Attractions

Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad

The area surrounding Boone, Iowa, northwest of Des Moines, is picturesque when driving, but perhaps the best way to see the vistas of the Des Moines River Valley is with a ride on the Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad.

Whether for an afternoon excursion to see fall foliage and wildlife, a trip to see Thomas the Tank Engine with the kids, the popular Santa Express (sold out for this year), or a romantic Valentine dinner (tickets still available), the Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad is an attraction that delights people of all ages. Read More »

Yay! It’s time that time of the year again when New Yorkers dust off their ice skates and head to the park for some fun. And for Brooklynites, the fun began on Thanksgiving Day when Prospect Park’s Wollman Rink opened for the season!

Prospect Park is one of Brooklyn’s most beautiful parks, where residents and visitors to the area can enjoy many of the same activities they would in Manhattan’s Central Park. Wollman Rink is a great place for winter fun all season long. Take lessons, throw a skating party, take a leisurely spin around the ice, and enjoy a snack and a hot chocolate.

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I am not sure what you think of when you first think of New York City, but for me, when I am away from my beloved city there are two things I miss: Central Park and the performing arts scene.

I’ve talked a little bit about it here before; the lights of Times Square, the beauty of the rows of theaters hosting the latest, greatest shows.  I’ve talked about ways to take advantage of ticket sales and discounts, whether it be through TKTS or with seasonal sales and offers like the ones that can be had now through November with the Seasons of Savings.

But Times Square isn’t the only great place to catch a good show.  Take the train (or cab) a little further uptown and you will come upon the Lincoln Center for Performing Arts.

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One of my favorite things to do when traveling is to learn to cook some dishes local to the area I am visiting. Not only is it a fun activity to do while you are on vacation, but it’s also a great way to take a little bit of the local culture back home with you. Every time you make the dish you learned to make on your trip, you’ll be transported back to that location through your taste buds.

In Barcelona, my husband and I opted to take our class from Cook and Taste, a company that operates classes out of a kitchen located right above La Ramblas. We arrived for our cooking class at 9am, met the other 7 students in the class, and then set out to tour La Boqueria Market and collect the ingredients we would need for our dishes.

After we’d shopped for bread, fish, rice, spices, eggs, and vegetables, we returned to the kitchen, where the instructor divided us into teams. Each team would be responsible for one course. When we weren’t cooking our dish, we could watch the other students prepare theirs as we sipped on some Rioja wine.

We watched the other students prepare a traditional Catalan dish of grilled bread topped with broiled, peeled veggies; a cold soup of tomato topped with aioli creme and walnuts; and a hearty risotto made with shrimp, mussels, clams, monkfish, and langoustines.

Classmates Making Paella

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Looking for a last minute event for Saturday or Sunday? Check out the Bridge School Benefit!

The proceeds from this annual fundraising concert, organized by Neil Young and his wife in 1986, benefit the Bridge School, a non-profit organization which supports the development of individuals with severe speech and physical impairments. The Bridge School is internationally known and recognized from their success with using augmentative and alternative communication and they continue to develop programs and train highly skilled professionals in the use of state of the art assistive technology.

Each year, Neil Young puts together a knock-out lineup. This year’s performers include:

• Neil Young
• No Doubt
• Jimmy Buffett (Saturday only)
• Chris Martin of Coldplay
• Adam Sandler (Sunday only)
• Sheryl Crow
• Fleet Foxes
• Monsters of Folk
• Wolfmother
• Gavin Rossdale

The concert is Saturday, October 24th, and Sunday, October 25th, at Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View. Tickets are available through Livenation.com. Advance tickets are $150.00 and $75.00 for reserved seating and $39.50 for general admission plus applicable service charges. Four packs of general admission tickets may be purchased for $99.00.

Photo Courtesy of the Bridge School.

The Tuscany region of Italy is one of the country’s most beautiful spots. Rolling hills, endless rows of vines heavy with grapes, groves of olive trees, hilltop churches, and in the distance, the pale ochre city of Florence all combine to make the setting as picture perfect as it gets.

Tuscany

Throughout the region, you’ll find no shortage of wineries and agriturismos. You can rent a car and drive yourself to a winery or two each day, or arrange for a driver wherever you are staying.  If you’ll be sleeping in Florence, you can book a tour with La Limonaia. They’ll come pick up in the city and transport you to the countryside for a day of sampling.

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Every so often it behooves a group of girlfriends to get lost in Temecula, California’s wine country for a day or two. The Napa Valley may have their glory, but we Southern Californians have Temecula, and we are not ashamed to take advantage of it now and then.

The Leonesse Tasting Room Awaits

The last time the girlfriends and I traipsed through the vineyards, the Leonesse Cellars Winery was our favorite by a mile. Maybe because some of the other wineries had too much of a party-bus vibe, maybe because by then I’d tasted one too many (I confess, I did nap on the Leonesse patio), or maybe because it just feels like a winery should feel: quiet, peaceful, lovely in architecture and absolutely sprawling with vineyards.

Tasting Room of Leonesse Cellars Winery

As far as their award-winning wines, they can be sampled with a detailed tour (reservations made ahead) or more simply as a walk-in. And, though the winery can be difficult to find (it’s a bit off the beaten Temecula winery path) it’s worth the extra effort, especially for couples wanting to find a romantic spot and avoid the traffic of the main winery row.

Leonesse Winery Tasting Room

The Leonesse Cellars Winery does have a recently added restaurant called Block 5, which is closed in the winter months, but it’s fine enough on its own. Visitors can take their favorite bottle out on the back patio, as we did, and sit comfortably in the late afternoon, enjoying the breeze and the view.

Up Close on a Glass of Leonesse Cellar Wine

Photos by MasonCooper and Janna McLaughlin (Flickr)

by Linda (minnemom) of Travels with Children

With Valentine’s Day approaching, you may be looking for something just a little different to show that someone special your love.  Why not consider going off the beaten path and visiting someplace that is romantic, at least in name?  I’ll provide the location ideas, and you provide the rest.

Disclaimer:  All of the places listed here are actual geographic designations and can be found using Google Maps.  That doesn’t mean they’ll be big or beautiful.  Sometimes a “town” has a name even if it’s two houses and an old barn.  Use your imagination and say you took your date to Valentine or proposed in Love.  No one has to know the details of the spot but you!

If a Valentine is your style, try one of these:

• Valentine, Texas
• Valentine, Nebraska
• Valentine, Arizona

Are you more about Love? Then maybe

• Love, Mississippi
• Love, Kentucky

If you’re all Heart, you might like

• Heart, Arkansas

Or if you’re a romantic, perhaps

• Romance, Arkansas
• Romance, West Virginia
• Romance, Missouri
• Romance, Wisconsin

If none of these work for you, perhaps you can take your loved one on a romantic getaway somewhere else.  Wherever you go, whatever you do, enjoy your Valentine’s Day!

Photo Credits: Rose: kalandrakas, Love: sister72, Valentine Snowflake: terren in Virginia.

by Gudrun Enger, of Kitchen Gadget Girl

In the middle of San Francisco’s South of Market area is Yerba Buena Gardens, with enough activities to keep families, adults and visitors happy for days.

Looking toward YBCA and SF MOMA

Divided up in two main areas, the lower area is surrounded by Metreon, an entertainment and technology marketplace and the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. At the YBCA, take in one of the ODC shows or participate in a join-along on the outdoor stage. At the Metreon, take time to explore the various exhibits and shops, or take in a movie at the Century Theaters upstairs.

During the warmer months, grab a seat on the grass and enjoy a picnic or relax in the sun. Don’t miss the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial at the end of the grass area – be sure to take a meditative walk through the waterfalls, stopping to read the inspiring messages.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial

Across the bridge, as you walk over Harrison Street, marvel at the traffic and excitement of the road below you. On the other side awaits a wonderland of things to do, including Zeum, the museum devoted to technology and creativity, a carousel, bowling alley and ice-skating rink.

Oracle Wishing Tree

Outdoors, kids and families also enjoy the Yerba Buena Gardens Children’s Playground, complete with sky-high slides, climbing structures, and a hedge maze. In the warmer months, the water and sand area is popular – bring a change of clothes just in case.

Children's Playground

If hunger strikes while you are visiting, check out Samavor for lunch or afternoon tea, or try one of the many restaurants inside the Metreon food court.

One wouldn’t think of Hawaii as being a place where lavender is grown and harvested. Usually one thinks of lavender as being a French product, but Ali’I Lavender Farm on the Island of Maui, is a relaxing surprise in the Upcountry of Kula.

Ali'i Kula in Maui's Upcountry

My senses were delighted when I drove up the farm road and could begin to smell the lavender in the air. It immediately relaxed me and took away any stresses that were bothering me. My eyes were pleasured at the sight that greeted me when I turned a bend. There were fields and fields of flowers that were hidden in the mountains.

I was a bit early for a walking tour, but the gift shop and small café beckoned. Culinary treated tempted my appetite and I indulged in a few moments of quite, overlooking the gardens, enjoying a lavender scone topped with lavender butter and lilikoi lavender jelly. I washed it down with lavender tea, but lavender coffee was also available. I almost didn’t want to leave my little haven in the mountains to take the tour.

Lavender Treats at Alii Kula Lavender Farm

I attached myself to a small tour group, led by Cookie, who led us around trails and walkways, introducing us to various types of lavender plants. She would make small cuttings, handing a sample of each plant to the group members. The smell was amazing. By the time we reached the end of the tour, we each had a small lavender bouquet to take with us.

Children love walking through the gardens at Alii Kula Lavender Farm

Of course, the tour ended near the gift shop, but oh, what a gift shop! The handmade lavender soaps, the edible lavender souvenirs, the home and garden items were just begging me to purchase them. There wasn’t much room in my suitcase for take home items, but fortunately the Ali’I Kula gift shop ships to the mainland.

If you find yourself on the Island of Maui, in Hawaii, I strongly recommend taking some time away from your hotel to explore the delights the island has to offer.

Photos by Shannon Hurst Lane