Waterville Valley in New Hampshire Fall Events

Have you ever visited New Hampshire during the Autumn season? If not, you are really missing out! New Hampshire has some of the best Fall Foliage here in the Northeast. Several years ago hubby and I took a road trip through New Hampshire and it was absolutely gorgeous!

Here is some information on the Fall events currently scheduled for the Waterville Valley area. Fall is definitely one of the best times of the year to plan a visit!

Autumn is here, and it is a special time in Waterville Valley in New Hampshire. The surrounding White Mountain National Forest serves as the perfect scenic backdrop for family friendly fun, a couples’ getaway or a group trip.

Staying at Waterville Valley Resort gets you closer to fall scenery with a variety of options and activities, whether you are an adventurous outdoor enthusiast or looking for a more low-key, relaxing experience. There is something special about being in the valley surrounded by the mountains, away from the traffic and noise of a large city.

Freedom to Choose

Waterville Valley Resort’s Freedom Pass gives visitors access to a wealth of activities, from tennis and golf to ice skating, boating and trolley rides around the valley. There are many options whether you’re looking to be active or spend some time relaxing.

You don't have to be a professional to enjoy the Golf Club’s nine hole course or tennis on one of the Tennis Center’s 18 courts. Or, head over to the Waterville Ice Arena for some ice skating. For a slower paced but scenic activity, take a paddle boat ride around Corcoran’s Pond or a ride up the Snow’s Mountain chairlift.

No car necessary! Waterville Valley’s open air trolley stops at many locations around the valley and can bring you wherever you need to go, or on a nice unhurried tour, Visit Town Square, where there’s a variety of restaurants, shops and nice view of Corcoran’s Pond. This is also where many events take place and visitors gather just to take in the scenery.

Hiking

Hiking is one of the most popular fall activities in Waterville Valley, dating back to the 1800s when the Waterville Athletic and Improvement Association was formed. The association still exists and oversees 100 miles of trails around the valley, ranging from easy, flat walking paths to more challenging climbs.

Access the trail network around Snow’s Mountain by foot or via the chairlift. Maps are available, noting beginner through advanced terrain.

Popular hikes near Waterville Valley include:

Welch Mountain & Dickey Mountain Loop: This hike loops across the summits of the Welch and Dickey mountains, both nearly 3,000 feet in elevation, providing nice views along the way.
Mount Osceola: Mount Osceola is one of 48 mountains in New Hampshire known on the “4,000 footers” list produced by the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC). It is accessible via Tripoli Road in Livermore or off the Kancamangus Highway in Lincoln.
Mountain Biking

Another way to hit the trails in Waterville Valley is on two wheels. Bring your own bike or rent one from the Adventure Center in Town Square. This is a great activity for beginners and experienced riders alike. With more than 30 miles of trails, there is a variety of terrains for all abilities. You can even take the bike up the Snow’s Mountain Chairlift and choose your path down. The trails are well-marked with checkpoints and maps along the way.

In addition to well-maintained rentals, the Adventure Center offers guided lessons with instructors to make sure riders feel comfortable and suggest suitable routes. This is a unique way to take in the beauty of the surrounding White Mountain National Forest.

Fall Events

15th Annual Chili Challenge & Brews-Sept. 27

This is an annual favorite in Waterville Valley. Area restaurants compete in Town Square for the title of best chili. For $7.50/adults and $5/child (12 & under) attendees can sample all of the contestants’ chili and vote for their favorite beginning at noon. Uncle Steve Band will play a free live concert from noon to 3 p.m. There will also be hot sauce samples from New Hampshire-based Jehu Hot Sauce and a brew tent open until 4 p.m..

White Mountain Storytelling Festival-Sept. 27-28

Back for its fourth year, this festival provides stories for people of all ages, including children’s stories, ghost stories and more. The event runs Saturday through Sunday morning, featuring nationally known storyteller Odds Bodkin. Nearly 15 experienced storytellers will entertain audiences in various venues, separated by age groups/genres.

Fall Foliage Celebration-Oct. 11-13

Celebrate fall in the Valley with the Fall Foliage Festival, held during Columbus Day weekend. A weekend of fun events is planned, including children’s games, pumpkin painting, and live music. On Sunday, there will also be a 5K run/walk hosted by the Waterville Recreation Department, a beer garden with fall brew samples, a corn hole tournament, and a stein holding competition. Guests of all ages are invited to enjoy this festival.

Waterville Valley was designed and planned specifically as a self-contained, four seasons resort. Today in addition to its world-class ski area, Waterville Valley Resort has award-winning tennis courts, golf, hiking, biking, lodging, cultural activities and summer theater, an indoor ice rink, boating, a skate park, and a host of outdoor activities. Dining options include traditional favorites and elegant dining. For more information, call 1-800-GO-VALLEY or visit www.visitwatervillevalley.com.

The Beautiful Lighthouses of New Jersey

Absecon Lighthouse

We love to travel and one of our favorite things to do is to travel around the United States checking out all of the beautiful lighthouses that our country has to offer. Many lighthouses are being beautifully preserved by historical societies and others are being left to fall by the wayside.

One of our favorite states to travel in happens to be New Jersey and the Jersey Shore has 18 beautiful lighthouses running up and down their coastline. Some of these beauties are open to the public and several are not.

Hereford Inlet Lighthouse

1. Conover Beacon
2. Chapel Hill Lighthouse
3. Sandy Hook Lighthouse
4. Twin Lights Lighthouse of Navesink
5. Sea Girt Lighthouse
6. Barnegat Lighthouse
7. Tucker's Island Light
8. Absecon Lighthouse
9. Hereford Inlet Lighthouse
10. Cape May Lighthouse
11. Brandywine Shoal Lighthouse
12. East Point Lighthouse
13. Fourteen Foot Bank Lighthouse
14. Miah Maull Shoal Lighthouse
15. Elbow of Cross Ledge Lighthouse
16. Finns Point Rear Range Light
17. Ship John Shoal Lighthouse
18. Tinicum Rear Range Lighthouse

Cape May Lighthouse

The Absecon, Cape May, Hereford Inlet, East Point, Tinicum Rear Range, Sandy Hook, Sea Girt, Twin Lights of Navesink, Barnegat, Tucker's Island and Finns Point Rear Range Lighthouses are all open to the public. Some have "free" admission and other's charge a small admission fee. Many of them allow you to walk around the surrounding grounds for free too.

If you love visiting historic places, such as lighthouses...New Jersey definitely needs to be on your travel bucket list. We have visited 9 out of 18 of them on the list so far and hopefully we will see them all within the next few years.

Enjoy your trip to New Jersey and touring all of their beautiful lighthouses along the Atlantic coast. There is an official New Jersey Lighthouse Trail website and trail that you can follow if you're interesting in checking out all of the beautiful lighthouses up and down the coast.

Tips for a Successful Family Reunion at Sea

Whether families are traveling to celebrate a special birthday, retirement, graduation, or simply to celebrate each other, a cruise vacation is sure to bring them closer together. Today I wanted to share this timely article with all of my Pennsylvania & Beyond Travel Blog readers from CLIA - Cruise Lines International Association. There are a lot of great tips for you to read through below. Enjoy!

Family-focused activities for a range of ages, superior dining and entertainment, good value and stress-free planning are among the top reasons that cruise lines are in demand for family reunion vacations, according to Cruise Lines International Association, the world’s largest cruise association. MMGY Global 2014 Portrait of American Travelers reports that over three in 10 grandparents traveled with their grandchildren in the past 12 months and eight in 10 of those also took the parents along.

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) recommends these tips when planning a multi-generational family reunion:

Think Bang for Your Buck
The inclusive nature of a cruise helps keep families on a budget. There are no worries about who is going to pay for this dinner or that activity as almost all meals, entertainment and activities are included in the rate. Extras, such as specialty restaurants, can be decided ahead of time. Kids even sail for free on select Crystal Cruises (ages 17 and under) and MSC Cruises (ages 11 and under, plus kids 17 and under sail at a reduced rate.)

Work with a Qualified Travel Agent
CLIA member certified agents are the best resource for ship, itinerary selection and cruise planning based on the specialized CLIA training they undergo and their knowledge of the cruise industry. They can also coordinate group and family reunion arrangements directly with the cruise lines. Visit CLIA’s website, cruising.org, to find an expert cruise counselor.

Kid’s Programming
For parents who may want a break from their children – and vice versa – most cruise ships offer structured and supervised recreation programs and facilities. Carnival Cruise Lines, in addition to its Seuss at Sea program, has added Camp Ocean, a new themed children’s program on all of its ships. Kids can also run into such “characters” as SpongeBob SquarePants and other Nickelodeon friends on Norwegian Cruise Line ships and the Marvel characters recently joined their Disney pals on Disney Cruise Line.

Teens have their own cool spaces and activities just for them too, such as mocktail mixology classes, teen yoga, tech classes and teen only night club events on Holland America Line ships. Princess Cruises’ Royal Princess features Remix, a lounge area with foosball and video games, plus an outdoor trendy teen lounge area. Teens can enjoy a little financial independence with MSC Cruises’ Teen Card, a prepaid card designed for small onboard purchases - such as refreshments. On Celebrity Cruises, teens can be film directors with iTake, where they get to take videos from storyboard to filming to editing, with the project ending with a film festival and award ceremony.

Adults-Only Time
Many CLIA lines have adults-only areas where they can enjoy a mini-escape while the kids are at play. The Sanctuary on Princess Cruises is an adults-only outdoor spa-inspired space for relaxing and pampering. The Serenity adults-only retreat on Carnival Cruise Line’s ships offer a tranquil space with whirlpools, lounge chairs and bar service for grown-up relaxation.

Adults also should set aside at least one guilt-free night to enjoy a specialty restaurant that caters to adult tastes. Palo and Remy are both adult-only restaurants on Disney Cruise Line ships, offering Italian and French cuisine respectively, as well as sea views.

And even if the families want to have evening meals together, My Family Time Dining on Royal Caribbean International ships has kids complete their dinner within 45 minutes and be escorted to the kids club by youth program counselors, freeing the adults to enjoy the rest of their meal on their own. During Parents Night Out on Costa Cruises, kids spend the evening at a fun themed dinner, while parents have their own special time alone.

The More the Merrier
The minimum number of staterooms to benefit from a group rate differs with each cruise line. Many lines offer group discounts and points for onboard group amenities. Usually the bigger the group, the more extras they can enjoy. The Crystal Family Memories Program, for example, starts with benefits, such as a shipboard credit, with only six full-fare, full-payment guests.

If your group is large enough, it’s possible to charter an entire ship for a customized cruise on such CLIA lines as SeaDream Yacht Club and Paul Gauguin Cruises. Plus, cruise lines are offering more choice in staterooms to accommodate families. On select MSC Cruises’ ships, parents can have their own private stateroom with family accommodations in an adjacent stateroom with a connecting door. Norwegian Cruise Line features a number of family staterooms with more space and privacy for mom, dad and the kids.

Take Advantage of Home Ports
CLIA member cruise lines leave from numerous ports throughout the U.S., such as New York City, Boston, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Seattle, San Diego, Los Angeles, Galveston, Texas and more. Families can save time and money on airfare and drive to their closest home embarkation and disembarkation port.

Do Your Own Thing
Families are full of diverse people and a cruise lets everyone find their own fun and then share it later. Part of that fun is new experiences. Adrenaline seekers will get their rush rock climbing or zip lining on many of the ships on Royal Caribbean International’s fleet, or walking The Plank that extends eight feet over the side of Norwegian Cruise Lines’ newest ships, Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Getaway. Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 boasts a planetarium for out-of-this-world exploration. And, foodies can enjoy a wine or culinary class in Holland America Line’s Culinary Arts Center or Oceania Cruises’ Bon Appétit Cooking School, where there are also classes for young aspiring chefs.

Together Time
Family members should do what interests them, but remember they are on vacation to bond and spend time together. CLIA advises that reservations for specialty restaurants be made at the time of the cruise booking, since they fill up fast. For larger groups, a pre-dinner reception in one of the ship’s bars can be arranged. Many CLIA member cruise lines offer Broadway-caliber entertainment and big shows, and most of them are kid-friendly such as Disney Cruise Line’s Aladdin and Royal Caribbean International’s Hairspray.

While in port, groups can explore together on family-friendly shore excursions. Paul Gauguin Cruises encourages parents to join their children on eco-excursions to the natural wonders of French Polynesia as part of the line’s youth program, created by explorer and environmentalist Jean Michel Cousteau and his Oceans Future Society. Celebrity Cruises offers Customized Shore Excursions, so families can truly have alone time together. Tauck and Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection offer specific European river cruise departures designed especially for families, with shore excursions tailored for shared adventures.

For more on information on cruise vacations and to find a CLIA cruise counselor to plan a cruise vacation of a lifetime, visit www.cruising.org.

The Pennsylvania State Capitol Building in Harrisburg

The state capitol of Pennsylvania is Harrisburg and I have to admit, the Pennsylvania Capitol Building is one of the prettiest that I have ever seen. Okay, I am a little biased since I do live in PA. The Capitol is a public building belonging to the people of the commonwealth. It was dedicated back in October of 1906 and is still showing all of its beautiful architecture.

According to records and their web site, it was built and furnished at the cost of $13 million dollars and was designed in the American renaissance style. This is very evident if you have ever visited the building and taken a tour. Just a warning, there are a lot of steps to climb so if you have any walking problems, this tour is not for you.

The grounds around the Pennsylvania state capitol building are beautifully kept and well manicured. We love walking around the building and seeing all of the beautiful old trees, green lawn and the flowers. The building looks different from all sides except when you are looking at the dome and is situated on 45 acres of land.

If you are planning a trip down to the Pennsylvania State Museum or other downtown attractions, the capitol building is within walking distance of the museum. Parking is hard to come by, especially during the busy weekdays and often times we have to do paid parking, blocks away and walk.

If you visit the PA Capitol Building web site, you can take a virtual tour which is pretty cool for those who can't do a real tour of this historic building. Plus, you can learn all about the history on how this building became to be. Head on over so you can learn more. Enjoy your trip!

Top 5 Quietest Hotels in New York City

Every year we take a trip up to New York City to see the sights and sounds that the city has to offer. We usually do the normal tourist things like taking in a show on Broadway, dining at some local establishments, visiting the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building and so forth. The city really has a lot to offer and we love visiting when we can.

With that said, NYC is very noisy and noisy 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year! All day and night long you can hear people out on the busy streets, taxi cabs honking their horns and all kinds of other things. Most hotels are in the "noisy" sections of the city but there are a few that are on the more "quieter" side of things.

Here is a great article from NewYork.com that features the Top 5 Quietest Hotels in New York City. I 100% agree with their top 5 choices!

Photo: Courtesy of the Ritz-Carlton

Ritz-Carlton Battery Park, Battery Park
Tucked at the southern point of Battery Park, this super swanky hotel affords visitors the chance to spend the night in Manhattan, while feeling far off from the hustle and bustle. The views alone will sooth your soul with passing sailboats along the New York Harbor, the monumental Statue of Liberty and picturesque Verrazano Bridge. The great views aren’t the only relaxing features either. R&R is inevitable when snuggling in featherbeds piled with 400-thread-count Frette linens and a Bath Butler to will prepare the soaking tub with steaming water, oils and fragrances. 2 West St., 212-344-0800, ritzcarlton.com

Photo: Courtesy of the Crosby Street Hotel

Crosby Street Hotel, SoHo
Gracefully overlooking a quiet cobbled street of SoHo, this British import by Firmdale Hotels will transport you to Kensington Palace. While shopping, divine cuisine and trendy bars line the Soho streets outside, you wouldn’t know it within the hotel. Any intrusive sounds are absorbed by the thick carpets, plush furnishings and robust fluffy beds where you’ll slumber like the royals. The classic England décor with floral prints and antique-style along with the hotels heavenly take on high tea is enough to settle anyone after a long day of touring. 79 Crosby St., 212-226-6400, firmdalehotels.com

Photo: Courtesy of The Kitano

The Kitano, Midtown
A temple for tranquility, New York City’s only Japanese-owned hotel, the Kitano, is sure to bring out your inner Zen. Located on Park Avenue, the hotel features an elegant lobby with a mix of Japanese and contemporary art and luxurious rooms with pillow-top beds, blonde woods and marble bathrooms. In the mood to splurge – opt for the unique Tatami Suite, with wood floors, tatami mats and shoji paper screens. Either way this super-quiet hotel is wonderful for a deep sleep. 66 Park Ave., 212-885-7000, kitano.com

Photo: Courtesy of the Franklin Hotel

The Franklin Hotel, Upper East Side
Situated on a quiet, tree-lined street on the Upper East Side, this romantic hotel is nestled away from the roar of sound that can dictate other parts of the city. With just 50 rooms, the intimate European-styled hotel is adorned in cool tones of cream and caramel, and offers up amenities like soft Frette robes. In fact, it’s no surprise if you never want to de-robe and leave as they offer private drink service brought to your room on a silver platter. 164 E. 87th St., 212-369-1000, franklinhotel.com

Photo: Courtesy of the Hotel Belleclaire

Hotel Belleclaire, Upper West Side
Not all quiet hotels will cause you to empty your wallet. The historic Belleclaire, found on a calm stretch of West 77th Street, is reasonably priced and within easy reach to relaxing sites such as Central Park and Museum Mile. The rooms are also rock-solid with hardwood floors, soundproofed windows, dark-wood furniture and some even provide views of the glinting Hudson River. Mark Twain and Babe Ruth both checked in here during their time and now have suites named in their honor – dream about that! 250 W. 77th St., 212-362-7700, hotelbelleclaire.com

Fun Things to See and Do in Baltimore Inner Harbor

A few weeks ago we went down to Baltimore Inner Harbor and had a great time. We had been to Baltimore several times in the past but never for any overnight trips. Usually, we just drive down for the day, do what we want to do and return back home. This time around, we stayed for several days to see many of the sights and sounds that Inner Harbor has to offer.

On one particular afternoon we decided to pay the Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum a visit. We love visiting museums and this really caught our interest since it features the wild, wacky and strange things from all over the world. Oh...and gross things too!

Admission was a lot more than we wanted to pay...but we did go in. They actually have a a few different things that you can do while visiting, including a very cool Mirror Maze which costs an additional fee. We spent about 2 hours at Ripley's Believe It or Not and had a really great time. Hubby loved viewing the car they had on display that was made out of wood. Super cool.

On another afternoon we just spent time down on the waterfront in Inner Harbor walking around and shopping at many of the stores that you find there. On the day we visited, it wasn't overly crowded and the weather was beautiful. Needless to say, by the time we got back to our hotel room, hubby was tuckered out from carrying all of my shopping bags!

If you are looking to just relax in the great outdoors and near the water...there are many places to sit. We found a great bench in a very scenic location and sat there for quite a bit watching various boats come and go. It was really cool to see them all and some of them were pretty wild looking like this "Pirate" boat shown in the photograph above.

On another particular day we visited the National Aquarium at Inner Harbor and that was fantastic! It was one of our highlights from our trip. The National Aquarium houses over 17,000 aquatic animals and you can see many of them up close & personal. You can buy your tickets online or at the door and we highly recommend that you visit when visiting the great city of Baltimore.

Located at Pier 3 and at Pier 5 you will find the fabulous Baltimore Maritime Museum which is really cool if you enjoy learning about maritime history. We had great fun checking that out while we were there.

Nearby Inner Harbor is the famous Camden Yards where you can take in a Baltimore Orioles baseball game. It is within walking distance of Inner Harbor and is a lot of fun. While there you can check out the Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame and the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum.

These are just some of the activities that we got to enjoy during our recent trip down to Baltimore Inner Harbor and we will definitely be visiting again. There is a ton of things to see & do as a couple on a romantic trip or as a family outing.

Manor on Golden Pond B&B Inn - New Hampshire

We live in the north east and have always wanted to visit the great state of New Hampshire. With our 30th wedding anniversary coming up in 2016...New England and the surrounding area is definitely on our bucket list when we travel. That's right, we are going to take a 3 week vacation and travel all around New England to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary!

In the meantime, I wanted to share this information with all of you about The Manor on Golden Pond B&B Inn in New Hampshire that was recently sent over to me to share with all of my travel blog readers. I know many of you are planning your vacations right now and this B&B looks absolutely gorgeous and charming. Here is the information. I am NOT affiliated in any way with the business.

New Hampshire's Manor on Golden Pond Selected For 'Vacation of a Lifetime'

A year of free nights at celebrated inns and B&Bs across North America – that’s what Michael Hubbard and Sossi Chungrian won, and their travels take them June 1, 2014 to Holderness, New Hampshire where they will stay at The Manor On Golden Pond.

The couple were chosen from 49,853 entries as one of the grand prizewinners of the 2013 Vacation of a Lifetime from Select Registry Distinguished Inns. The Montreal, Canada couple’s prize is a free night at all of the nearly 350 Select Registry inns, B&Bs and small boutique hotels across the United States and Canada.

“It’s a dream vacation – the opportunity to stay at leading inns in great destinations in 40 states and provinces coast to coast,” says Jay Karen, Select Registry’s executive director. “They can visit as many of our properties as they like. Wherever they go, they’ll enjoy the very best our industry has to offer.”

Squam Lake residents are invited to be part of the couple’s journey, serving as local experts and sharing their favorite things to see and do here. Top picks will be featured on the Select Registry blog, showcasing all that the destination has to offer. Plus, qualifying recommendations will serve as entries to win the 2014 Vacation Of A Lifetime, awarding three grand prizes of free nights at all Select Registry inns throughout 2015.

Hubbard and Chungrian are planning overnight stays this year at inns from Middlebury, V.T.; Washington, D.C.; to Savannah, G.A.; to Denver, C.O.; Seattle, W.A.; and more. Throughout the year, they will share their travels on the Select Registry blog.

“Unique experiences – that’s what you get at inns and B&Bs, along with personal attention and wonderful accommodations,” Chungrian says. “That’s something you just don’t get everywhere. We’re thrilled to have this year of travel to great destinations enjoying delicious breakfasts and gracious hospitality.”

What makes Select Registry properties so special? Of the 20,000 inns and B&Bs in North America, only about 350 have qualified for this designation. Lodgings must pass rigorous, unannounced quality inspections first to gain and then to maintain their membership. “The goal is to give guests confidence that when they check into a Select Registry inn, they know they’re in for an exceptional experience,” Karen explains.

About Select Registry: Select Registry is a collection of premier inns in the United States and Canada. Only about 350 of the 20,000 inns and bed and breakfasts in North America have qualified to join this “best-of-the-best” collection. Member properties must pass rigorous, unannounced quality inspections to gain and maintain admission. Many of these inns are recipients of coveted industry awards for both service and ambiance, including: Best Small Hotels in the U.S., Top Ten Romantic Inns, Best Breakfast in America, Best Places To Watch the Sun Set, and World’s Best Adventure Lodges. To explore Select Registry inns across North America, visit Selectregistry.com/.

About the Manor on Golden Pond: Located in central New Hampshire, the Manor on Golden Pond provides luxury hotel services with the charm of a country bed & breakfast. At the Manor, visitors can enjoy skiing & snowboarding, downhill skiing, snowshoeing, sleigh rides and much more. In 2004, the Manor was selected as New Hampshire’s first member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, a prestigious luxury organization representing some of the world’s finest “five-star” boutique resorts with fewer than 100 rooms. The Manor has also received the “Award of Excellence” from Wine Spectator along with the Four-Diamond Award from AAA. For more information and for reservations call (800) 545-2141, (603) 968-3348 or visit www.manorongoldenpond.com.

Fun Outdoor Games to Play While Camping

When we take the family camping we always make sure we bring along some fun outdoor games. After all, the family is getting together for a fun week & what is more fun than laughing at each other playing some of our favorite outdoor games.

All of these games are readily available for purchase at various online and offline retailers. Some of them should only be played with adults and others are safe enough for the young children to play too! Many of them come in smaller versions just for those who like to travel and saves you a lot of space when packing.

* Bocce Ball
* Ring Toss
* Cornhole
* Bean Bag Toss
* Frisbee
* Badminton
* Croquet
* Rollors
* Lawn Darts
* Horseshoes
* Washer Toss
* Disc Golf
* Egg or Potato Toss
* Pickleball
* Tetherball
* Water Balloon Toss
* Softball
* Kickball
* Beer Can or Soda Can Bowling
* Ball Toss into Empty Cups (use PingPong Balls)
* Bottle Cap Toss into Empty Cups

Rollors

To keep things interesting, we rotate the games that we take when we go out camping and always take at least 3 games along with us. One of those games is one that kids & adults can play together and then the other 2 are usually adult only games.

To go along with your outdoor camping games, consider packing a memo pad & pencil (to keep score), a bottle of sunblock to protect your skin and a bottle of bug spray to keep those pesky bugs away while you are outside playing.

Pick up one or two games today and then slowly build your collection of games over time. You can use them while traveling and while at-home, so they make for a great investment. Enjoy your trip!

Ripley's Believe It or Not for the Weird, Wacky and Odd

A few weeks ago we headed down to Baltimore Inner Harbor in Maryland for a weekend of fun! We have been to Baltimore a few times and were looking forward to visiting again. If you have never been there, we highly recommend that you add it to your travel bucket list as there are a lot of fun things to see & do while visiting.

During this particular visit we headed to the Ripley's Believe It or Not which sits right in Inner Harbor. There are a lot of eateries and shopping nearby...so plan to spend an afternoon while there. We had to pay for parking ($5.00) and walk down to the place which sat a few blocks away from the parking area.

Ripley's Believe It or Not offers several different attractions. They have the: Marvelous Mirror Maze, 4D Moving Theater and the Odditorium. You can buy tickets there or purchase them online. We recommend buying them online to save you some time. Prices range from $12.99 to $17.99 per attraction or get a discount when purchasing & combining multiple attractions for the same day.

One of the cool things we saw on the day that we visited was this very cool Transformer made out of spare car parts! Seriously, it's pretty cool when you see it up close and personal. It was one of my hubby's favorite things to see because he is a car buff! Wow, can you imagine the hours it took to build that thing?

Another cool thing that they had was this stunning car made out of wood. Hubby was pretty impressed with that too and walked all around it checking it out. It is amazing that those doors really open and those headlights really do light up at night! Oh...check out those wheels too! Hubby would love to add that to his car collection someday for sure! I have to admit, I thought it was pretty cool too!

We did the Marvelous Mirror Maze attraction too which was a lot of fun! Expensive...but fun! That took us about 20 minutes or so to do. If you have very little kids...I would avoid it as there were tiny kids in there clowning around which irritated some of the adults that were there.

Ripley's Believe It or Not is open 365 days a year. If you are in the military, they do offer military discounts and they do have group rates for groups with 10 or more people. We had a great time and will definitely be visiting again the next time we visit the Baltimore area. We highly recommend it!

Gale South Beach's Packages for the Fall Season

It is hard to believe but Summer is slipping by and Fall is quickly approaching. With that said, hubby and I love taking vacations in the Fall before Winter sets in and traps us indoors for months. When we take vacations during the Fall season, we like to head South and hit up the great state of Florida.

For those of you who are heading to Florida and the South Beach and/or Miami Beach area...check out these fabulous Fall package deals from Gale South Beach!

Situated on lively Collins Avenue, Gale South Beach is located in the epicenter of Miami Beach. Menin Hospitality's $35 million restoration of the historic hotel in 2012 transformed the property into a state-of-the-art, Riviera-inspired luxury boutique hotel. The hotel features a gym, 5,000 sq. ft. rooftop bar and pool deck, Dolce Italian Restaurant and café, Regent Cocktail Club and subterranean night club, Rec Room.

With the "FALL Back into Summer" package at Gale South Beach (rate code "scat") guests will receive:

Luxury accommodations
Complimentary valet parking
15% off lunch at Dolce Italian (onsite)
2 drinks at the renowned Regent Cocktail Club
*a resort fee of $25.00 per day for 2 people is collected upon check in. the fee includes a $15 credit toward any Gale South Beach food & beverage outlet, high speed WiFi and two lounge chairs at Beach Club.

Or, guests can take advantage of the upcoming holiday and book the "Keep Calm and Shop on" package:

Luxury accommodations
Welcome in-room chilled Prosecco
Bottled Water (4) in your room daily
An exclusive Miami Beach VIP card that offers discounts to the shops and restaurant along Lincoln Road (one block from the hotel)
Complimentary Gale South Beach tote bag
15% off your lunch at Dolce Italian restaurant
Late check-out (by 2 pm)

Enhancement: After shopping all day, treat yourself to a foot massage at Club Essential Spa. You can book this enhancement at a special discounted rate upon purchase of this package.

*a resort fee of $25.00 per day for 2 people is collected upon check in. the fee includes a $15 credit toward any Gale South Beach food & beverage outlet, high speed WiFi and two lounge chairs at Beach Club.

* Rates start at 279.00 usd* per night.

Disclosure: Information and photos are copyright Gale South Beach and are provided as a courtesy to the Pennsylvania & Beyond Travel Blog Readers.

Tips for Going Glamping at a Mountain Resort

Glamping is relatively a new travel term that simply means going camping but in a glamorous way. Basically, it is a way for comfortable hotel travel to be taken to the great outdoors with luxurious conveniences that most of us enjoy.

There are many great mountain resorts across the nation like The Ranch at Rock Creek in Montana. The ranch offers luxurious accommodations for families or for couples who are just looking to get away.

Here are some of my favorite Glamping Tips when you are heading to a mountain resort.

1. Comfortable Footwear - You will be doing a lot of activities which means a lot of walking. Leave those high-heel stilettos at home. Pack a comfortable pair of walking shoes, athletic sneakers, sandals and/or hiking boots.

2. Skin Protection - You will want to bring along a bottle of SPF 30+ waterproof sunscreen, insect repellent and an after-sun lotion or balm. If you are really sun-sensitive, bring along a hat or sun-shielding umbrella.

3. Appropriate Clothing - The early morning and late evening hours tend to be on the chilly side in the mountains. During the day, the afternoons can really heat up. Pack a variety of clothing to accommodate both temperature changes.

4. Cosmetics & Toiletries - You are going on vacation to relax and to have some fun! Bring along only the basics that you need and only in the small travel sizes. To keep things neat and organized, pack them in plastic zipper closure bags.

5. Bring Rainy Day Entertainment - There may be days where the weather will keep you indoors. Bring along a deck of cards, a good book and a few travel-sized games to keep you entertained.

6. Meal Planning - Know ahead of time where you are going and what they provide in the form of food, beverages and snacks. Make a list of what you need and look for items that don't need any type of refrigeration which will make them easy to transport.

7. Flashlights, Lanterns and Candles - Pack a flashlight and battery-operated lantern to take along with you. If you want to sit out during the evening hours or take a nighttime stroll, you will have plenty of lighting for your needs. If you plan on having a little romance, buy travel candles which come nicely packaged in metal tins.

When it comes to going camping, no one said you had to "rough" it. These days, going glamping is a perfectly acceptable way of going camping. There is no right or wrong way to do it.

Enjoy your trip!

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored blog conversation by the advertiser mentioned in this post.