Top 5 Places to Travel to This Summer With The Children

Family vacations offer lots of opportunities for learning, bonding, and making memories. Children and adults alike can benefit from some time away from the rigors of everyday life. If you’re looking to schedule a getaway this summer, consider one of these family friendly destinations.

Williamsburg, Virginia - For a Historical Trip through Time

Image via Flickr by humbertomoreno

Williamsburg, Virginia offers many opportunities for families to step back in time and experience a rich part of American history. This educational vacation is ideal for children because it offers a variety of kid-friendly activities that will get them excited about what they’re learning. Colonial Williamsburg spans 301 acres and offers many activities. Young girls may particularly enjoy An Evening of Dance at the Palace while children between the ages of 5 and 10 will get a very memorable experience from the Apprentice Goes to the Farm program.

Anaheim, California - Parks of All Shapes and Sizes

Image via Flickr by daryl_mitchell

Anaheim is best known as the home of Disneyland and Disney California Adventure. However, this area has many other attractions for families and children as well. Knotts Berry Farm is another theme park in the city. Golfland features several miniature golf courses, laser tag, and water slides. Anaheim is also home to over 40,000 acres of parks and historical sites.

Orlando, Florida - The Theme Park Capital

Image via Flickr by HarshLight

Orlando, Florida offers theme parks to suit any interest. The Universal Orlando Resort includes two theme parks, one of which is home to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Walt Disney World includes four theme parks, two water parks, and the indoor interactive theme park DisneyQuest. SeaWorld Orlando combines theme park attractions and live marine life. Aquatica and Discovery Cove are SeaWorld’s richly themed water parks.

Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee - Down Home Fun

Image via Flickr by AdamCaudill

Nestled at the foot of the Smokey Mountains, Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge offer lots of kitschy attractions and unforgettable experiences. The area is home to many dinner theaters including Dixie Stampede. Museums range from the Hollywood Wax Museum to the Hollywood Star Cars Museum. Ripley’s has a strong presence in the area with a Ripley’s Believe it or Not Museum and Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies. Visit Dollywood for a theme park experience or take the family into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to get away from it all.

Yellowstone National Park - For Getting Away from it All

Image via Flickr by Redeo

If your family needs to get back to nature for a bit, Yellowstone National Park is an ideal destination. Activities include hiking, camping, picknicking, fishing, boating, horseback riding, and wildlife viewing so there’s something for all ages. Children between the ages of 5 and 12 can earn a special Junior Ranger patch by completing designated activities at Yellowstone National Park. Several online activities and printables are available to help kids prepare for their visit.

If you’re lacking reliable transportation for your next vacation, head to a nearby Chevy Dealer Harrisburg PA location to get set up for your journey. Escaping your everyday life together with the kids is well worth the investment.

Author Bio:

Mandi Rogier writes regularly on various travel topics. Many blogs and websites feature her pieces including USA Today's Travel Tips, Hotels.com, Travels.com, and Trails.com.

Spring Skiing/Summer Vacation in Colorado--There is Still Time to Get a Great Deal!

Still looking for some spectacular last minute spring skiing?  Look no further with over 225” of snowfall this season and more on its way we can help you with lodging in the Colorado Rocky Mountains! Save 50%* on your Spring Break stay of 2 nights or more through April 30, 2013 when you book with Colorado Rocky Mountain Resorts with Breckenridge, Frisco, Copper Mountain, and Keystone vacation rentals !  http://www.coloradormr.com/Promo3.htm   Call them at 800-635-3434 to plan your Spring Break and mention Promo Code DCO!

Planning your summer vacation? Colorado is the place to go with moderate temperatures, plenty of sunshine, and recreational activities for all! Receive 30%* off staysMay 1st through November 14, 2013 with nightly prices starting as low as $76* per night and weekly as low as $535*  

http://www.coloradormr.com/Promo3.htm   Call Colorado Rocky Mountain Resorts now at 800-635-3434 today for more information and mention Promo Code DCO! (*excludes taxes)

www.Facebook.com/ColoradoRMR     www.Twitter.com/ColoradoRMR

Don't wait!  Check it out today!  This deal is way too good to pass up.

Yakima Wine Valley Sweepstakes (Ends 4/30) WW

ScenicWa and From PDX with Love proudly present:

Yakima Wine Getaway Sweepstakes!

  Welcome to the Yakima Wine Getaway Sweepstakes, where you and a loved one will be treated like royalty for an entire weekend! Winery hopping in the Yakima Valley is quite an unforgettable journey, perfect for those seeking the good life with the company of a good wine. In this sun-soaked wine region, you will find vineyards loaded with rich grape varieties. These grapes are the backbone to many of the award-winning wines of Washington. And thanks to our sponsors and ScenicWA you and a loved one will get the chance to experience the Yakima Valley first hand!  

Brought to you by:

Planning on visiting Washington state? ScenicWa is here to help you plan the perfect trip for your next visit. With things to do, places to stay, places to eat, deals and packages, plus many more features, ScenicWA should be your first stop when planning your next trip to Washington! ScenicWA, alongside a great array of sponsors, has put together this great weekend getaway package for one lucky person!   Picture it: You fly from Seattle to Yakima, courtesy of Alaska Air, where you will be picked up by a limousine. You will be then transported to the Hilton Garden Inn in Downtown Yakima where you will stay for 2 nights and 3 days. The next day you will be picked up, once more by the limo shuttle, and will be transported to the Cherry Wood Barn. Here you will enjoy a horseback wine tour and lunch. During your stay in Yakima you will also get to enjoy dinner for two at Tony's Steakhouse. Along with a delicious steak dinner, Tony’s also offers vegetarian and gluten-free selections. And of course, brunch, we cannot forget about brunch! 2nd Street Grill will provide you and your guest with a delicious brunch.  

Yakima Wine Getaway Package:

• Alaska Air for two from Seattle to Yakima $400
• Limo shuttle to/from the airport and to/from Cherry Wood $200
• 2 night stay at the Hilton Garden Inn in Downtown Yakima $300
• Wine tour via horseback for two by Cherry Wood Barn (includes lunch) $450
• Dinner for two at Tony’s Steakhouse $75
• Brunch for two at 2nd Street Grill $50

For a grand total of: $1475

I'm a native Washingtonian, and I live on the Western side of the mountains.  But I will tell you that this is one amazing giveaway!  You do not want to miss this.  Think of the amazing trip that you and a friend (or your spouse, I guess, if you have to) could have.

Thank you to our sponsors:

Alaska Air // Hilton Garden Inn // Cherry Wood Barn Tony's Steakhouse // 2nd Street Grill

 

OK, who’s up for some needed pampering and relaxation?!

 

Rules

Open WorldWide! Contest ends April 30, 2013 @ midnight PST. You must be 21 years or older. Comments not meeting requirements will be deleted.

Alaska Airlines is providing a $400 gift card toward airline tickets. Winner is required to pay the difference for their flight, as well as taxes and fees. Winner is also responsible for any tips, taxes, and extra expenses.

 

Please, only one email per person. The mandatory entry must be done for any other entries to count.

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

The winner will be chosen using random.org (via Rafflecopter) and will be notified via email. The winner will have 48hrs to respond or another winner will be chosen.

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Disclosure: I received no compensation for this publication. My opinions are my own and may differ from those of your own. {From PDX with Love} is not responsible for sponsor prize fulfillment.

Paris, France--One of My Dream Vacations!

Every since I took French in high school, I have had a dream to go to France one day--specifically Paris, France.  Why did I fall in love with Paris?  I suppose it is my love for history, art, culture, and travel.  I have never forgotten much of what I learned in French class, and A Tale of Two Cities (which partially takes place in Paris) is still one of my favorite books.  Who knows--maybe one day I will get to fulfill this dream!

Copyright by Moyan Brenn

When most people think of Paris, I think the Eiffel Tower is the first thing that comes to mind.  And I will admit that it would be one of the top things on my list.  Even after all these years, it is still a gorgeous landmark, and the idea of seeing it at night sparks my interest.

But this is the top landmark I love to see--the L'arc de Triomphe.  I remember studying about it and always finding it so fascinating.  And, of course, that puts me right on the Champs Elysees, the famous path in Paris. For me, this has always been more a symbol of Paris because it is more centralized.  And I guess it makes sense.  My love for history comes through when I consider this since it is a symbol both of the Revolutionary War and Napoleon!

And, of course, what is a trip to Paris without visiting the famous Louvre, probably the top art museum in the world!  Even though visual arts have never been a strength of mine, this is so historic that I have no choice but to visit it.  

Now, I have shared the top three sites, but I must admit that I don't want to just be caught up in all the "tourist" things in Paris.  I want to discover local culture and flavor, and so let me turn to the places where I would love to eat.

When I think of Paris, I think of going to local cafes and local cuisine.  Le Cafe Marly, which overlooks the Louvre, sounds exactly like my style.  It is a cafe, and it is near one of the places I long to see.  According to what I have read, they offer something for everyone including children.  That would be important because I would love for my daughter to come with me.

And what is a trip to Paris without visiting a bakery?  I would love to try Rose Bakery since it sounds reasonably priced and casual.  And everything is organic and fresh.  This is definitely on my list!

Now we come to the most important part of the trip--the accommodations.  I don't want to stay at fancy hotels, but I want it to be clean and offer enough amenities for me to be comfortable.  I know it sounds strange, but I still remember my French teacher preaching at us that it was worth our while to stay in hostels if we visited France.  And I am pleased to see there are some right in Paris.

The Peace and Love Hostel has really good reviews, and it is under $100 a night.  So it sounds good to me. I might have to reconsider if my daughter truly did come with me because they say hostels are best for singles.  So I might try the Leonard de Vinci which has five star user ratings and is still under $100 per night.

I might even stay at the Hippodrome Hotel which is classic and described as "not an American copycat."  It might be the best bet merely because it sounds like I would have a chance to be a part of the local culture and not just be surrounded by tourists.  It does seem that the options are endless!

Gogobot allows you to tap into the knowledge of your friends when planning a trip anywhere. You can find like-minded travelers and inspiration for your next vacation, creating easy-to-use wishlists you can return to again and again.

And when you are not in vacation mode or planning a trip, you can discover hidden gems in your own neighborhood for entertaining guests or a weekend staycation.

The best part? Every page on Gogobot is personalized. You can see reviews from your friends and people you are following at the top, which allows you to weed out the noise and fraudulent reviews that become a problem on other review sites. Check out Gogobot today!

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Gogobot. The opinions and text are all mine.

Summer Vacation--Blog Time!

You might notice over the next couple months that I am posting at odd times and really spending time on my blog.  I am officially on summer break, and I am really going to devote the time to cleaning up my blog and really making things better around here.

Some of the things you might notice:
1.  more reviews/giveaways
2.  cleaning up my buttons and ads on here
3.  possibly moving my blog to a different host
4.  more sponsored posts/tweets
5.  more commenting on other blogs
6.  cleaning up my pages, fixing links
7.  mini-challenges??

We'll see what happens, but I just wanted to let you guys know. More than likely, you won't notice any changes, but I will certainly feel better about things.

My goals for the summer:

1.  Drop my Alexa rating below 100,000
2.  Facebook and twitter followers--10,000 each
3.  Actually make money on my blog--in all fairness, I actually have made some this year, but I have put everything back into my blog.
4.  Do fewer self-hosted giveaways!

If anyone has suggestions, leave a comment here.  I would love to hear your suggestions.  While I appreciate hearing you say more giveaways and stuff like that, the more specific you are, the better.

Two Great Purex Promotions!

A “Tropical Splash“ for you and your laundry!

This is your chance at a once in a lifetime vacation to Hawaii for free! Purex has teamed up with Outrigger Hotels and Resorts and want to send 1 lucky winner and guest to Outrigger Reef – Hotel on the Beach for 4 days and 3 nights! Let’s not forget the winner will receive a 2 year supply of Tropical Splash Purex Crystals! 

Plus, there will be 500 other winners that will receive a coupon for a free bottle of Purex Crystals!

If you are interested, be sure to like Outrigger Reef on facebook here.  And then enter the giveaway here.


But one promotion is never enough!  Purex has another promotion going on!

25 bottles of Purex Crystals for 25 days sweepstakes!

Purex Crystals are 87% natural crystals that go in at the start of the wash, so they spend more time with your laundry infusing them with long-lasting freshness.

Sign up for your chance to win and see why everyone is talking about Purex Crystals! We’ll choose 25 winners every day and send them a coupon for a free bottle of Purex Crystals.

Every day Purex will be giving away 25 bottles of Crystals to 25 lucky winners for 25 days (until May 29th). That's 625 winners total! Please sign up here.

If you're like me, you will not want to put this off lest you forget!