Search Results for: blog holiday house tour

Where to View Magical Holiday Scenes

“Just 14 shopping days left until Christmas!” If I had a dime for every time I heard someone say that yesterday, I would have enough money to finish my Christmas shopping. It’s hard to escape the holiday hoopla now that we’re nearly halfway through December.  The sales, the crowds, the craziness in the mall parking lot don’t do much to get me into the Christmas spirit.  However, there are places you can visit to immerse yourself in the season, minus the commercial madness.  For example: Wisconsin:  The city of Green Bay is not only home to the world-famous Packers; it’s … Continue reading →

Take Time for Yourself This Holiday Season

Parents of children with special needs are notorious for not setting aside any time to themselves. They work day and night to care for their children and rarely take even fifteen minutes to relax. During the holidays, it only gets worse. There is so much more to do and so many projects to take care of this time of year that by the time the holidays are over, parents haven’t gotten to really enjoy any of the festivities. Make this year different. Give yourself the gift of day off. Get a friend, relative or respite care provider to watch your … Continue reading →

Holidays and Marriage – Part 3

One of the biggest considerations for your marriage with a holiday plan is whether you are going to camp. For many families this is a cheap alternative. But unless you are the type of people who enjoy this sort of thing, then don’t even consider it. For Mick and me, camping would not be a holiday but a nightmare. I would rather stay home than go camping. Thankfully Mick feels the same. As a result we could probably count on or fingers, maybe even one hand, the number of holidays we have taken in our married life. And that’s okay. … Continue reading →

Holiday Love in NYC

So much to see, so little time to take it all in. If you are traveling to the Big Apple this month, you will be delighted (and probably a bit overwhelmed) by all the holiday happenings. In addition to the traditional haunts—-Rockefeller Plaza, Macy’s and FAO Schwartz-—there is a slew of other seasonal stops you should consider making. Start at Barneys New York, at 666 Madison Avenue near 61st. You don’t have to bring your wallet to have fun here. Just peer into the store’s windows. This year the upscale retailer is celebrating with characters from a different genre: Its … Continue reading →

Holiday Fun with the Family

After surviving yet another snow day with a house full of kids (most not mine), I definitely see why some parents take advantage of all the outdoor holiday-related activities offered this time of year. Whether it’s a horse-drawn carriage ride down Main Street or a walking tour of Christmas lights at the zoo, tis the season to let your kids burn off steam while enjoying festive events. Here’s a look at some kid-friendly holiday activities going on around the country right now: MAINE In Portland, Maine, families can tour the inside and outside of the legendary Victoria Mansion, which has … Continue reading →

Let the Holiday Deals Begin

I won’t get too far ahead. I can’t bring myself to think about Christmas yet, but Halloween and Thanksgiving are just around the corner, and if you are looking for super savings on cruises or hotels, then now is the time to get cracking. The following are some of the best fall travel deals on the market right now: HALLOWEEN IN NORTH CAROLINA If you are looking to ditch the little candy beggars this Halloween, then consider visiting Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The picturesque city is home to the Carolina Inn, which is offering a Halloween Night With Dr. Jacocks … Continue reading →

YouTube Christmas House Tours

Going on Christmas house tours are lots of fun. Not only can you enjoy beautiful decorations and furnishings, but you can get some ideas for decorating your own home. Just this past weekend, we visited a room that was a early century library, all decorated for Christmas. I loved pretty much every part of it and joked that I was taking my photos so we could reproduce the room at home. Of course, the high ceiling and the friezes might present a bit of a problem, but you get the idea. While visiting homes in person is always nice, it … Continue reading →

Summer Travel—-Culinary Tours and Fourth of July Savings

Some of Seattle’s most popular chefs are heading up a unique tour this summer designed to get foodies to hit the road for a taste of the Northwest. The top-rated chefs are teaming up with Gray Line of Seattle bus company this summer for eight new culinary tours. Each tour features a visit with a chef from a popular Seattle restaurant. Participating eateries include Crush, Troiani Ristorante Italiano, El Gaucho, Sky City at the Space Needle, Chandlers Crabhouse on Lake Union, Daniel’s Broiler at Lake Union, Waterfront Grill and Palisade. During the tour individual chefs will greet participants at the … Continue reading →

Travel Tidbits: Passport Alternatives and New York’s Revamped Tourist Attraction

If you are planning a trip to Canada, Mexico, or the Caribbean this year take note: The State Department says it will begin accepting applications February 1st for passport cards as alternatives to passports for Americans traveling to the aforementioned destinations. The wallet-sized cards, which will be available to U.S. citizens by this spring, will cost $45 for adults and $35 for children. That’s cheaper than a regular passport, and adults who have passports will have to pay only $20. However, the passport cards will only be accepted for land and sea crossings between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico and … Continue reading →

The Most Amazing Holiday Light Displays

This weekend we are planning a trip to our local botanical garden to check out their holiday light show. It’s a Christmastime tradition in our family and my daughter can’t wait to climb on the horse drawn wagon again this year and take in the high-wattage spectacle. Each year the Green Bay Botanical Garden hosts a Festival of Lights. Even when it’s well below zero hearty Wisconsinites stroll the gardens to see more than 200,000 lights made to look like flowers, butterflies and babbling brooks. This year we are looking forward to seeing the new additions, including a giant dragon … Continue reading →