the price tag prevent you from the knowledge and good old-fashioned fun you can have at the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks. There is much to do during your trip to the locks. A few great suggestions would be to walk in the gardens, watch the boats, visit the fish ladder (little ones will find this completely fascinating), and exploring the many exhibits in the area. You can even go on a free guided tour between the months of March and November.
Next, there is The Center for Wooden Boats. What boy doesn’t like toys? Or girl for that matter, I know I’m game when it comes to boats, particularly wooden boats. Not only can you go and explore the boats for free, on Sundays at 2:00 (weather permitting) you can go sailing on one of these magnificent watercrafts for absolutely no charge. You can call ahead of time at (206) 382-2628 in order to check water conditions. Because of the popularity of this program it is wise to arrive at least one hour ahead of time in order to participate in the 2:00 sail. There are some Sundays when other events conflict with the Sunday sail so call to be sure that the sail will be offered. Of course, even without the Sunday sail the Center for Wooden Boats is still an excellent way to spend an afternoon dreaming about these fantastic toys.
Finally, I want to mention Ebey’s Landing National Historic Reserve. This reserve was created in order to preserve the natural history of the land. Coupeville is a 19th Century town that has been preserved in an attempt to portray an accurate picture of what life here was like. There is a museum, gift shop, several eateries, and an antique shop that line the once vibrant seaside town. Then visit the Admiralty Head Lighthouse and many of the other attractions that abound. You can take your car and drive the length of the reserve. The drive is approximately 43 miles long and your driving time will depend greatly on the amount of time you spend exploring along the way. If you want to make a day trip of it, you may want to pack a picnic lunch and plan your day accordingly.
Other activities that you may enjoy while visiting Ebey’s Landing include: biking, boating, camping, fishing, hiking, kayaking, nature walks, scuba diving, wildlife viewing, and bird watching. Visiting this reserve is literally taking a step back in time. I hope you enjoy this place as much as I do.
With so many great things to do for free, who would ever want to leave Seattle Washington? The best news is that this is only a small glimpse of the great ways to have fun while visiting this unique and wonderful city.
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05.18.08
Posted in Travel at 8:35 pm by admin
You must have your Disneyland ticket in order to
enter the park. You must also have the ticket to get
FastPass tickets. Because this ticket is so
important, it needs to be kept in a safe place. Along
with the Disneyland ticket, you also need a safe
place to keep money or the Disneyland Merchandise
Card.
A wallet or purse is not very practical at Disneyland.
Instead, you should purchase a FastPass holder
even if you dont get any FastPasses. This is a small
plastic pouch that hangs from a cord, which is worn
around the neck. These can be purchased at
Disneyland, and they are very inexpensive.
If you think you might not want to spend a little bit of
money on the FastPass holder, you should consider
what a new Disneyland ticket will cost. If you lose
your Disneyland ticket, you will not be allowed to
enter the park the next day without purchasing a new
ticket. When you look at the small cost of the
Disneyland FastPass holder, you will see that it is
well worth it.
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05.16.08
Posted in Travel at 7:34 pm by admin
If you would like to surprise someone who will be
traveling with you to Disneyland, you can easily do
this by using the Disneyland Vacation Planning
Service. This service has many different services that
can be performed for you, but one of the best ones is
the Surprise service.
Simply contact the Vacation Planning department,
and tell them who the surprises will be for, which
Resort hotel you will be staying at and what your
budget is for the surprises. You will also need to tell
them when you would like the surprise deliveries to
be made, and what type of gifts you are interested in.
They will also want to know who the favorite Disney
character is of the person that you want to surprise.
After providing all of this information, your credit card
information will be required. You can be sure that the
amount charged to your credit card will not exceed
your surprise budget that you have set. This is a great
way to add more value to your Disney experience, and
to constantly experience great anticipation of the next
surprise to come!
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05.14.08
Posted in Travel at 7:15 am by admin
One of the nice guest service features at Disneyland
is the Package Express service. This will allow you
to make purchases, and not have to carry them
around with you all day! Can you imagine trying to
hold all of your packages, your kids, and ride the
rides?
Instead, have your purchases sent to the Newsstand,
which is located near the exit. This Package Express
purchase allows you to pick your packages up as
you are leaving the park. If you stay till closing, note
that the pickup line will be very long. You should plan
to leave at least an hour earlier than you had originally
planned if you have packages to pick up.
You can also have your purchases sent directly to
your hotel if you are staying at one of the Resort
Hotels. This offers even more convenience, because
you wont have to leave the park earlier, or stand in
the package pickup line. Another option is to rent a
locker, and put all of your purchases in it until you
are ready to leave. However, this means that you will
have to walk back to the locker after each of your
Disneyland purchases.
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05.11.08
Posted in Travel at 11:11 pm by admin
Disneyland has always contributed to the education
of young people in one way or another. This tradition
is continued with the Disneyland Magic Music Days
program, which is an educational program for
students of music, vocal arts, or dance.
Your group has the opportunity to showcase your
talent and to improve even more in a setting that
promotes learning and you can have fun doing it!
The program is available all year, and is open to
schools, studios, and other organizations worldwide.
Auditions for the program are required.
There are many workshops held to help improve the
specific talents of each member of your group. These
workshops are taught by professional actors,
choreographers, comedians, dancers, composers,
singers, arrangers, musicians, and conductors.
Where else will your group have access to
professionals in these fields all in one place? To
sweeten the pot, many of these professionals are
famous in their fields, performing in both Hollywood
and New York, among other famous places in the
world.
Instrumental groups can audition to perform on one
of the Disneyland stages. Marching bands can
audition for the famous Disneyland parades. Along
with performing in the happiest place on earth,
which is an experience you will remember and talk
about your entire life, you will also receive the
benefits of world-class workshops, conducted by
world-class professionals. Vocal groups and dancers
audition to perform on one of the Disneyland stages,
and are also offered the world-class workshops
designed for vocalists and vocalist groups or dancers.
This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for your group.
The performance alone will be unforgettable, but the
information that these young performers will learn in
the workshops is invaluable. Instrumental groups
and marching bands will benefit from the
soundtrack/instrumental workshop, the soundtrack
jazz workshop, the tune in seminar, and the
percussion workshop.
Vocalists are offered the industry show choir
workshop, academy show choir workshop, the
academy vocal workshop, the industry vocal
workshop, and the express yourself workshop.
Dancers can take advantage of the industry dance
workshop, academy dance workshop, and the
express yourself workshop. There is something for
all performers as Disneyland Magic Music Days!
Each member of each group will receive an 8 x 10
glossy picture of their entire group, dressed in
performance attire, in front of the Sleeping Beauty
Castle. Although you wont need any help
remembering your time at Disneyland Magic Music
Days, you can share this photo with your friends
and loved ones when you return home from the most
unforgettable performance you will ever have!
Permalink
05.09.08
Posted in Travel at 6:32 am by admin
Disneyland is a place for everyone, and at
Disneyland, they have thought of everything
including the babies. The Disneyland Baby Center
is located on Main Street, behind the Plaza Inn.
This is not a babysitting service. Instead, it is a place
where you can attend to your babies needs.
There are several characters present in this area,
and their purpose there is not only to amuse your
baby, but also to help you attend to your babys
needs. This area has rockers, where you can rock
and breast feed your baby. No men are allowed in
this room, but they are allowed in other rooms within
the Baby Center. You can warm a bottle or a jar of
food, and clean bottles as necessary. Baby changing
tables are available, and the entire center is very
clean and comfortable. There are even smaller toilets
for children who are being potty trained.
You can also purchase emergency baby supplies at
the Baby Center. Diapers cost about a dollar each,
and several different types of formula and baby food
are kept in supply, although the selections are l
imited. This is Disneylands way of making sure that
the needs of every guest no matter how small they
may be are attended to.
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