Attractions

Union Station, Kansas City Photo by Jody Halsted

Walking in to Kansas City’s Union Station is like taking a step back in time to the gilded age of rail transit.

Union Station was built in 1914 and in 1917 almost 80,000 trains came through the station.  The 850,000 square foot facility originally had 900 rooms and a glance at the ceilings gives you an idea of the grandeur that greeted travelers in the early 20th century. Read More »

See a performance, take a tour or have dinner and drinks at the Sydney Opera House.

Sydney Opera House by night

The Sydney Opera House is lauded as one of the world’s most beautiful buildings and rightly so, in my opinion. I love the curve of the roof and the way the white tiles contrast with the sparkling blue water of Sydney Harbour like the sails of sailing ship. Not everyone agrees though. As a native Sydneysider, I find this almost inconceivable, but some people actually think the Sydney Opera House is ugly! There is no accounting for taste, but it’s true that the Opera House has mixed reviews as a performance space.

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The Sydney Opera House might give it a run for its money, but the Sydney Harbour Bridge is arguably Sydney’s most famous landmark. Admire it from the water, walk across it, or climb it – there are options for enjoying the Bridge to suit any budget or level of fitness.

Sydney Harbour Bridge

It was built over an eight-year period from 1924 to 1932 and it is the largest (though not the longest) steel-arch bridge in the world. Its official nickname is ‘The Coathanger’ but Sydneysiders typically just call it ‘The Bridge’. Sure, the city has other bridges but this is the one that counts! Bridge views are the Holy Grail in Sydney real estate and the bridge is the focal point for Sydney’s elaborate fireworks displays, notably on New Year’s Eve.

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Dexter Sign Photo by Jody Halsted www.havekidwilltravel.com

About 30 miles west of Des Moines is the “one horse town” of Dexter.  It’s a small town, easy to bypass; if you did detour through you wouldn’t think much of it.

Which would be a shame. Within this town lies history, entertainment and some of the country’s best chocolates.  Let me show you around… Read More »

Bok Carillon Bell Tower

The animals at Bok Tower Gardens are fearless. Squirrels chuckle and scold guests who stroll the park’s winding paths. Mockingbirds serenade from low branches. Gigantic weaver spiders tense in the center of low-strung webs, patiently awaiting prey. Even the resident swans swim right up, hoping to steal fish food pellets meant for giant carp thrashing in the pond. Somehow, the animals know they are protected here.

This exquisite garden was created by Edward W. Bok, a Dutch immigrant and humanitarian who came to the U.S. at the age of six. In 1889, Bok became the editor of the Ladies Home Journal, a position he would hold for the next 30 years. During visits to his Florida winter home in the 1920’s, Bok witnessed the beauty and dramatic sunsets of Iron Mountain, the highest point in peninsular Florida. Awed by the tranquility of the area, he purchased the land and commissioned renowned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmstead Jr. to create a stunning garden that would become a haven for native birds, plants and wildlife. Bok worked closely with Olmstead through the design process and after giving his final stamp of approval, left to tour Europe. Seeing the carillon towers in his native Netherlands, he was inspired to build a carillon atop Iron Mountain within the sanctuary already being constructed. Read More »

Native American Creek and Iroquois warriors were probably the first to discover the mineral-rich spring waters in Warm Springs, Georgia. Believing they held special medicinal properties, sick and wounded members of the tribes traveled to the springs to be healed. As the notoriety of the springs grew settlers were drawn to the area; eventually a resort was built at the site where the 88 degree water flowed from the hillside of Pine Mountain and pools were constructed to hold the waters. The resort became a popular summer retreat until the turn of the century, when both resort and town fell into decline.

Warm Springs pools were refurbished by the State of Georgia in 1994-95 for the 50th anniversary of FDR's death

The facilities languished for many years until Franklin Delano Roosevelt visited in 1924, hoping that the town’s naturally heated mineral springs would be an effective treatment for his polio-related paralysis. Swimming in the spring waters did not provide FDR with the miracle cure he hoped for, but it did bring Read More »

Sagrada Familia from afar

Towering over Barcelona, Antonin Gaudi’s unfinished cathedral, the Sagrada Familia, is one of the most recognizable landmarks in the city.

Gaudi began work on the cathedral in 1882 and continued to supervise its construction throughout the remainder of his life, until 1926. Since then, various architects have worked on it, yet still, over 80 years later, it remains unfinished.

The cathedral is beautiful on its own, with ornately carved facades and soaring arches, but its long history and continued status as a work-in-progress make it all the more interesting. Those who visit and view it just from the outside will find it majestic, despite the ever-present construction cranes that stand parallel to its towers. But those who ride the lift to the top of one of the towers will have a much better view.

From here, you can not only take in a beautiful view of the city of  Barcelona laid out in front of you, you’ll also get an up-close look at the intricate details of the stone towers.  You can ride the lift back down, but walking down the narrow, twisty, turning staircase is a bit more fun. Along the way, you can also stop at several lookout areas for more views of the city and angles from which to gaze upon Gaudi’s wonder.

The Sagrada Familia is open from 9am to 6pm most days, with extended hours in the summer. Admission for adults is 11 Euros, with the ride in the lift an additional 2,50 Euros.

Photo credit: Katie Hammel

Ross Castle, County Killarney Photo by Jody Halsted www.havekidwilltravel.com

If your goal while in Ireland is to visit historic sites like Glendalough, the Hill of Tara, the Rock of Cashel and many others you’ll want to consider purchasing an OPW Heritage Card.

The Heritage Card allows unlimited “free” admission into the sites managed by the Office of Public Works (OPW) and the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government for one year.  (The only site managed by the OPW that does not accept the Heritage Card is Muckross House, Gardens & Farms.)

Over 100 sites participate in this program and the card easily “pays” for itself if you only visit a few sites.  For example (using adult prices):

The card has paid for itself in 4 visits.  OPW Heritage Cards are available individually or you can buy a family card which is good for “two adults and a reasonable number of children under 18″.

Card prices in euros (current as of October 2009):

• Adult    21
• Senior  16
• Child/ Student  8
• Family   55
• Children under age 6 are free

The Heritage Ireland website makes it easy to search OPW sites so you can decide, in advance, if the purchase of a Heritage Card is a wise decision.  You can search my region across the top of the web page or use their sitemap, which lists all OPW sites.

Purchasing an OPW Heritage Card is easy, too.  You can buy it at the first OPW Heritage Site you visit.  You can also get more information or purchase them at at the Dublin Tourism Office, Suffolk Street, Dublin 2 and at Tourist Offices in Dublin Airport, Shannon Airport, Limerick, Ennis and Adare.  You can also order cards and have them sent to you by using this form.

When my husband and I went on our first cruise, the only shore excursion that we instantly agreed upon was to see the Mayan Ruins at Tulum, Mexico.  Visiting this historical and cultural site was one of the highlights of our trip.

Tulum Ruins

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Lower Fort Garry

One of my favorite things to do as a parent is to take my children to places I enjoyed as a child.  If I’m lucky, I’ll enjoy it with them as much as I remembered.  One of these such places is Lower Fort Garry, north of Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Located along the Red River, Lower Fort Garry is the oldest stone fur trading post still intact in North America.  Costumed interpreters make the Hudson’s Bay Company post come to life as they go about their day-to-day routines. Read More »