At the US Astronaut Hall of Fame in Titusville, Florida, you’ll have an opportunity to experience both the technical side of space travel, as well as the very personal side of it, with exhibits tracing our race into space, not only historically, but also from the personal perspective of participating astronauts. The Science on a Sphere exhibit offers a wonderful 3-D view of what the earth and the solar system look like when seen from space. You’ll see a season of hurricanes, watch the spectrum of commercial air traffic move across the world, and take a look at how space technology and meteorology intersect. You’ll see spacecraft from the Mercury and Apollo days, and be fascinated by the personal memorabilia on display. These artifacts tell the personal stories of the astronauts, their thoughts and dreams and goals, and speak volumes […]
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Bottoms Up: Grappa in Italy
Everywhere you turn in Italy you’ll find grappa, a clear alcoholic beverage sure to knock your socks off. Grappa is made from the grape residue left over from the crush of grapes during the winemaking process, and includes the grape skins, stems, seeds, and everything else. Like many food items in Italy, the beverage originally began as a way of reducing waste and using everything up. Today, however, grappa stands on its own. Like wine, the flavor of grappa will depend on the type of grapes, growing conditions, and terroir. But grappa isn’t wine. It;s a clear liquide, with an alcohol content ranging from 35-60%, and is thick in taste and feel like Brandy. In fact, you’ll often hear it referred to as Italian Brandy. Production is a strictly regulated process, and for a liquor to be called grappa it […]
Read MoreIt’s Sicily!
It took the better part of 24 hours, but I’m finally settled into my villa in Sicily. The day started with a 3:30 am car service pick up, which started the day’s travel with a flight to Chicago, then connecting to an overnight flight to Rome. The group met up at the Rome airport, thankfully everyone’s flight was pretty close to being on time, and we caught a quick commuter flight to the island of Sicily. The villa has exceeded expectations. It’s a beautiful 4-bedroom place, surrounded by lemon trees. There’s also two dining areas, two living room areas, a kitchen with a pizza oven, and a huge wrap around deck/patio. I’ve included a few photos, but these first 24-hours are pretty much for settling in and relaxing. We’ve gone to the supermarket, set in some provisions, and the rest […]
Read MoreHistorical London: Visit 4 UNESCO Sites
Thinking about a vacation in historical [amazon_textlink asin=’1631215612′ text=’London’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’travelingwithmj-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’ffde2fe5-6a62-11e7-9b32-d3dbf8308ba0′] can evoke a frenzy of thoughts about this major continental city that is the UK’s financial center, seat of politics, and hub for fashion, entertainment, and the arts. But don’t forget that London is an old city, steeped in culture and tradition. In a city of hundreds (if not thousands) of wonderful historical sites, four have been designated as UNESCO World Heritage sites. They’re worth a look-see! Tower of London: Located on the north bank of the Thames in central London, the Tower is actually a compound of multiple buildings – and a moat. It’s currently the oldest British governmental building but has an impressive history as a fortress, palace, prison, and place of execution and torture. Must see sites there today include the Crown Jewels, the […]
Read MoreLotus & Lilies at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens
Located on a 14 acre parcel along the east bank of the Anacostia River, Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens is the only National Park that is devoted to the propagation and display of aquatic plants, with a history that is of great significance to the botanical study and development of water plants. The gardens were initially a hobby for Civil War veteran W.B. Shaw. With a few water lilies from his estate of Maine, and a single pond, he started his hobby venture. As the the plants thrived, he dug more ponds and experimented more in developing hybrid lilies, turning a hobby into a burgeoning business. In 1921, Helen Shaw Fowler (W.B.’s daughter) agreed to let the public in for a viewing of the lilies one day a week during the blooming season. It’s estimated that up to 6,000 people a day lined up to […]
Read More10 Reasons to Visit Edinburgh for Your Next Vacation
Edinburgh, the capital city of [amazon_textlink asin=’1612389783′ text=’Scotland’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’travelingwithmj-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’ca65b8ba-6a63-11e7-8485-e971cc4915d6′], is the second largest city in the country, making it a popular vacation spot for travelers from the U.K. and around the world. In fact, it’s the second most visited city in the UK for international travelers (no surprise that [amazon_textlink asin=’1631215612′ text=’London’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’travelingwithmj-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’d9adec6b-6a63-11e7-8762-ad95567d7f04′] is first), and there are lots of reasons to visit Edinburgh. From the United States, you can reach Edinburgh direct from Newark (Continental) and Atlanta (Delta), along with many airlines that make connections. Another option is flying into Glasgow International Airport, about an hour away. Here 10 reasons to visit Edinburg for your next vacation. It’s a picturesque city. Located along the Firth of Forth (love that name!), Edinburgh sports a rugged coastline mixed with interesting architecture. There are plenty of […]
Read MoreLos Angeles is Vacation Heaven for Sports Enthusiasts
As the second largest city in the United States, Los Angeles gets it fair share of visitors attracted by the ocean beaches and sunny days. Home to Hollywood, Disneyland, and museums and parks galore, LA is as distinctively west coast as New York City is east coast. It is also a major city for sports, having hosted two Olympic Games. Sports are also big business in LA, attracting millions of visitors each year who come for both spectator and participatory athletics. If you’re a sports fan, here are some considerations that may help you plan your visit to Los Angeles. Basketball (fall to early summer): The LA Lakers and the LA Clippers both play at Staples Center (map). It’s not unusual to see television and film celebrities sitting court side cheering on their team. Dyan Cannon, Denzel Washington, and Jack […]
Read MoreSex and the City’s Magnolia Bakery
With Sex and the City 2 set to premiere May 27th, there’s plenty of talk about those four glamorous women from New York City: Carrie, Samantha, Miranda, and Charlotte. Entering our lives with a television debut on June 6th, 1998, these four glamorous women drew us into their lives of angst and glamour. They tried to make us feel as if their loves were our loves, that their hangouts were our hangouts, and their heartbreaks were our heartbreaks. Many of the locations seen in the television show, and the first movie, are real-life Manhattan locations. Although there are several tour companies offering SATC location tours, most of the locations are places that you can discover on your own. And while a restaurant reservation might be hard to come by, one place that anyone can get into is Magnolia Bakery in […]
Read MoreThis Summer Send the Kids to Jail
If the kids tell you that the house rules make them feel like their in prison, put the Old Idaho Penitentiary on your vacation stop. No commission of a crime required, just stop by their location in Boise, Idaho. The Old Idaho Penitentiary State Historic Site was used as Idaho’s prison between 1870-1973. The prison was originally a single building, but the growing population brought a need for a growing prison, and several additional buildings were added, all surrounded by a high sandstone wall. These additions to the prison complex were constructed with sandstone that the prisoners quarried and cut, back at a time when hard labor was a part of prison life. As happened at many prisons in the 1970’s, the over-crowded conditions led to a prison riot, occurring here in Boise both 1971 and again in 1973. As […]
Read MoreIs a Vacation Rental Right for You
I’m not a traveler cut out for a location independent lifestyle. I love having a home to return to. A place to live and enjoy. My home is a wonderful place where I have creature comforts that allow me to live, dream, plan, and have fun. It’s a base of operations for the various parts of my life to come together to make me. . . me! It suits my personalities and needs, and at this point in my life, I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’ve found that the desire to have a base of operations carries over into my travel style. While a traditional hotel might be great for a conference or a quick stay, more and more I’m leaning toward a home approach – somewhere with a little more room, privacy, and sufficient amenities that I […]
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