This is the time of year when places like southern Florida and Arizona become livable again. Temperatures and humidity come down some, while the sun continues to shine. It's time to think about Orlando vacations.
Package deals, especially for families, are really the way to go. Many resort offers include park tickets or at least give a tremendous discount. At most, kids under 18 stay free. One I found even has washers and dryers in the multi-bedroom villas.
If you really need to get away, why not get more for your money?
I can't think of anything worse than a bug infestation. We had a problem for months, after a new tenant moved into the apartment next to ours. We shared a common kitchen wall and, in a very short time, we found ourselves sharing something much more unpleasant. It started with a bug here and there; nothing overwhelming. But that soon changed. Before long, we were infested and, even though the neighbor moved, the bugs stayed.
Coincidentally, about the time we were moving to our new apartment, I was asked to test and review a bed bug encasement product from BugZip.com. I couldn't wait for the bags to arrive! We didn't have bed bugs, but I was excited to try something non-toxic that would put a barrier between my blankets, comforters, pillows and our creepy-crawly roommates. (Little did I know that the new apartment had spiders, so I seriously needed some help.)
Suffice it to say, I am impressed. The quality is solid - the vinyl is more substantial than anything I've used before and the zippers wrap securely around three sides for easy access. My only concern quickly evaporated. The bags are big enough for everything I needed to cover, and then some.
As mentioned on the packaging, it does take a little care to zip them, initially; especially around the corners. Unfolding the larger bags was quite a job, too. But once they're open and carefully zipped the first time, they are a breeze to use. Now, I have everything washed, dried, and safely stored.
I was even able to treat an area along the wall we share with our old unit, without contaminating the stored items. This, needless to say, thrilled me. With the storage bags I had been using, everything permiated the flimsy plastic. It didn't matter the condition when I put things away; to use them again, they had to be laundered.
Nothing gets through BugZip's bags - not smells, not chemicals, and not bugs. And, unlike plastic bags, my closet looks neat and organized. I'm sold!
All I can say is: "Oh, my gosh ... Oh, my heavens ... Oh, my stars ... Oh, NO!"
I do not like heights and I certainly do not like heights in a clear box on the side of a skyscraper, 1,353 feet above the ground! Oh, no! Not me! Not gonna happen!
These pictures (click for larger view), taken by Jesus Ayala of ABC News, show 'The Ledge,' located off the Skydeck on the 103rd floor of the Sears Tower and consisting of four boxes that jut out about 4.3 feet. About the size of an elevator, each box can support 5 tons. If you look at the picture of the two women (a reporter and her friend), you get an idea of just how far down 1,353 feet really is.
The view is rumored to be fantastic, and there are images all over the Internet of this attraction that opened July 2nd. Kids, I would imagine, would just love it; as would any adult not terrified on anything taller than a 2-step ladder. (Heck, I get nervous standing on a chair to clean my ceiling fan! Which probably explains the condition of my ceiling fan, but that's a whole 'nother story.)
Seriously though - three layers of glass, supported by steel beams from the Skydeck? Five tons, shmive tons. It's up way too high! And frankly, standing in a transparent elevator-sized box on the side of very tall building is enough to send me back inside to the bar - and I quit drinking years ago!
If any of you manage to get there and actually get out on 'The Ledge,' would you please send me pictures?! I'd love to see (from the safety of my recliner) just what the view is like.
Without overstating the obvious - we need a vacation.
I started in Orlando. The deals were great. Just couldn't afford airfare, across the country, for all of us. Rather sad, since I've never been to Disney World.
Looking closer to home, I investigated the area near Disneyland and Knotts Berry Farm. (Those childhood memories are strong.) After careful consideration, I decided to check out somewhere I've always wanted to visit - without teacups, dwarves, and boysenberry jam - Las Vegas!
I have been through Las Vegas, but never to Las Vegas. And, while I don't gamble, I would love to see each and every casino on the strip. My mom used to go every couple of years, just for the shows, and loved it.
In the interest of enjoying the government rebate, I have been (surreptitiously) researching vacation packages. And, while I found a great deal for Orlando, we can't exactly afford airfare for 2 or 3 from Arizona to Florida. Our stimulus isn't quite that stimulating.
I started looking a little closer to home.
It has been many, many years since I visited Disneyland. So, an Anaheim California hotel seemed like a good place to start. I was right. The packages are tremendous.
Sometimes, you just have to get away for a couple of days. It's nice to know that there are places that help create a great vacation, without completely breaking the bank.
Looking for a great way to enjoy that tax refund? Well, I've got a great idea - why not visit Orlando?
Orlando vacations aren't as expensive as I had expected. There are, in fact, some package deals that include the hotel for 4 days/3 nights and theme park tickets. One hotel even allows pets!
It may seem like a bad time to spend money on travel and vacations. But, we've found that it's very important to treat yourself once in awhile - whether it's a trip to SeaWorld or buying that movie the family has been wanting to see. Give yourself a gift.
Naturally, you don't want to add to credit card debt or sacrifice grocery money. With the stimulus rebates available to so many people, this might just be the time to get away and recharge the family. Especially since kids stay for free at so many locations.
Things are tough right now. It's hard for many of us to afford the basics. Vacations seem like a luxury that just isn't in the cards.
Econo Lodge understands that and is offering a hotel reservation promo that can help. If free Wi-Fi, continental breakfast, and newspaper - in addition to great rates - weren't enough, now you can earn free nights and airline rewards.
Something I've learned? You don't have to travel across the country or even out of the state. Sometimes just getting away for the night, 20 minutes down the road, can work wonders for your attitude and relationship. We've found that mid-week rates are better and it just feels decadent to sneak off on a Tuesday for a quiet night alone.
Do yourself a favor and take advantage of this great offer. It doesn't come along every day and you deserve it.
Mark and I just celebrated our 7th Anniversary, which means he has been trying to get me out camping for 6 years, 11 months, and 3 weeks. (I got a 'buy week' my first week here. ;-) )
It's not that I don't like being outdoors. Really. I go outside quite often - to the store, to the pool, to the mailbox. It's just . . . you know . . . bugs - and cold and cooking over a campfire and - bugs. (Well, it does bear repeating.)
I think that I may have to revisit my aversion to camping, though. After perusing all of the goodies at Sierra Adventure Gear, I think I could get into the Great Outdoors - on a regular basis. Seriously!
Just look at this stove! You have to understand, in our first apartment we cooked on a two burner hotplate - for almost 2 years - that was not nearly as nice as this camping stove. This thing is fantastic! If it came with an oven, I'd throw out my current stove!
We've got a tent, by the way. Mark bought it a few years ago and, according to Frankie (the only person who's ever used it), it is a great tent. It has three sections - a main 'room' with two sleeping areas that attach on the sides. But, even in Arizona, it gets cold out there at night!
Not a problem, apparently. There are sleeping bags, like this one, that have zippers all the way around - so you can zip two together - and are actually rated by temperature. (I've really got to get educated, it seems.) We can even get pads to put down under the sleeping bags. How cool is that?
It appears that I will be spending time in the Great Outdoors pretty soon. Just as soon as I find the bug spray!
Now, this is fun. I've been in and out of the Las Vegas Greyhound station many times, traveling to see my kids. It's not the greatest neighborhood in Vegas, to say the least. Honestly, I have always wondered where the bus station is located in comparison to the Strip and all of the famous casinos.
Today, I found a great map of the Las Vegas strip and finally got my answer - many, many miles north of the 'fun stuff' on the boulevard. Not surprising, given what I saw in and around the station.
What did surprise me was the number of casinos - almost on top of each other - in the few short miles that make up the Strip. Some day, I'm going to head south and get a good look at all of the casinos. Like my mother, I'm not interested in gambling. But I can't resist the glitz and lights.
Can you imagine how many hundreds of thousands of communities would be able to survive for years on the electricity expended on any given day in Las Vegas?
I wasn't looking for one, but I think I've found the perfect spot for a family vacation . . . the Outer Banks!
There is a cottage - if you can call it that - in Duck, with 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, video and kids' room, a private pool, whirlpool, and fireplace just 400 yards from beach access. The 2-story house has porches on both levels. I just fell in love the minute I saw it. And you just can't beat the price.
The only problem is - with all of the TVs, VCRs, DVD players, and high-speed Internet - I'd never get anyone to the beach!
I didn't think that I would be able to make it, but found out today that I should be able to go. Needless to say, I am excited and frantic!
What do I wear? do I have anything to wear? If you'll recall, I went through the same agony right before my daughter's wedding - and that worked out okay. So, hopefully, this one will, too.
The one thing I am absolutely sure of? I am taking extra batteries for the camera and I am saving pictures to disc the second I get home. No more missed opportunities and lost pictures for me.
Obviously, my business isn't large enough, nor do I travel enough to warrant a private jet charter. But wouldn't it be incredible!?
Just imagine the convenience of catching a flight when you want and not needing to work around airline schedules. Not only that, but many of these charters include catering and a private flight crew. (So much for a $5.00 bag of peanuts!)
Of course, it's not an incredibly inexpensive way to travel, but it's not as pricey as I imagined. When a company or organization has a number of people who need to be in the same place, at a specific time, it definitely makes a lot of sense.
Personally, I think it's a wonderful idea. Who knows? Maybe I'll even get to try it, someday.
I found out, a couple of days ago, that there are some great deals available through Greyhound for trips from Phoenix to Vegas. In fact, our recent guest managed to purchase a round-trip ticket for $9.00 less than a one-way ticket, travelling on the same day. You just have to, apparently, ask the right questions.
So, you know me, I started shopping for Vegas vacations. Mark and I haven't taken a trip together in over five years. Obviously, I would like to find something we can afford, even if it's only for a 3-day 2-night mid-week jaunt.
What I found is that, if you can travel during the week or at the last minute, it's easy to find great specials.
Our neighbor, the one who helped us replace the drivers on the laptop, is heading back East. On the way, okay sorta on the way, he's wandering through Vegas. Turn a little money into a little more money. Braver than I, I can tell you that.
Although I am a confirmed non-gambler, I love the idea of Las Vegas vacations. There are so many more things to do, besides gambling.
My mom used to go to Vegas, with a friend of hers, every year or two. She played the slots - a bit. But mostly she went to the shows and enjoyed the buffets. I could do that!
After traveling to Colorado for the wedding, I find that I'd like to do more. It would be wonderful for Mark and I to get away, by ourselves, for a while. After reading about all of the great shows on Broadway, New York City travel became my first choice in vacations.
Admittedly, I was worried about the cost - especially for airfare - from AZ to NY. It was amazing to find that 4 nights (plus airfare) is really quite affordable. And the fact that we can take off anytime we like, means we can take advantage of a lot of great last minute deals.
Or we can book weeks in advance. It's good to be flexible!
Well, I made it home in one piece! It's amazing how, the closer we got to Phoenix, the slower the bus seemed to move. I guess I was exhausted and ready to be home.
I didn't sleep at all on the way out. Every stop, I was worried about missing a connection, so I filled myself with coffee and smoked very quickly, when I had a chance. (If you've ever wondered just how poorly smokers are viewed, try travelling by bus and see where the ashtrays are hidden.)
The wedding was beautiful; my daughter, absolutely gorgeous. (I'll share some pictures, just as soon as I get them off the camera and sorted out.) It was great to see family again, and make some new friends.
More news to follow. For now, I have unpacking and laundry awaiting.
Summer (as in school's out, what do we do with the kid) is upon us.
Michael wants to spend a lot of time with his mom, which is a whole
'nother issue. I've been thinking that maybe Mark and I could get out of
here for a while, by ourselves for a change. So, yup, I've been vacation
shopping.
I'm not really enamored with Texas (humidity, heat, and
bugs), but there are areas along the Gulf Coast that are amazing. So, I
checked out North Padre Island
rentals. I was quite impressed.
For not a lot of money, it's
possible to rent a nice place (furnished) near the water. It's definitely
an option I'll be considering.
I can't think of anything worse than a bug infestation. We had a problem for months, after a new tenant moved into the apartment next to ours. We shared a common kitchen wall and, in a very short time, we found ourselves sharing something much more unpleasant. It started with a bug here and there; nothing overwhelming. But that soon changed. Before long, we were infested and, even though the neighbor moved, the bugs stayed.
Coincidentally, about the time we were moving to our new apartment, I was asked to test and review a 
As mentioned on the packaging, it does take a little care to zip them, initially; especially around the corners. Unfolding the larger bags was quite a job, too. But once they're open and carefully zipped the first time, they are a breeze to use. Now, I have everything washed, dried, and safely stored.
