The Water Cycle

At the beginning of summer (June 1), I left work and drove 7 hours to Hot Springs, Arkansas. While there, we visited the Mountain Valley spring water visitor center where we sampled the water and enjoyed the exhibits.

During my last major trip of the summer (August 4 in Grand Cayman), we sat down to have dinner. I was surprised to see a Mountain Valley bottle on our table.

Big Fun in Branson

Branson was part of our July 2016 epic summer road trip. Since I grew up a few hours away, I had visited a few times as a kid. This trip, we arrived around 5 on a Tuesday night. We had spent several hours at the City Museum in St. Louis (4 hours from Branson) and 6 hours in the car so we were not up for much that evening. We relaxed in our beautiful 3 bedroom timeshare at French Quarter Resort.

During the day Wednesday, we swam in the resort pool, made duct tape flowers with the resort staff and enjoyed root beer floats.

The front desk clerk who initially checked us in highly recommended Silver Dollar City. It was a favorite from my childhood so we decided to check it out. It's not cheap ($61 for adults) so we did a little research and found that we could go on Thursday for the kid price ($50) if the tickets are purchased from Country Mart (next to Kmart in Branson). However, we opted for the Moonlight Madness deal-$30 for everyone after 5. The park closed at 10. If I were going to Branson with my kids for a longer time, I might opt for the 3 day pass that allows entry into White Water also. I loved White Water as a kid. 

We arrived at Silver Dollar City about 5 p.m. Wednesday. Parking is free!  The kids had a blast. M, our 7 year old, was very disappointed that she was too short to ride a couple of rides that require 48 inches. There are no rides that require more than 48 inches. L (10 y.o.) found the rides a bit tame compared to Six Flags. The published show calendar indicated there were no shows other than the nightly variety with fireworks, but there were at least a couple of shows that were unpublished. Grandma Ginny and the kids loved poking around (and spending money) at the magic shop. We were entertained by a brief magic show there. L was an audience volunteer. There were no lines the day we visited. Perhaps the rain forecast kept them away. The kids rode as many rides as they could fit in. The last ride of the evening was Fire in the Hole. It's not a large roller coaster, but it's enclosed and dark (similar to Space Mountain with an Ozark theme). The kids rode over and over, even once entirely by themselves.

We shared succotash and kettle corn at the park. I found the food tasty and not too expensive for an amusement park (except for the $5 we spent on a small cup of strawberries). Much of the food is 19th century themed and you can watch them prepare it in huge cast iron pans. You can also take cooking classes. SDC allows snacks and small coolers, but I didn't want to mess with that.

Bad weather (lightning) caused most of the rides to close late in the evening, but by that time we were ready to return to our resort. We passed a entertaining looking street party on our way out, but we were too exhausted to join in.

Silver Dollar City has many demonstrations of 19th century crafts and some that you can pay to do. I remember making candles as a kid. We missed all of that this trip. We did not have time to visit Marvel Cave also inside the park.

On Thursday, we again enjoyed the pool. The kids made friends and did sand art sculpture with resort staff. J (12 y.o.) also won the ping pong tournament. He was the only entry, but he won a ticket to one of the shows in town! 

Ginny had food vouchers from the timeshare so we went to Shogun, a Japanese steak house for lunch. The kids loved the entertaining at-table food preparation. 

After lunch we visited the Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery ran by the Missouri Department of Conservation. We enjoyed an informative 8 minute film. They have lots of small animals to see. For 25 cents, we got to feed the fish in giant outdoor pools, a very popular activity.

We did a bit of shopping. (Branson has an overwhelming amount.)

For dinner, we used another food voucher, this one for Charlie's Steak, Ribs, and Ale. It's the only microbrewery in Branson. I thought the prices were extremely reasonable. There was also a singer.

After dinner, we saw the show J had won the ticket for, Hamners' Unbelievable, a magic and variety show. We all enjoyed it, but L loved it. Many of the shows in Branson, including the one we saw, offer FREE tickets for kids.

(As a child, I also enjoyed the Shepherd of the Hills Outdoor Theater (includes a burning building!!) and some other variety shows in Branson. Those shows are still there!)

We left early the next day.

Like Wisconsin Dells, Branson is a entertainment mecca that has lost focus of the original attraction, the natural beauty of the Ozark mountains. Patriotic and Christian imagery are everywhere, usually for sale.

Also, the traffic can be terrible. 76 is bumper to bumper at peak times, but the city has mapped out alternative routes designated by color. Free maps were available at every restaurant, hotel, and retail space we stopped in.

Our Visit to Statue Of Liberty

Five of us, ages 72, 47, 12, 10, and 7, took a surprise trip to the Statue of Liberty on July 21. I've visited Manhattan a few times, including an awesome ladies trip in June 2014, but I'd never made it to Liberty Island. The kids had asked to go to Statue of Liberty so we sacrificed a day in Philadelphia to make it happen.

I found a room with 2 beds and a sleeper sofa, free parking, and breakfast at Comfort Suites in Newark for $110 on Trivago. I booked through hotels.com (tryng to get to the 10 night minimum for a free night's stay).

We arrived late at night and needed to get to Philadelphia the next evening so this was a quick trip to NYC. Although there is a ferry to Liberty Island from New Jersey, I wanted the kids to experience Manhattan so we rode the ferry from Battery Park after taking a taxi ($15 for a minivan) to Newark Penn Station and the PATH train ($2.75 one way) to World Trade Center. We soaked up the city atmosphere on the short walk from the station to Battery Park.

We had reserved ferry tickets a week ahead of time. The tickets included a ferry to Ellis Island and audio tours on both islands. By the time we reserved, pedestal and crown tickets were unavailable. If that happens to you, it doesn't hurt to ask upon arrival for availability. We had family who managed to get pedestal access about a week before, but everything I've read says crown access must be booked months in advance. Only 400 people are allowed in the crown per day, there is no elevator and you must be 48 inches tall. Our 7 year old is only 47 inches.

Will Call is in Castle Clinton in Battery Park. Folks with reserved tickets get to take the shorter line to the airport style security screening before boarding the ferry. We were lucky to be near the front of the line and got seats on the top deck. Many people had to stand.  We should have worn more sunscreen on this bright sunny day. They had snacks and drinks for sale on the ferry, but we made do with the water we brought with us.

Since we were feeling a bit hangry, lunch was the first order of business when we exited the ferry. The food was mediocre and overpriced, but I was impressed with the commitment to eco-friendly packaging and limiting waste. Too bad the water bottle refill station was not functioning.

Making up for the food was the wonderful visit to our table by Auguste Bartholdi. Although the French sculptor has been dead for more than 100 years, he still managed to entertain us with stories of how he designed and built the Statue of Liberty. I learned that while French citizens financed the statue, Americans were responsible for the cost of building the pedestal. I also learned that the Egyptian pyramids inspired him to create epic public monuments.

After curing our hangries, we headed straight for the restrooms. They are next to the gift shop so of course we had to look around and wonder which we needed more, the ubiquitous foam liberty hat or a large replica of the statue. The 7 year old had her heart set on a small statue. We purchased one for $3 from a small souvenir shop in Manhattan rather that pay the National Park mark up. Sometimes we chose to support the parks by shopping in them; sometimes we need to save a bit of money.

Our next move was a walk around the statue. Monsieur Bartholdi advised us to look for Lady Liberty's raised heel, signifying her readiness to move forward.

The girls love to earn Junior Ranger badges, available at this and many other National Park sites. We had printed the book ahead of time and finished much of it our road trip. Our last order of business was to collect the badges.

We then headed to Ellis Island for a quick look around. The kids enjoyed the kids' version audio tour and Grandma enjoyed resting on the benches and chatting with folks around her. Her grandmother had emigrated through Ellis Island. The fabulous exhibits helped us imagine what her journey must have been like.

After we left Ellis Island, the girls earned their Castle Clinton Junior Ranger badge with my help. The kind park ranger also gave them the 100th anniversary badge and the Junior Ranger embroidered patch.

We headed for a nearby bank to get a bit more cash, then went to see the famous financial district bull. It's always been a dream of mine to have my children see international visitors taking selfies while fondling gold bull balls. OK, maybe not. The kids didn't mention it. Pehaps they weren't paying attention...

We walked up to Wall Street, took a look at Trinity Church, and enjoyed smoothies at a nearby corner deli.

By then it was time to head back to the hotel to get our car and continue on to Philadelphia. The taxi from Newark Penn Station back to Comfort Suites was only $8, but all 5 of us squeezed into a regular yellow cab.

What I wish I knew
You must take the ferry from your stated point of origin (New Jersey or Manahattan), but once on Liberty Island you could go to either place. We might have left the car at Liberty State Park in New Jersey ($7 to park) and taken the ferry to Manhattan, then the ferry back to the park.

Here's a great article from the LA Times. I wish I'd seen it before I went.

Strange Places I've Spent the Night

• In someone else's RV at an RV park where much of the playground equipment and outdoor furniture is hand crafted
• In a Dumpster 
• At the zoo
• In a children's museum
• On a Minor League Baseball Field
• On covered ice at a hockey rink
• At a living history museum
• In a Frat House (I'm Female)
• Actually, a frat house is converted to a hotel. (This is not that kind of blog.) Go there.
• On church floors
• in Ketchikan, Alaska at a church that hosts a hostel
• I didn't know I'd be sleeping on the floor. Most hostels provide bunk beds.
• in a Sunday School Classroom for a high school "lock-in"
• in the fellowship hall for Girl Scout sleepovers

Car Camping Checklist

stove and fuel
dutch oven
matches/lighter
charcoal
firewood
food
camp kitchen

• knife
• cutting board
• cup, dish, flatware per person
• frying pan
• dish pan
• soap

tent
sleeping bags/pillows
air mattress/pad
lantern/flashlights
rope
change of clothes
pjs
toothbrush/paste
soap
towel
camp chair
refillable water bottle
sunscreen
bug spray

Spring Break at Walt Disney World!

Six of us (3 adults, 46, 51, 70 and 3 kids, 5, 8, 10) are road-tripping to WDW in March. We're staying at a time share in Kissimee.

I'm thinking about sending J and D to the Kennedy Visitors Center including lunch with an astronaut. I was surprised how expensive it is-$50/adult and $40/child for entry. They have packages for $75/adult and $59/child which includes the astronaut buffet. Parking is $10.

Must dos at Disneyworld (b/c I missed these the last 2 times or they're new):

MK
Merida m&g
Story time with Belle
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
L wants to meet Ariel

Epcot
Gran Fiesta Tour

DHS
Animation Academy

AK
Expedition Everest

All the kids want to collect autographs. Last time we used pillowcases. This time we're bringing quote books or something like the Junior Encyclopedia of Animated Characters.

New York City June 2014

'As for New York City, it is a place apart. There is not its match in any other country in the world.' Pearl S Buck


Average Temps: High 79
                          Low 62

Manhattan Population 1,619,000

Sites to see:
Twin Towers Memorial
Statue of Liberty
Rockefeller Center
Central Park
High Line

Best way to get from Newark to New York

Helpful Websites:
http://www.nyc.com/
http://gonyc.about.com/od/planyourtriptonyc/a/june.htm
http://museummilefestival.org/
http://www.shakespeareinthepark.org/
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/usa/new-york-city
http://www.eldridgestreet.org/event/14th-annual-egg-rolls-egg-creams-festival/
http://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/index.html
http://www.playbill.com/celebritybuzz/article/110105-Weekly-Schedule-of-Current-Broadway-Shows
nytimes.com

Food
http://www.legalnomads.com/2009/12/new-york-cheap-eats-my-top-picks.html
http://www.buzzfeed.com/benandjerrys/foods-everyone-must-try-before-leaving-nyc#1264245
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/22/nyc-tourist-food_n_5365653.html

Shopping
http://newyork.cbslocal.com/guide/nyc-guide-to-thrift-shopping/


Interactive Map
http://www.tripomatic.com/lp/New-York-City-Manhattan-Printable-Tourist-Map/