Crystal's Travel Journal

Missing New Articles??

2011-11-27T07:34:00.000-08:00

For family friendly travel ideas go here : http://crystalstravels.wordpress.com/

Check This Out!!

2011-10-18T14:59:00.001-07:00

Go Check Out http://crystalstravels.wordpress.com/ Best Blog ever!

Goldstar 0.99 Cent Coney Day

2011-09-28T12:25:00.000-07:00

October 5th is going to be 99 Cent Coney Day at Goldstar!! If you are in or near Cincinnati swing by for a tasty treat!

Disneyland VS Disney World

2011-09-27T06:05:00.000-07:00

Disneyland and Disney World both have their fans and critics. Which is the best option for a family friendly vacation? Comparing these two places can seem like comparing apples and oranges. They are similar but also very different. Disneyland is located in Anaheim, California. Disney World is in Orlando, Florida. The details that will be compared are weather, price, area, attractions, and convenience.

Weather can make or break a vacation. The average daily temperature in Anaheim is 65 degrees. The average high is 76 and the average low is 54. They have only 33 days of rain yearly. The average in Orlando is 73 degrees. The average high is 83 and the average low is 62. They have 117 days of rain a year. The temperature is comparable. The clear winner on days of rain is Disneyland.

The cost of visiting is always a huge concern. A six day package for Disneyland for two adults and two children (with ages of 3-9 years) includes a hotel and tickets to the park at a cost of $1995.04. A similar package at Disney World would cost you $1,645.64. Hotel prices are higher in Anaheim than in Orlando which likely accounts for the price difference. The estimates do not include the price of food. The cost of food looks to be comparable within both parks. The character meals are around $35 at both parks.

Convenience and size are other things to consider. Disneyland is one park. It is landlocked and in an urban area. Expansion is nearly impossible. Attractions have been updated over the years but space is at a premium. Disneyland with its urban location is convenient to hotels, shops, and restaurants. Disney World consists of four parks that are ever expanding. It also has two water parks. The parks do have many of the same attractions but there are more in Disney World. Disney World is not within walking distance to anything that is not onsite. Even the onsite areas are spread out. Disneyland occupies 180 acres of land while Disney World occupies 47 square miles.

The next thing to consider is how crowded the parks are. Disneyland averages almost 40,000 daily visitors. The Magic Kingdom Park in Disney World averages 44,110 daily visitors. The Epcot Park at Disney World only averages only 27,125 daily visitors. Perhaps one of the trivial differences is that Disneyland was built by Walt Disney himself. Disney World’s Magic Kingdom was a copy of Disneyland’s Magic Kingdom. Some say this gives Disneyland a more genuine quality.

In conclusion, Disneyland was the clear winner in the number of rainy days. The temperature was comparable between the two. Disneyland is much more convenient to the rest of Anaheim. You can walk to and from the park to restaurants, hotels, and shopping. This is nice for people who do not wish to rent a car when arriving by plane. Disneyland wins in convenience to the rest of the city. Disney World was slightly less expensive for the hotel and ticket package. They were almost identical on food prices. Disney World is much larger. There are many more attractions. It has four parks instead of one. It also has two water parks. Disney World is the winner in attractions. Disney World is cut off from the rest of Orlando. It is roughly a thirty minute drive from other area attractions. The last detail that I am comparing is the amount of visitors. Disney World’s Magic Kingdom is slightly busier than Disneyland. However, Epcot does not have as many visitors. Disneyland does have the history of being built by Walt Disney himself. Disney World has a slight edge over Disneyland but there is not a clear cut winner. They both have their own merits.

PS. I had to write this for something else and I thought my travel readers may enjoy it.

Olive Garden - Florence, KY

2011-09-26T10:13:00.000-07:00

Last night we had dinner at the Olive Garden on Mall road in Florence, Kentucky. I had a really busy day and did not want to cook. We all needed a night off! We threw caution to the wind and embraced a high calorie but fantastic meal! Olive Garden is a very pretty restaurant with amazing food and a great wait staff. I must state up front that this is not a budget dinner but it is not outrageous either. Dinner for the four of us ran just under $50. We did not drink any vino (wine) though because the price stacks up quickly! I had a bottle chilled and waiting at home.

We started with a pick two sampler appetizer. We got stuffed mushrooms and ravioli. You get six of each. The ravioli was wonderful. It was lightly breaded and fried. It came with a thick tomato sauce for dipping. Not good for you by any means but yummy. I am normally a huge mushroom fan but I was not impressed with these. Ivy loved them however.

The Eggplant Parm caught my eye on the dinner menu. It was great! I got five eggplant slices and spaghetti on the side. Michael, my husband, got Carbonara Ravioli with Chicken. I tried a bite of each. They were just as good as the eggplant! Their kids meals are set up so the kids get choices. They pick a pasta and a sauce. Bella, my toddler, got small shells and red meat sauce. You can add a protein to a kids meal for a $1.25. This is what Ivy did. She got Fettuccine Alfredo with shrimp. She said it was very tasty. The kids also got to chose a side. Ivy got mashed potatoes, which I thought was a little weird. I normally would not allow two carbs in one meal but this was a special outing. We let the kids pick whatever they want when we go out. It is not an issue because we do this so rarely! I got Bella grapes for her side.

They also brought a huge bowl of salad with Italian dressing and a basket of hot, fresh bread sticks to the table for all of us to share. The salad and bread sticks are unlimited. They will gladly refill either or both as many times as you want. This was not an issue for us. We had way too much food!! While we greatly enjoy food we are not huge eaters. We can all eat a decent sized meal but everything here was double sized! The waiter packed up half of all our meals except Bella's. We brought almost her entire meal home. She only ate a few bites of her pasta. She did have a bread stick and some salad. She was so overwhelmed by the environment that she spared little time for eating. She enjoyed herself, talking to people who walked by, coloring on the kids menu and checking out her large cloth napkin. They ended the dinner by bringing us our doggie bag with our packed up leftovers and mints for all of us.

It was a great dinner! Next time I will not order appetizers. There was too much food for us. The place does have a good atmosphere. It is the kind of place that allows you to linger and enjoy your food. Granted we were a little later then the normal dinner rush which may have impacted this fact. We got there at about 8pm. During the weekend dinner rush our experience could have been much different. The place was still busy but there was not a line waiting to be seated. For popular restaurants it typically pays to go early or wait until a little late. The service tends to be better because the staff is helping less people. At some places we have visited even the food is better when you visit outside of the peak hours.

The Details:

Location: 7848 Mall Road, Florence, KY 41042

Phone number: (859) 371-5425

Ordered: 1 appetizer, 2 adult dinners plus drinks, and 2 kids meals

Cost: $48 plus tip

If I had it to do over: I would drop the appetizer!

Totter's Otterville - Covington/Latonia, KY

2011-09-25T20:01:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we took the kids to Totter's Otterville in Covington/Latonia, Kentucky. We had not visited this place since Ivy was little. It had been around 5 years ago that we had gone here for a birthday party. We remembered it being a great place at the back of a toy store. I was a little shocked upon re-visiting. The toy store has since gone under. Totter's Otterville remains. We got there just after lunch around 2pm. They do not close until 8pm. Children's admission is $7.95 each. I had coupons of $2.00 off each child's admission. Adults do not pay to get in. It cost us around $12.00 for both the girls.

We got inside and immediately went to find the bathroom. I was struck on the way there by how run down they have become. It used to be a 4 out of 5 star kind of place. Now it is a 2 out of 5 star kind of place. It was a busy Saturday at a children's play place so I tried not to hold the state of the only bathroom against them too badly. I would have expected a place this size to have a larger bathroom and more than one of them. They also only have one diaper changer that folds down in the main area of the bathroom. I had to wait in line behind 3 other mother's to change Bella. I tried to wait patiently. While waiting I did see that they have a small potty for toddlers and preschoolers. I thought that was really nice. They only have two adult sized toilets in the woman's room. One is a handicapped stall. Most of the time I try to avoid using these because I think of how I would feel if there was only one stall available to me and other people were filling it. At places like the mall where there are 10 or 15 regular stalls it is easy to not use the handicapped one. Here I had no choice. After changing Bella I used the handicapped stall. I honestly hope that a handicapped child or adult had not been in there. The floor was wet! Really wet. I did report it and on the next potty break it was cleaned up. I want to point this out to readers: If you go to a bathroom that is unsafe please report it. Someone could get hurt. Places do not always know the state of the bathrooms.

After the bad trip to the bathroom we moved on to the animal hospital room. They have real animals behind glass kind-of like a pet store. The rest of the room is fake animals and "vet" equipment. Bella dressed up in a scrub coat and checked their blood pressure. The girls got a real kick out of this! I am in school and they have seen me practice taking blood pressure well over a hundred times. I think they enjoyed pretending to do the same. After that we went out into the main area near the entry where they had a special man in for the day. He had a white rabbit that the kids were allowed to pet and he was making balloon animals for $1. Not expensive but I still felt like it was not right. They charge you at the door and you get the feeling that other than food the entertainment will be free. This annoyed me for some reason. Bella is really too young for balloons and Ivy was not remotely interested so I did not have to have an internal battle over where I was going to come down on this. They did spend some time petting that rabbit.

Next, We proceeded to go outside. They have the cutest fake fishing pond. The girls loved this! There are little poles and fake fish in the lake. They are magnetic so the kids can "catch" them. It is really adorable and was a huge redeeming feature for this place. After that we went through the small outdoor maze. The first time Ivy lead them through. We later let Bella lead us all through. It was funny. She got us turned around many times but eventually lead us back out. The walls in the maze looked like they had better days. There is an outdoor sand area. We did not play in it. I HATE sand unless we are at the beach or prepared for it with spare clothing and shoes. It is such a mess! I simply said we will not be playing in the sand when we went outside and that was it.

We went to ride the small outdoor train which is one of their big attractions but they were closing it down! It was around 3pm & they do not close until 8pm. I could not believe they shut it down. It had rained earlier that day but was running when we got there. There was no sign and when I asked I was told that the guy wanted to go home or something. We played on the outdoor playground equipment which looks extremely run down. I have seen better outdoor playground equipment at free parks in many places. There is a very small toddler playground area near the fish pond that Bella played at for a couple minutes. It looked much nicer than the big one. That is all of the outdoor areas.

We went back inside. We took the kids to the area by the entry. They took off their shoes and went to play in the ball pit. This was the first time that Bella has ever been in a ball pit. She loved it. When they first got in there was only one other kid in it but after a few minutes there were loads. Ivy conned Bella out because she was afraid the bigger kids would hurt her. They went to play in the big indoor playground. They climbed up to the top and played in the helicopter. They went down the slides. They checked out the giant stuffed elephant. It is really neat. I am sure this area is much newer. It was in much better condition.

They have an area named the village. In here there are miniature versions of the grocery store, a restaurant, a clothing shop, and a house. This was Ivy's favorite part last time we visited. They played in here for a while. It is still cute but everything is a little rough around the edges. The whole area was a complete mess. My kids, being true to their genes, had fun cleaning up and putting straight the store and restaurant. Ivy said they were shop keepers with bad employees. At that point my hubby started laughing and said "Wow, What is your mommy doing to you?" I gave him a quick elbow in the side. He laughed and said "Maybe you could talk to the owner of this place about training their employees to clean up a little." I about died laughing. He had a point. They had one girl running around the inside areas trying to keep everything clean. She was great! The problem was the rest of the staff just hanging around near the snack area not doing much but chatting.

The girls also checked out the clothing shop. I let Ivy put a dress on Bella but I would not let either of the kids wear the dress-up shoes. Just thinking of all the feet that had likely been through those shoes that day grossed me out. The little house area was so messy the kids just avoided it. I did not blame them it was so bad you could not walk in there. After that we went to the wet play area. I was happy that they have waterproof smocks so the kids can play without getting their clothing wet. While the kids were playing here I went to the snack area to get us all drinks. I got the hubby and I large soft drinks. Ivy got a small root beer. I was thrilled to see they had milk for Bella. Hubby really wanted nachos so I got one order of them to share. I had found a coupon for $5.00 off $10.00 or more at the snack bar. Our total was blissfully under $6.00! I'm glad because those were the nastiest nachos ever! Seriously, avoid their nachos! The drinks were fine. Their refills are only 25cents which was really nice.

We moved the kids to the block building area so we could sit and watch them. I was so happy to grab a seat. I had other stuff I did that morning and the high heeled boots I was wearing were starting to bother my feet. I was also battling allergies yesterday. The pills are starting to work today. I found out that one of the worst areas for allergies is indeed the greater Cincinnati area. That's just a little side note for anyone interested in visiting in fall. The block area was nice. Next to it was a dance studio. Bella put on a tutu and started to play dance. Ivy tried to play with her but she was a little tall for the bars. Then a child came over and started climbing on top of the bars and jumping off. I looked around for a likely parent for her but could not find one. She later started climbing the dividing walls that are about 5' high. I told her to please get down before she hurt herself. She shot me a dirty look and took off. At least she did not break a leg or fall on another child. We moved our girls down another section to the conveyor belt area. This reminded me of a factory assembly line. Bella enjoyed this. She liked packing the foam blocks into the milk crates. Ivy got bored with this quickly but there was a post office area right by this and she went to check it out.

After they were finished with that area we moved on to the face painting area. Ivy drew a heart on Bella's cheek. I let Bella enjoy it in the mirror for a minute before I washed it off. There were 4 signs stating that the paint may stain clothing. Bella was trying to rub it off before Ivy had finished. I took Bella to the flower shop area to play while Ivy did her face. Ivy drew a mustache and a goatee on herself. It was hilarious! After she was done she joined Bella in the flower shop area. This was one of the cutest areas in the best shape. The kids made flower arrangements for a while before moving over to the art station next door. In the art area Bella did stamps. Next to the art area was a baby area for children under 2. Bella played in here for a little while. The floor is soft in this area. She ran around in there for a little while. Next, the girls played in the miniatures room. It had doll houses, farms, and other various miniatures. After that Bella went across the walkway to the train area. Ivy did not go with her to this one. She was enjoying the doll houses too much.

When we were done with these two stations we were done with the whole place except for the puppet theater room which was exactly where we went. Ivy likes puppets. Bella did not quite get the concept of what they were for. She would pick one up and shake it. Then she would give it to one of us. We would put our hand in it and make it talk. She would laugh and repeat the process with the next family member. When the kids were done playing puppets I gave them the option to revisit anything that we had done. Bella yelled "Fishy." We went back to the fishing pond. We also went by to pet the rabbit again and did the maze once more before we left.

They have this system to ensure safety. They give the parent/adult and the children they are with the same bracelet. The attendant checks the bracelets when you leave to ensure they match. When we got to the front we were shocked to find that nobody was working the gate. The gate is not locked or anything. It just swings right open. Instead of just leaving I decided to wait to see how long it would take for somebody to turn up. We waited for around 5 minutes before a girl comes jogging up and announced "Sorry." If I had been trying to walk off with someones child I would have been not only out of the building but out of the lot and headed for the highway! Please do not trust in their "system." I let her cut off all of our bracelets and headed to the car. I will not be visiting this place again. Do not waste your money making this trip.

Miller Lite Concert - Columbus, Ohio

2011-09-21T18:22:00.000-07:00

I was lucky enough to attend the Miller Lite Concert last night in Columbus, Ohio. It was a private event. You could not buy tickets for it. It was at the Nationwide Arena. We got there early and got lucky enough to get floor seats. We were about 10 rows from the stage watching Phil Vassar, 3 Doors Down, and Sammy Hagar and The Wabos! It was a great party! I got videos and photographs to share with my blog readers! ;) Enjoy!

On our way to Columbus!

Waiting for the concert to start

Phil Vassar got things started.

Phil Vassar playing the piano.

Singing on top of his piano. He was everywhere! Very fit to be jumping on that piano!

This video is of Phil Vassar singing "Piano Man." He was very good! This was my first good video of the night.

Laughing and enjoying my Grape vodka mixer! YUM

Lead Singer of 3 Doors Down: Brad Arnold

Brad Arnold

3 Doors Down were great!

Brad Arnold

Hubby trying to get a shot of both of us.

A margarita & 2 grape vodka mixers and this party got even better, lol. (and no I was not driving!)

This went down to cover the stage while they got ready for Sammy Hagar to play.

The jumbotron was literally over our heads!

Sammy Hagar

Sammy Hagar Live

Sammy Hagar

Fans got to stand on stage as they played

One of the Miller Lite Girls

Here's the links to my videos from the concert. Blogger was having trouble loading them.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbJHb0buXbE - 3 Doors Down
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrPetV2gkGc - 3 Doors Down- Kryptonite
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxGAVjbqd_Q - 3 Doors Down - I'm So Far Down
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuAjEYEEYRM - 3 Doors Down - When You're Young
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBNw7rrdEI0 - 3 Doors Down - I'm a Loser
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGgXuhjmsXY - 3 Doors Down - Here Without You
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_BEornWeM4 - Sammy Hagar - I can't drive 55
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDkkLnWrLhI - Sammy Hagar - Best of Both Worlds
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ij2SnD71qmo - Sammy Hagar - Finish What You Started

Fun With Flowers

2011-09-21T14:50:00.000-07:00

Flagship Park - Erlanger, KY

2011-09-14T12:36:00.000-07:00

I recently got back in contact with an old friend. We wanted a place to chat while the kids played. She suggested this wonderful little park. It is clean and not very old. The ground on the playground areas is rubber. There is a large covered shelter between the playground and the parking lot. This is a wonderful placement! There is a bathroom right by the playground. There is a walking trail and plenty of trees. The only thing that I did not like was the fact that there is a cell phone tower and electric wires nearby. They ruin the view. The playground is split in half. The little kids area is on the left and the big kids is on the right. There is also a rock climbing wall and a swing set.

The Details:

Location: Off Narrows Road, Off of Richardson Road in Erlanger, KY

Website: http://www.friendshipcity.com/content/357/508/551.aspx

Cost: Free

Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden

2011-09-13T08:54:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wanted to feed a cracker to a giraffe? Then this is the place for you!

Ivy holding a snake!

Near the orangutans

Kids with the Easter bunny

They always have snakes out near the snake house

Riding the little train that runs through the zoo

Mallard Duck

The check your bird wing span

There is a little pond with a monkey area above it that is full of neat birds

Penguins just outside the Children's area

They have this web at the playground. It is super cute!

On select days you can watch the gators being fed.

On the weekends leading up to Easter they have Gorilla Easter egg hunts. It is hilarious!

Feeding goats in the petting zoo area

This is across the skywalk from the entrance at the edge of the main parking lot.

She would be a big bat!

Feeding goats

Stork

Lorikeet Landing

In the petting zoo

You can feed them seed sticks.

Naked Mole Rats

Playground

They do Zoo Babies every Spring!

Peacock

Condors

Petting Zoo

Aligators

Beautiful!

Cat House

Feeding a cow

Croc!

Near the Polar Bears

In the Manatee House

Bull

Rhino

Yes, I am really that close! It was right up against the fence!

Tiger

Petting a Hissing Cochroach! She loves bugs!

Bubble in the Manatee Tank

There are plants every where! Some you are allowed to touch or pet, lol.

Baby Wallaby in the Nursery

They have a dress up area in the bug house. Each outfit is a type of ant found in the colony.

Manatee

Their gardens are very pretty

Penguins!

These were not all taken in one trip. We decided to get a season pass last year since we were living so close to the zoo. We went many times and know it very well. It is a beautiful zoo! If you are lucky enough to visit you should see the gardens, the children's zoo (feed the animals, pet the farm animals, play in the playground, see the penguins and see the nursery.), the bird house, the Manatees, feed the Giraffes, elephants, ride the train, and visit the reptile house. The gardens are at their best in spring or early summer, April through June.

The Details:

Website: http://cincinnatizoo.org/

Location: 3400 Vine St., Cincinnati, Ohio 45220

Cost: Ticket prices vary based on the package you choose. The basic ticket is only $14 for Adults & $10 for kids, you have to add on rides and theater passes if you want them.

Discounts: You can get discount tickets online. They also have special days when you can get discounted or free admission.

Membership: Individual ranges from $57 to 136, Family ranges from $89 to $179

Richardson Road Park - Independence, KY

2011-09-09T06:12:00.000-07:00

Everywhere we move we feel the need to check out every park in the area and by "area" I mean within an hour drive. I get bored of the same old, same old and so does Ivy. We have found a few parks that we love and we visit them on a normal basis. I can honestly say that Richardson Road Park will not be on the short list of favorite parks. This park was rather dirty. There was litter in the grass and graffiti on the playground equipment. The litter could have been fluke but you could easily tell that the graffiti had been there for quite a while. There was only a guy there playing with his dog when we visited. We still played for an hour. Their play equipment is safe and usable.

The playground

Shelter House and Bathrooms

They have a small house with bathrooms at a covered picnic area near the parking lot. We did not even look at the bathroom. There were a lot of tennis courts, a playground area without swings, basketball court, and baseball diamond. The graffiti was more of the country graffiti style. Things like Bob loves Mary and cartoon character drawings. There are large grassy areas and a lot of nearby trees which provides a little shade. There is ample parking.

Bella loves "driving"

Tennis Courts & Basketball Courts

Bella & I posing on the rock climbing wall

This is a foot swing. Bella was sure it was a baby swing, lol

The girls after climbing up the rock wall.

I was not impressed and will not be returning. If you are interested here's the details:

The Details

Location: 3415 Richardson Rd., Independence, KY 41051

Cost: Free

Website: http://www.kentoncounty.org/county_departments/parks_/parks/richardson_road_park.html

Directions: On website

Free Petting Zoo - Lents Branch of the Boone County Library - Hebron, KY

2011-09-01T18:44:00.000-07:00

We took the girls to a free petting zoo. It was at the Lents Branch of the Boone County Library. It is in Hebron, Kentucky. They had goats, bunnies, ducks, a pony, a donkey, an alpaca, and a chicken with two chicks. The kids were allowed to pet everything! The ducks and chicken were none to friendly. They ran from the kids. Bella, my toddler, was unsure of touching anything. She finally decided that Ivy would not lead her astray and pet this bunny. After that she touched everything. She really loved the donkey!

They had animal feed. The kids were able to feed the goats, the alpaca, the ducks and chickens. The girl in blue in the center of this photo is my daughter, Ivy, feeding one of the goats. After about twenty minutes, Bella finally felt comfortable enough to feed the goats. She laughed as they licked dried corn off her hand! It was so cute!

I would like to let all my readers in on a little secret! You can go to library programs even if you do not live there! Things like this that are free and open to the public are easy options for even non-residents. There are other options though as well. If you will be visiting an area and would like to see what the library there has to offer you can simply call them or look them up on-line. If you ask nicely they will normally allow you to go to even the library programs that require you to sign-up as long as there is room! All you have to say is "I will be visiting your area for a few days and I was hoping to find some affordable, educational fun for my kids. Do you have any programs we could attend?" We have visited libraries not only in multiple areas but in multiple states! Another secret I would like to share with you about the library is that you can use your local library card to get a card at neighboring libraries. You can often get a card in any library in your county and in the surrounding counties. Some areas do charge a small fee to issue a library card but it is normally not more then a couple dollars. Do be careful to keep your books from different branches organized or without a doubt something will get lost or be returned late. Remember that you do not need a card to visit a library regardless of where it is located. We have even stopped at public ones when we are on the road and the kids were getting tired of being in the car. I can not stress how great a trip to a public library can be!

The Details:

Cost: Free!

Hours of Entertainment: Almost two

Location: Boone County Public Library-Lents Branch, 3215 Cougar Path, Hebron, KY

Sharon Woods - Sharonville, Ohio

2011-09-01T14:45:00.000-07:00

Sharon Woods park was a fun outing. There are many small waterfalls sprinkled throughout this rather large park. We started out our trip with some play time at the playground near the harbor on Sharon Lake. It was a very nice park. There is an area for big kids and a play area for the toddler crew. There are baby swings but not swings for the big kids here. My oldest found this a little disappointing. There is however a small rock wall and an area that looks like rock that has places to climb up & tunnels to climb through. There is a snack bar right by this park. In the summer there are fountains here but we went in spring before they were up and running. After some play time we decided to check out the harbor and lake. There is a boat house located here where you can rent boats. It was much to cold out for us to even consider a few hours on the water. I also must warn you that boat rentals are not cheap!

At the bottom of the stairs was a paved path that circled the lake. We decided to go for a walk. My husband went back to the car to grab the stroller. We went with the jogging stroller on this day. The path does wrap up and around to the parking lot so you don't have to carry the stroller down the stairs. You do however have to wrap up and around the playground. After we had Bella strapped in the stroller we were off. There were many ducks on the lake and the path. They were almost to used to being around people because you could walk right up to them. It was neat for my oldest who loves animals but if you have a child that would try to touch them I would suggest watching closely because these ducks will not run away easily. We walked along the path for a while then my husband says "What's that noise?" I stopped and sure enough I could hear something. I said "It sounds like water." He just starts walking across the small road. I asked "Where are you going?" He answered "It's coming from over here." Ivy who had followed him across the street yells "WOW! Mom you have to see this! It's a waterfall!" I cross the street. It was where the water ran out of the lake through the dam. It was pretty neat. We stood there for a few minutes.

There was another path on that side of the road that lead up into the woods. It had a large sign. I walked over to see what it said. It looked like something we could do. It was 0.7 of a mile one way through the woods. It lead to the other side of the park and was marked as moderate so we thought we would be able to get the stroller down it. We began down it and figured if we got to a place where we couldn't get the stroller through we would simply turn around. It thankfully never came to that. The path was very nice. It followed along the water. There were many waterfalls along the way. There were also educational signs to read beside the path. At one point it crosses the water. The cliffs here are quite a sight. Since it was spring we didn't encounter a lot of people on the trail. There was a few places we had to work a little to keep the stroller moving but it wasn't bad at all.

When we got to the other side there was another path running along the road we followed. It passes a couple small waterfalls. These are neat and very easy to access because they are right along the road. One even has parking by it. My only complaint about these was the fact that they put concrete around the falls to keep them from washing out. While I can understand wanting to preserve the beauty of the falls, I am simply a purest. I think that people should let nature take its course on things like this. When people do this to a natural site it feels more like a man made item. Still pretty but it loses a little something.

When we got a little further down there was a large bridge leading across the water. On the other side there was a large park with a little log cabin. This park is one of the large wooden ones. Ivy was happy because there were swings nearby. Two large picnic areas are close by as well. There is a huge building by here. It's the Sharon centre. There is a free nature area inside. We took advantage of this. The girls favorite part was a large aquarium with a "log" running through it. The kids climbed inside to watch the fish and turtle swim around. It was very neat. I had one problem with this as a mom of a toddler. The outside edge of the "log" is concrete and you have to really keep an eye on them. They could fall and hurt themselves but more likely is a child running their head into the top of it when trying to climb inside. It is made to crawl through but my toddler could just stand in it. There is an area at the back with chairs for the adults to take a much needed break. The whole back wall is made of windows that look out on a nature area. While we were there we saw birds, chipmunks and a raccoon. In this room there is an area to stick your hands in and guess what you are grabbing. This would of been much easier if they actually all had stuff in them. About half of them were empty. There is also a table with crayons and papers for the kids. As you walk toward the door leading out there is a great photo op wall and a tree to walk through.

There is something called the "Heritage Village" here too but we did not go. You have to pay to get in. It was looking like it was going to rain so we just headed back toward our car. It looked neat so I would like to go back sometime. We were almost back to the lake when it started to sprinkle. By the time we made it back to the car it was raining. I was glad we didn't have to be out in the rain for to long.

There are a few other things to do at this park including an 18 hole golf course (not sure of pricing) and an indoor play area that costs $2.50 a child.

There are ample picnic areas and tables throughout the park. I would also like to give some credit where credit is due. The restrooms were some of the nicest I've ever seen in a park. They were clean and well stocked with toilet paper, soap and paper towels. I was honestly shocked by this! Quite impressive!

Heritage Village is $5.00 for adults, $3.00 for children ages 5-11, Children under 4 are free.

Admission to the park was $3.00 for the day.

Website: http://hamiltoncountyparks.org/parks/sharonwoods.shtm
Location: 11450 Lebanon Rd. Sharonville, OH 45241

Travel Quotes

2011-08-31T17:42:00.000-07:00

Own only what you can carry with you; know language, know countries, know people. Let your memory be your travel bag.

Alexander Solzhenitsyn

In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous.

Aristotle

Certainly, travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living. Miriam Beard

Before he sets out, the traveler must possess fixed interests and facilities to be served by travel.

George Santayana

Where the bee sucks, there suck I:
In a cowslip's bell I lie;
There I couch when owls do cry.
On the bat's back I do fly
After summer merrily.
Merrily, merrily shall I live now
Under the blossom that hangs on the bough.

William Shakespeare

He who would travel happily must travel light.

Antoine de Saint-Exupery

When you travel, remember that a foreign country is not designed to make you comfortable.

It is designed to make its own people comfortable.

Clifton Fadiman

Mountains inspire awe in any human person who has a soul. They remind us of our frailty, our unimportance, of the briefness of our span upon this earth. They touch the heavens, and sail serenely at an altitude beyond even the imaginings of a mere mortal.

Elizabeth Aston

I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.

Joyce Kilmer

You will find something more in woods than in books.

Trees and stones will teach you that which you can never learn from masters.

Saint Bernard

Borderline Creamy Whip On HWY 50 - Greendale, IN

2011-08-29T20:25:00.000-07:00

On Highway 50, just barely inside Indiana, sits the Borderline Creamy Whip. It's almost on the border of Indiana and Ohio. It's a small ice cream shop. It is kind-of like an ice cream truck without the truck. It's a trailer with a walk-up window. They are a great family stop in summer! Their prices are very reasonable! They have picnic tables set up in the shade for you to sit and enjoy your frozen treat. The girls who work here are a joy.
We had a child's size cone (In the photo) which was huge! My oldest tried a sundae. She said it was very good. They just do the basics but they do them well! They are near many other family fun places! They have a good sized gravel lot that you can easily turn around in. This is nice because they are off of such a busy road. There is a small gift shop next door to them if you are interested. We all got ice cream and it cost me less then $5! By now I'm sure you all know I love a well priced outing and this one takes the cake...cake-cone that is!

Website: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Borderline-Creamy-Whip/150963778264339

Chuck E Cheese - Colerain Ave. Cincinnati, Ohio

2011-08-28T16:01:00.000-07:00

We recently visited the Chuck E Cheese located at 8801 Colerain Ave. in Cincinnati, Ohio. I hadn't been to this particular branch in many years. We went here to celebrate a friend's child's birthday. My husband unfortunately had to work on that day so I was on my own. I get lost easily so I was pleased with the fact that it was easy to locate from the interstate. There is a wrap around parking lot. We managed to find a spot on the front side. There is plenty of parking in the back but it means you would have a little walk to get inside. Once inside I was happy with what must have been a very serious remodel since the last time I had visited. The place is large with flashing lights and children everywhere.

Chuck E Cheese is a restaurant and arcade in one. You buy tokens upon entering and place a pizza order. They give you your tokens and a number for your table so they know where to deliver your food. They also now have a rather large salad bar. Your older children almost immediately raid you for the purchased tokens and run off into the games. They stamp the children's hands and the hands of their adult upon entry with a black light stamp. When you exit you give your hands to an attendant who checks to see if you match before allowing you to leave. This sounds good in theory but I don't know how much I trust this system. I can honestly say the huge downfall is the fact that people feel they no longer have to watch their children. Ivy is 10. I allow her to play by herself with me checking in on her frequently. I understand the need for a little independence at this age but I do not trust the rest of the world enough to completely leave her on her own for an hour or two.

We were happy with the selection of games. Ivy thoroughly enjoyed the tunnels that hang from the ceiling. There is a small toddler area roped off with a few games and a play area for them. It was small and felt crowded when only a few children were playing there with their parents in tow. Ivy collected tons of tickets but decided to save them when she saw the prize case. She said that she would rather come back later and try for a larger item because the small to medium prizes were junk. I tend to agree. They now sell "prizes" like balls instead of allowing them to be exchanged for tickets. Their prize selection area is much smaller and does not have many medium selections that would appeal to a 10 year old girl.

The food is kid friendly but not completely mom friendly. Their pizza is incredibly greasy. It did come to the table hot which is a plus. The salad bar was acceptable. It was decently well stocked for the weekend. They have unlimited refills on their drinks that you refill yourself fast food style. They have a fairly good variety of drinks.

They have a stage where large mechanical puppets put on a show. There are large tables by this that they use for birthday parties. The concept of the birthday parties is neat. They sing to the kids. A hip-hop style version of Happy Birthday. Someone in a giant mouse costume(Chuck E Cheese) comes out for this. He then crowns each birthday child with a special inflatable birthday crown. Sadly the girls working the parties were not exactly enthusiastic. Ours appeared to wish she was anywhere but here. When dealing with small children's birthday parties I feel they would be better served with happier employees. The best highlight of having a birthday party there instead of just a normal visit is the fact that the birthday child gets to go into the "ticket blaster." This is a wind machine of sorts that whirls tickets around while the child tries to catch as many as they can. This is not open to the regular public so it is a perk retained just for the birthday child which gives it a special air. It is a great marketing gimmick because every child including my own wanted to have their birthday party there at that moment because they were only allowed to watch. Children do not like to be left out of anything so I'm sure this has landed them many birthday parties. My friends daughter is still fairly small so they did allow her Dad to join her in it which I thought was nice. She seemed to enjoy it once she was in there. As a birthday party option I thought it was nice because they take care of the food, dishes, drinks, entertainment and the clean-up. They also give a balloon to each child and they have options where you can add additional tokens to your package at a lower rate so the teenagers would also have tokens to play the games. My friend also told me they gave her additional tokens for booking online. Not a bad deal for a birthday party.

Overall, I would say this is a fun family outing. I personally would take my children here to play again but perhaps skip the pizza. The tokens can get pricey. You can find coupons online for token deals and you also receive a much better price on them if you buy a large amount all at once. They really get you by your children bugging you for more and more tokens. You have to set a limit upon entry such as I'm buying X amount of tokens for each of you. When you run out of tokens you can play in the tunnels until everyone is done and then we are leaving. No questions asked. Be warned however that mom and dad will want tokens as well because this place is fun for all ages. Their bathrooms are pretty clean and they have a diaper changing station for the babies. It is in the main area of the bathroom instead of in a stall. I like them in a stall better because you are not in the flow of traffic. Oh, and don't forget your headache medicine! After an hour in here you will need it, lol.

The Details:

Cost: You can spend $10 on tokens for one kid & a short trip or $50+ for the day(Set a budget. This place can eat you alive!)

Location: 8801 Colerain Ave. in Cincinnati, Ohio
Hours -Sunday-Thursday 9am to 9pm Friday and Saturday 9am to 10pm
Phone number: 513-385-1438
Website: http://www.chuckecheese.com/

Oreo Stacking Contest - Florence, KY

2011-08-26T20:20:00.000-07:00

Took the girls to an Oreo Stacking Contest at Walmart in Florence, KY today. You got 30 seconds to stack as many oreos as you could without them falling over. The only rules were at the end of the 30 seconds they had to stand without you touching them and it had to be a straight stack one on top of another. They had groups based on age, 10 and under, 10 to 15, and 16 and up. Cassie, my sister, went with us she got 22. She was in the lead on the lists for a while but a boy got 23. My stack fell over at 29 seconds and 24 oreos! Ivy's crashed too. A friend of hers went with us. She did well. She did 19. She was in the lead for a bit too but someone beat her out. They were also giving out fresh, unplayed with Oreos to eat. Bella enjoyed that part. No big surprise that she gladly ate the oreo the girl gave her. It was a fun little outing.

Boone Woods - Burlington, KY

2011-08-23T14:42:00.000-07:00

Ivy playing at the main playground.

We have visited this wooded park in Burlington off of HWY 18 a few times. There is a nice playground, a pouch style swing to sit and watch your kids from, a large picnic shelter with lots of tables, tennis courts, tons of trees, trails, a large grassy area, and another playground area in the very back that is almost hidden. On the weekend when the park is really busy parking at the playground can be hard to find. There is other parking but you will have to walk a little to the playground.

The restrooms at this park are really hard to find. I went to this place three times before I found out they even had them! I got to the point that this was a place we stopped by to play for a little bit because staying for a long time was not an option. Somebody would have to use the bathroom after an hour or two. I was shocked when I heard they have a bathroom! They are listed on the map found on the website listed below.

Pushing her sister.

You can see the large shelter behind them. It's the perfect picnic spot!

The Detail:

Website: http://boonecountyky.org/parks/ParkInfo/BooneWoods

Cost: Free

McDonald's Play Area - Crescent Springs, KY

2011-08-22T20:26:00.000-07:00

Somebody close to our family recently took us to this McDonald's because they said it had a great play area. I thought, "OK, a play area in McDonald's. Alright what the heck." I was actually pretty impressed by this place. We got a couple of Diet Cokes and watched the kids play. The big kids area is huge! There is also a basketball free throw game. There is a big screen T.V. on the wall playing kids music videos. There are a few video games. They even have a small toddler area! I have not been to many of these but this one was pretty nice.

The Details:

Location: 2513 Hazelwood St Crescent Springs KY, 41017

Cost: Under $2 per Drink

World's Longest Yard Sale - HWY 127

2011-08-19T09:08:00.000-07:00

Found this in front of New Haven School when we stopped at their outdoor booths.

The kids and I went down the world's longest yard sale with my mom this year. The sale follows HWY 127 from Hudson, MI to Gadsden, AL. It covers 675 miles! We did not make it any where near that far, lol. We did have a great time and found some goodies at great prices! The sale next year is August 2-5. Hope to see you there!

The Details:

Cost: Gas and whatever you buy.

Website: http://www.127sale.com/

2012 Dates: August 2nd to the 5th

Coney Island

2011-08-18T20:09:00.000-07:00

Flood Stick

Fountain at Coney Island

These are some of our photographs from a recent trip we took to Coney Island. We had a great time!! This was not our first trip to this family style amusement park and it will not be our last! It is fun, affordable and family friendly. This place has a lot of things to do! Consider making it a two day event. Get a sunlite pool pass for one day and a classic ride pass for the second day. This way you can take your time. Be careful of the sun. This place can be exhausting!

Kiddy Ride

Fun House Mirrors

Bumper Cars

Bella was excited about this ride even before it began.

Airplane

Stationary Fire Truck

This large playground is free to play at. You do have to pay for parking still but there are many fun free things to do.

When we were there Q102 was there having a party for Coney Islands' anniversary. People were dancing in the rain.

Little Houses

The Details:

Location: 6201 Kellogg Ave. Cincinnati, OH 45230

Prices: Ticket for Sunlite Pool & Classic rides $21.95 for ages 5 and up

Tickets for Ages 2-4 $9.95

After 4 pm $11.95

Tickets for Sunlite pool only: $11.95 for ages 5 and up and $3.95 for 2-4 year olds

Tickets for Classic Rides only: $11.95 for 5 & up and $6.95 for 2-4 year olds

Parking $7.00

You can buy tickets on-line at a discount!

Website: http://www.coneyislandpark.com/

Miami Whitewater Forest - Harrison, Ohio

2011-08-16T09:43:00.000-07:00

View of the meadow as you emerge from the woods.

We walked down the Tallgrass Prairie Trail. It was very pretty! It is about a mile. It was slightly hilly but still manageable with the jogging stroller. When we got to the Prairie we tried to locate all of the plants that were on the sign. It was fun. We found quite a few of them and other things, like blackberries. After the trail we played Frisbee in the clearing by the parking area for the trail. It is fairly large and grassy. This was Bella's first time playing Frisbee. She loved to throw it but could only get it a foot or two. She would clap and yell "Good Job!" Anytime she or anyone threw it. We played for about a half an hour before moving on.

Ivy looking at bugs.

Mud pit

There is a wooden bridge on the way to the meadow if you go left when the path splits.

There is something about walking in the woods that makes us all feel small.

I had never seen this plant before and it was not on the sign so we still do not know what it was.

The Meadow

The next stop was the lake. We parked in the little bit of shade we could find in the lot. We walked along the paved trail by the lake stopping to admire the view, a couple ducks and a willow tree. There is a very large playground and the visitor center by the parking lot and lake. We took the kids to play at the playground and realized there is a water park here as well. It was super hot so the kids were practically drooling at the sight of the water! We had to walk around the corner to the snack bar to purchase a bracelet. We only had to get Ivy one because Bella is under two. We did not even have suits with us, lol. That did not stop them from having a blast!The water park has a pirate theme complete with a ship!

The path that runs by the lake

By the Lake

A pretty lake

Near the visitor center

The Waterpark

The Details:

Location: 9001 Mt. Hope Rd. Harrison, OH 45030

Features: Wetlands, trails, Frisbee golf, golf course, equestrian trail, snack bar, campground, picnic and shelter areas, lake, fishing, boat rentals, wet playground, playground, and visitor center.

Cost: Free with pass. $3 for day pass or $10 for year pass

Cost of Water Playground: $2 each or 3 for $5

Corbin, Kentucky

2011-08-15T17:54:00.000-07:00

We stopped off in Corbin to see the KFC museum but discovered this adorable little nature/park area right down the road. It was so super cute that we picked up dinner and ate there in the gazebo!

Neat Moth

The Details:

Cost: FREE!

Location: Near the corner of HWY 25W/18th Street and South Main Street. 1/4 of a mile or so from the KFC museum.

Views from Southern Kentucky and Northern Tennessee off HWY 75

2011-08-12T08:21:00.000-07:00

These are some of the views I captured of southern Kentucky and northern Tennessee on a recent trip. The photographs are from Williamsburg, KY, Jelico, TN, and first rest area coming into Kentucky. The views you get from the highway are amazing! Unforunately there is no place to stop to photograph many of them. It is a pretty drive.

Williamsburg, KY

Jelico, TN

KY Rest Stop off HWY 75

KY rest stop of HWY 75

KY Rest Stop Off HWY 75

First Post

2011-08-10T09:16:00.000-07:00

A Little About The Blog:
This blog is simply dedicated to my travels. We go on many outings and trips. I want to document them. I had started with another blog but it has become more of my daily journal. I wanted a place just for our travels. There are many family based outings and trips. However, there will be many that are appropriate for all ages and even a few grown-up outings. There are some places you just should not take your kids. I am a fan of travel journals. I figured it was time to take mine high-tech. If nothing else it takes up less space when we move.

I will try to include as much information as I can. I like to include the address of the place, a phone number, a website, and any cost involved. I unfortunately cannot always find all this info but I will try. Some small, country restaurants and things do not have websites. I will always include the name of the place, an address, and the cost of whatever I did there. I will note whether I felt the place was child friendly or not. I will also include pictures often. I love photography!

A little about myself:
I got married in 2000 and we are still going strong. We move around a lot. We are currently living in our sixth house since having Ivy, our first daughter, in 2001. We had another daughter in 2009. Her name is Isabella. Bella for short. This is her second home. I am in college full time to be a nurse. I believe there is nothing you cannot accomplish with hard work and determination.

I love to visit new places and try new things! I am adventurous and curious. I have lived in the city, the suburbs, and the country. I am yet to meet a downtown area in a city that makes me truly nervous. I listen to a lot of music. Many different types of music appeal to me. I love to read! I try to always be working on at least one book for pleasure. I read some fiction but mainly I am a non-fiction kind of girl. There is something more interesting about something real to me. I am active and always on the move. I crave the sunlight. I love being outdoors. I love food. I enjoy eating new foods, going out to interesting restaurants and cooking. I can be impatient at times. I hate to be late! It is one of my pet peeves. I am organized and tidy. Messiness really upsets me. I do not care if my kids get dirty at the park but I do mind if they are playing in the dirt when we are going somewhere that requires cleanliness. I feel there is a time and place for everything including dirt and messes. I have had a fear of water since I was a child. It will not take you too long to realise that it does not hold me back. I think it is healthy to confront your fears! I am a little loud by nature. I feel life is too short to not try everything!

This is a completely public blog. Please feel free to comment. Please let me know your opinions of places and places you think we may enjoy. I like to go to places and blend with the locals. Eat what they eat, do what they do. It gives you a greater appreciation of a place and it's people.

Follow us on our many adventures!