Travel Ideas

by: Masadio Caliente

The Orange Show Monument, located in the Heights neighborhood of Houston, uses castaway materials to entertain visitors and pay tribute to creator Jeff McCissack’s favorite food, the orange.
Postman Jeff McCissack started work on the monument in 1956 and completed it in 1979, just seven months before his death. Originally, he bought the land adjacent to his house to build a small business on, but later changed his mind for reasons that aren’t completely clear.
In 1980, 22 Houston citizens formed a non-profit organization to purchase, preserve and maintain McCissack’s monument for the public to be able to continue to enjoy it, and to use as a staging point for a variety of cultural activities.
You can visit the Orange Show Monument every weekend from mid-March to mid-December between 12 and 5 p.m. Weekday hours of 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. are maintained from Labor Day to Memorial Day.
Your first reaction will likely be one of either amusement, amazement, or disbelief when you’re greeted by the site of this multi-tiered structure fashioned from a variety of materials including brick, wagon wheels, colored tiles, and any number of any junk items.
Hand-crafted signs greet you at every turn. All of them bear witness to McCissack’s belief that hard work, good nutrition, and lots of oranges made for a long and healthy life. Those signs are punctuated by a variety of pieces including animals, people, and familiar characters all crafted from junk.
An amphitheater crafted from, among other things, old tractor seats plays host to a variety of “off the beaten track” cultural events. Other nifty features include a wishing well, a pond, and an oasis.
No good tourist attraction would be complete without a gift shop. And, if you don’t get a souvenir there, how are you ever going to explain this place to your friends?

About The Author

Fresh Houston founder Masadio Caliente invites you to visit his one-stop resource for those seeking complete information about Houston: http://www.freshhouston.com/.
http://www.freshhouston.com

Vacationing with your family in Mexico offers many benefits.  Though many cities are associated with constant partying, there are also many activities that are designed for young children and teenagers.  Many children receive discounts at many popular tourist attractions.  Selecting an all-inclusive vacation package for the whole family is one of the best ways for everyone to enjoy their vacation in Mexico, without having to worry about the cost.

If you are interested in visiting Mexico with your family, you will want to examine some of the many attractions that are specifically geared towards children. These attractions and activities are ideal for making the most out of your family vacation.  Below is a summary of just a few of the many attractions and resorts that you may find exciting in Mexico.  For additional information, you are encouraged to contact your local travel agent or use the internet to guide you in your search.

Located on the Mayan Riviera is the Xcaret Theme Park.  The Xcaret Theme Park is a wonderful attraction for those who are looking for a family resort.  Located in Cancun, Mexico, the Xcaret Theme Park is a theme park that is often compared to Disney World or Disneyland.  Similar to Disneyland and Disney World, you can expect to enjoy a fun filled day at Xcaret, thanks to amazing rides and attractions.

An deep underground river is a popular feature of the Xcaret Theme Park.  You and your family can see plenty of beautiful tropical plants as you enjoy the river.  Xcaret is also host to many wild and exotic animals.  There is a butterfly pavilion, a coral reef aquarium, and you are given the chance to swim dolphins.  Many children, as well as adults, will be thrilled with this theme park.  In addition to the Xcaret Theme Park, Cancun offers many family friendly resorts.  To find a luxury resort that offers family oriented activities you may want to check on the internet or speak with your local travel agent.

Cozumel also offers many great attractions and activities that are designed for individuals of all ages, including children. Cozumel is ideal for family vacation, especially because it has one of the lowest crime rates in Mexico, as well as the world.  Cozumel is home to some of the most beautiful coral reefs.  This often creates an incredible adventure and learning experience for children.  If your children will enjoy scuba diving or snorkeling, then you will want to plan a trip to Cozumel.

With so many options for families, choosing a Mexican all-inclusive vacation is a great idea. The vacation package will also include items such as snacks, drinks, meals, as well as hotel accommodations and airfare.  Teaching children about various cultures and customs and letting them view the Mayan ruins first hand is an amazing lesson in geography and history. While education is nice, the above mentioned locations do not completely just focus on it. There are so many fun filled activities such as snorkeling, diving, swimming, hiking, fishing, sailing, and parasailing. These activities are great for families with active children.

In addition to the above mentioned popular Mexican destinations are that are designed for the whole family, you may want to consider additional sights and attractions.  Mexico has so much to offer you and your family. In fact, you and your family may wish that you could stay in longer.

by: Cara Goldsbury

So you?re headed to Orlando… but where to start? You?ll find such a wealth of fantastic resorts and restaurants it can be difficult to choose exactly what you wish to indulge in. How best can you plan a visit in which each day comes with the finest this marvelous vacation spot has to offer? In order to help you in making the overwhelming decisions of where to stay and what places to dine, here are what I believe to be Orlando?s best offerings:
Best Deluxe Resort
On Disney property it?s the Grand Floridian with its upscale Victorian atmosphere and lagoonside setting facing the Magic Kingdom. Off-property, hands-down, it?s the Ritz Carlton Grande Lakes where you may never even feel the need to leave the property. At Universal, go for the Portofino Bay Hotel with its unsurpassed ambience of an Italian seaside resort.
Best Resort Pool

Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club?s Stormalong Bay, a 3-acre mini water park
The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin?s lush grotto-style lagoon pool
The Volcano Pool at Disney’s Polynesian Resort with its luxuriant waterfall, smoking peak, and perfect view of Cinderella?s Castle
The boulder-strewn wonderland at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge with its very own erupting geyser
The lush fantasyland pool at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress cooled by twelve waterfalls

Best Home-Away-From-Home Property
The Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge with its Bay Lake frontage and national park character or Disney’s Beach Club Villas conveniently located next door to Epcot.
Best Resort Atmosphere
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge where hundreds of animals roam the savanna and the air is pulsating to the beat of African drums. Running a close second is Universal?s Portofino Bay Hotel where guests are transported to a romantic, seaside Italian village.
Best Resort Lobby
How to choose? Three of Disney’s resorts make the cut: the Wilderness Lodge, the Grand Floridian, and the Animal Kingdom Lodge, all eye-popping in their grandeur.
Best Access To The Parks
The Contemporary, Polynesian, and Grand Floridian with monorail access to the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and the Ticket and Transportation Center. At Universal, the Hard Rock Hotel is just a 5-minute walk or boat ride away to Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, and CityWalk.
Best Resort For Romance
Disney’s Polynesian Resort whose lush tiki torch-lit grounds and white-sand beaches with views of Cinderella?s Castle are simply dreamy or Universal?s Portofino Bay Hotel where an evening stroll along the bay with Italian arias playing in the distance can?t be beat.
Best Resort For Nature-Lovers
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, a nature-lover?s dream of rushing waterfalls, spouting geysers, and bubbly creeks, all surrounded by stately pine trees and beautiful Bay Lake.
Best Resort Lounges

California Grill Lounge found on the 15th floor of Disney’s Contemporary Resort with unrivaled views of the Magic Kingdom and the Seven Seas Lagoon, great for cocktails, sushi, and a view of the Wishes fireworks display.
Disney’s Grand Floridian’s lobby. Pick up a cocktail at Mizner?s, then head down to this magnificent oasis to relax in the cushy seating while listening to the sounds of a big band orchestra or live piano music.
Tambu Lounge at Disney’s Polynesian Resort?s Great Ceremonial House. Sip on tropical drinks amid lush foliage and views of the Seven Seas Lagoon.
Territory Lounge, a rustic retreat in Disney’s Wilderness Lodge.
bluezoo?s bar at the Walt Disney World Dolphin, the coolest place around.
Velvet, the ultra-hip cocktail lounge at Universal’s Hard Rock Hotel.
Bar America, Portofino Bay Hotel?s sophisticated lounge overlooking the romantic piazza.
Top of the Palace Lounge, a sophisticated bar with the best views around high atop the Wyndham Palace Resort near Downtown Disney.

Best Italian
Palio at the Walt Disney World Swan where the Tortellini con Aragosta topped with enormous amounts of lobster is amazing, or Portobello Yacht Club at Downtown Disney for a fantastic, thin-crusted pizza followed by the Rigatoni with Italian Sausage, crimini mushrooms, plum tomatoes, black olives, and escarole.
Best Seafood
Flying Fish at Disney’s Boardwalk for Potato Wrapped Red Snapper with creamy leek fondue and red wine reduction, or the newcomer on the block, Todd English?s bluezoo at the Walt Disney World Dolphin, where seafood is taken to new heights. Off Disney property it?s got to be Roy?s on Sand Lake Road near Universal for Roy Yamaguchi?s remarkable Hawaiian Fusion cuisine.
Best Steaks
Shula’s at the Walt Disney World Dolphin, a standout for sensational Angus beef steaks cooked to perfection, or Vito?s Chop House on International Drive for the filet mignon stuffed with gorgonzola.
Best Restaurant For Romance
Victoria and Albert’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian, the only AAA 5-Diamond restaurant in Central Florida. Here you?ll savor a sumptuous six-course meal served on elegant fine china to the accompaniment of enchanting harp music. Or try Delfino Riviera at Universal?s Portofino Bay Hotel whose breeze-swept terrace overlooks the resort?s picturesque bay and piazza. And I can?t forget Norman?s at the Ritz Carlton for fine dining in plush surroundings all enveloped in the grandeur of an amazing resort.
Best Restaurant For Kids
Children love the Rainforest Caf? at the Animal Kingdom or Downtown Disney where they?re bombarded with thunderstorms and noisy audio-animatronic wildlife. A close runner up is Whispering Canyon Caf? at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge; come prepared for plenty of hoopin? and hollerin? and please, whatever you do, don?t ask for the ketchup unless, that is, you like a lot of attention.
Best Character Meal
Cinderella’s Royal Table at the Magic Kingdom, a chance to feast in a fairytale castle with Cinderella, Jasmine, Aladdin, Belle, and Snow White. Or try the Crystal Palace at the Magic Kingdom for a tasty, bountiful buffet hosted by Winnie the Pooh and his friends.
Best Hip Atmosphere
Todd English?s bluezoo at the Dolphin, the coolest spot this side of South Beach, or Tchoup Chop at Universal?s Royal Pacific Resort, a knock-em-dead, Asian-inspired beauty.
Best Disney View
Arthur?s 27 at the Wyndham Palace whose drop-dead setting is only topped by its creative cuisine, or California Grill at Disney’s Contemporary Resort with its picture-perfect views of the Magic Kingdom, the Seven Seas Lagoon, and the Wishes fireworks presentation.
Best Disney Resort Restaurant
Tough call. My favorites are the California Grill at the Contemporary Resort (just about anything on their exceptional menu is fantastic), Victoria and Albert?s at the Grand Floridian (particularly the Chef?s Table where Chef Scott Hunnel oversees an 11-course meal designed especially for you), and Todd English?s bluezoo at the Dolphin (try the miso glazed Chilean sea bass with warm sesame spinach).
Best Universal Resort Restaurant
Tchoup Chop at the Royal Pacific Resort. Wonderful Asian and Polynesian-influenced cuisine in a stunning setting of bamboo, waterfalls, and a lotus-filled reflecting pool. Share the Crunchy Shrimp with butter lettuce leaves and hot & sour chili glaze, move on to the Firecracker Fresh Fish served with papaya-serrano salsa, Asian pesto drizzle, and coconut-lemongrass sauce, and finish with a slice of Banana Cream Pie topped with caramel sauce and chocolate shavings.
Best Downtown Disney Restaurant
Wolfgang Puck?s Upstairs Dining Room for dishes like Szechuan marinated “Chinois” lamb rack served with a spicy cilantro-mint sauce or the restaurant’s exceptionally great Wienerschnitzel.
Best Epcot Illuminations View
Rose and Crown in World Showcase?s United Kingdom. Set your priority seating for about one hour prior to show time and pray for a table with a good view.
Best Milkshake
Beaches and Cream at Disney’s Beach Club Resort serves oh-so-delicious thick shakes and malts in a frosty fountain glass with the extras on the side in the stainless steel shaker.
Best Pizza
You can’t beat the pizzas at Downtown Disney’s Wolfgang Puck Cafe (choose the BLTA with applewood-smoked bacon, mozzarella, roma and sun-dried tomatoes, avocado, and chopped romaine), Downtown Disney’s Portobello Yacht Club (thin-crusted and smokey flavored), or Mama Melrose?s at Disney-MGM Studios (don’t miss the grilled chicken pizza with sun-dried tomato pesto, pancetta, and asiago cheese).
Best Breakfast
Spoodles at Disney’s Boardwalk. I love the Egg Rotollo, scrambled eggs with chorizo, onions, peppers, and cheddar cheese rolled in Lavosh (flatbread) and served with breakfast potatoes and marinated tomatoes.
I could go on and on but I?ll restrain myself and stop here. There?s a world of resorts and restaurants just waiting to be explored. And you?ll never even have to leave Orlando to find it!

About The Author

Cara Goldsbury is the author of The Luxury Guide to Walt Disney World: How to Get the Most Out of the Best Disney Has to Offer available at 800-247-6553, www.luxurydisneyguide.com, Amazon.com, or your local bookstore. Visit her at www.luxurydisneyguide.com.

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