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Visit on the Cheap

With the economy still in disarray, many major metropolitan areas that rely on tourism to keep them afloat have been offering incentives to travelers, from reduced hotel rates to free admission at local attractions. Meanwhile, other cities are promoting events and activities, which families can enjoy without dipping into their kid’s college fund. In this installment of “Visit on the Cheap” I’m spotlighting Dallas, Texas. The Big D may have a flashy skyline and acres of high-end shopping malls, but there are also dozens of affordable sites that offer big fun to families of all sizes: GETTING AROUND Dallas has … Continue reading →

Visiting Orlando with Teens

Mention Orlando, Florida and most travelers instantly think mouse ears, roller coasters, and Shamu. All are wonderful assets to the area, but when you are traveling to the area with teens you might want to have more on your to-do list than just meeting Mickey and Minnie (if that even makes the list in the first place). If you live with adventurous adolescents who enjoy exploring the great outdoors and soaking in the local scene as much as they do taking in the thrills and chills of major amusement parks then consider visiting the following Orlando-area attractions: Gatorland This 110-acre … Continue reading →

One More Reason to Visit New York City

Who says you have to travel all the way to Hawaii to experience the beauty of awe-inspiring waterfalls? Not New York City tourism officials. According to city leaders, the Big Apple is the place to be if you want to see spectacular waterfalls in unlikely places… like near the Brooklyn Bridge. Scandinavian artist Olafur Eliasson is creating four manmade waterfalls on the shores of the city’s East River and city officials are hoping tourists will flock to them in the months to come. The falls will feature water coursing over scaffolding 90 to 120 feet high at tourist friendly locales … Continue reading →

Travel Tidbits–Museum Moves

Good news for those of you who missed out on the headline grabbing King Tut museum tour. The mega-popular exhibit, which features objects buried with Egypt’s King Tutankhamun is returning to the United States next year. It will include three stops, beginning in Dallas. I was fortunate to be one of the 4 million visitors to take in the “Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs” exhibit during its two-year, four-city tour. I saw the exhibit in Chicago, but it also visited museums in Los Angeles, Fort Lauderdale, and Philadelphia before wrapping up a few weeks ago. The exhibit … Continue reading →

Iowa—-Shaking It Up To Attract Visitors

I have traveled to and through Iowa many, many times. Some of the trips were work related while others were to attend family functions. But, in general, none of them were to visit a major tourist attraction. They exist… in certain parts of the state. However, in central Iowa I would image visitor bureaus may have a tougher time trying to lure in travelers. Not because the area doesn’t have its own charm; it’s just that it lacks the usual attractions that normally draw visitors, such as world-class shopping, majestic mountain ranges, lakes or caves. In Traer, Iowa, city leaders … Continue reading →

Dracula’s Castle/Museum

Visitors to “Dracula’s Castle” in Transylvania are hoping that it will be sold to someone who will keep the doors open for them to come back for future tours. The Bran Castle — better known as “Dracula’s Castle” because of its ties to Prince Vlad the Impaler, the cruel warlord who inspired Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel, “Dracula” — was recently put on the market by an heir of Romania’s former royal family. The castle is located on a cliff near Brasov in mountainous central Romania and is considered one of the area’s top tourist attractions. Legend has it the castle … Continue reading →

4 Ways A “Museum” Membership Can Be Frugal

Think spending a good chunk of money on a museum or attraction membership isn’t frugal? Think again. Just this weekend, we made the decision to sign up for a three-year membership at a local attraction. The membership cost quite a bit of money, but we know that it will be worth every penny. Here are some reasons why investing in a membership makes good frugal sense. 1. It will pay for itself with frequent visits. The cost of our membership will pay for itself on our third visit for the year. In the past, we have visited our attraction at … Continue reading →

Be A Visitor in Your Own Town

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With summer comes vacation planning. When making your plans don’t forget about your own town. There are so many free and low-cost excursions that are family-friendly too. I have an entire day planned in downtown Mobile that’s not going to cost me a penny- except for the cost of lunch. In fact, I’m actually being paid for it because I’m writing an article about our adventure. What ’s more, one of the places I was planning to visit is having a family fun day on Thursday. I was planning to go next week because I’m just finishing two major articles … Continue reading →

A Great Family Activity–Visiting Public Art

Looking for something to do with your family that won’t cost a thing? How about something that can appeal to people of all ages and interests? If you live in even a moderate-sized city, chances are there are plenty of opportunities to view and experience public art–this is a great way to get outside and get a little exercise and experience your town or city from a creative, artistic perspective! Many parks, universities, town squares, courthouses, museums, performing arts centers and other community properties have public art on display. This can be murals painted on the sides of building, sculptures, … Continue reading →

Visiting Pearl Harbor’s Newest Attraction

Imagine taking flight with your son over the Hawaiian Islands on a peaceful Sunday morning. You’re piloting an Aeronca 65TC, sportstrainer airplane en route to Honolulu. The views are incredible, you’re enjoying your son’s company, and the ride is as smooth as silk. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, you encounter the first wave of Japanese Zero fighters on their way to attack Pearl Harbor. Next thing you know, your plane is being riddled with machine gun fire and you’re fighting to keep it in the air. Sounds like the stuff movies are made of (a version of the scene was … Continue reading →