eJourna

New Itineraries For Great Lakes Seaway Trail

Ron — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 13:33:50 +0000

Last year we wrote about the great travel itineraries for the Great Lakes Seaway Trail, in New York and Pennsylvania. Recently, the Great Lakes Seaway Trail released twelve new itineraries for touring the 518-mile Trail.

The itineraries are focused on themed travel opportunities:

Birding the Great Lakes Seaway Trail
Great Lakes Seaway Trail Capture the Moment: Photography, Art, and Painting
Great Lakes Seaway Trail Cultural Heritage and Quilts
Great Lakes Seaway Trail Just the Two of Us Getaways and Shopping
Great Lakes Seaway Trail Lighthouses and Shipwrecks
Great Lakes Seaway Trail Lighthouse-to-Lighthouse Bicycling
Quilting Around the Great Lakes Seaway Trail
Great Lakes Seaway Trail Seven-Day Scenic Coastal Drive
Great Lakes Seaway Trail: Take the Blueway
Great Lakes Seaway Trail War of 1812 in the U.S. and Canada
Great Lakes Seaway Trail War of 1812 Quilt Challenge
Great Lakes Seaway Trail “Where Can I Take the Kids.”

The itineraries vary in length from a one afternoon option to a 9-day bicycling tour. Some of the itineraries are time-limited; others are available any time for do-it-yourself drivers; one is an escorted two-nation group tour to War of 1812 sites in New York, Pennsylvania, Ontario and Quebec.

“These byway-branded itineraries represent unique “only on the Great Lakes Seaway Trail” travel experiences on a premier American national scenic byway touring destination,” Mitchell says.

The Great Lakes Seaway Trail itineraries are posted online at www.seawaytrail.com/roadtrips.

New Rides and Deals for Ohio’s Kings Island Amusement Park

Ron — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 13:32:06 +0000

The opening of WindSeeker, Kings Island’s newest ride, is just the latest of many reasons why families would want to visit Warren County, according to officials at the Warren County Convention & Visitors Bureau (WCCVB). Pre-packaged vacations, excellent value and a diverse range of indoor and outdoor options all combine to make Warren County Ohio’s Largest Playground.

“Warren County hotels offer a variety of vacation packages that bundle exciting experiences while offering an excellent value to consumers, such as Kings Island packages, La Comedia Dinner Theatre packages, shopping packages and more,” said Sally Derrick, Marketing Director for the Warren County Convention & Visitors Bureau (WCCVB).

Families who stay in Warren County are close to the action at the area’s signature attractions such as Kings Island, Great Wolf Lodge, The Beach Waterpark and Ozone Zipline Adventures, and just minutes away from downtown Cincinnati and Dayton.

Here are some specific Kings Island Vacation Packages the WCCVB is promoting:

Kings Island Getaway

This package includes four tickets to Kings Island (two adult, two children), deluxe accommodations at the Cincinnati Marriott Northeast and 25% off breakfast in the River City Grill. Valid through Sept. 5, 2011. www.cincinnatimarriottnortheast.com

Ride & Roar Family Getaway

This package includes four tickets to Kings Island, four tickets to the Cincinnati Zoo, two nights lodging at either the Hyatt Place Cincinnati Northeast, Drury Inn Middletown, Best Western Mason or La Quinta Mason, free breakfast and value added coupon savings pack for $334 plus tax. Valid July 6 – Aug. 28, 2011. www.rideandroar.com

Kings Island Package

This package includes accommodations at the Hilton Garden Inn – Mason and complimentary full, hot, cooked-to-order breakfast for two adults and two children. Discount Kings Island tickets available onsite or online. Contact hotel for details. www.cincinnatimason.hgi.com

Kings Island One and Two Night Packages

Packages available at the Super 8 Motel include a two-night package offering a standard double room for two nights, two adult two-day tickets to Kings Island and complimentary hot breakfast or a one-night package that offers a standard double room for one night and two, one-day tickets to Kings Island. www.super8mason.com

Play and Stay

This package includes one night lodging at the Kirkwood Inn, two, one-day tickets to Kings Island, parking pass to Kings Island and a free, full hot breakfast served in this historic Kirkwood House. Two-day packages also available. www.kirkwoodinn.com/packages

“Sleeping Beauty” and the Beast

This package includes four tickets to Kings Island (two adults and two children), four tickets to LaComedia Dinner Theatre to see “Sleeping Beauty” – includes dinner and show, two nights lodging at the Kirkwood Inn and free hot breakfast in the historic Kirkwood House. Valid through Aug. 28. www.kirkwoodinn.com/packages

Here are other great vacation deals, according to the WCCVB:

Howl at the Zoo

This package includes accommodations at the Great Wolf Lodge, Mason and free waterpark access for four people from 1 p.m. on the day of arrival through park closing on the day of departure. The package also includes four tickets to the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Gardens. Valid through Dec. 31. www.greatwolf.com/mason/plan/deals

The Beach Waterpark Package

This package includes four tickets to The Beach Waterpark and one night accommodations at the Drury Inn Middletown (includes free breakfast, snacks and more). www.druryhotels.com

The Beach Waterpark Package

This package includes two tickets to The Beach Waterpark, complimentary shuttle to and from the waterpark and one night accommodations at the Kings Island Resort. www.kingsislandresort.com

Golden Girls Getaway

This package includes dinner for two at LaComedia Dinner Theatre, $50 shopping pass to Cincinnati Premium Outlets, dinner for two at the Golden Lamb Inn & Restaurant and two nights accommodations at the Kirkwood Inn. www.kirkwoodinn.com/packages

For more information about Warren County, Ohio’s Largest Playground, visit ohioslargestplayground.com, Twitter (@WarrenCountyOH) or Facebook.

Warren County is in Southwest Ohio, between Cincinnati and Dayton, and within a day’s drive of 60% of the US population.

Seeking Out Missouri’s Wild Orchids

Ron — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 13:00:44 +0000

Orchid, Missouri Botanical Garden

You hear the word orchid, what comes to mind? Beautiful flowers from warm, tropical islands? A plant grown in a hothouse, to be used as a corsage? Springtime in Missouri? Yes, Missouri. All three of those thoughts are correct, but let’s not stop there. How about vanilla ice cream? The vanilla bean, used as a flavoring in many of your favorite foods, is the fruit from an orchid plant; rum is often flavored by the pods of another orchid species; and the tuberous roots of many orchids are edible (they taste like potatoes).

Getting back to the beautiful flower part, it may surprise you to learn that orchids grow wild throughout Missouri—in fact, 36 species are found in Missouri, while Hawaii (there’s that tropical island thing again) can claim only three native species of orchids. Missouri’s wild orchids, although they don’t always resemble the large, exotic flower that comes to mind, are amazing things of beauty and wonder. Nature lovers who wish to seek out Missouri’s orchids in bloom should head to undisturbed areas in rocky glades, ravines, and along creeks. The showiest species appear in spring and early fall.

Orchids are found in many of Missouri’s State Parks, including some surprising locations, such asCrowder Sate Park in the north-central Missouri, near Trenton. Several native orchid species are found in the 1,912 acres of the park. While searching for the elusive plants, you can enjoy more than 17 miles of hiking, bicycling and equestrian trails. The park offers fishing, boating and swimming opportunities in 18-acre Crowder Lake. The family-oriented campground includes modern restrooms, and shady picnic sites scattered throughout the park.

Although known primarily for its lake and recreational water activities, Harry S. Truman State Park, outside of Warsaw, is home to ample orchid populations for the discerning lover of flora. The plants are found in the park’s oak woodlands, natural grasslands and lakeside areas. The expansive park has a marina, fishing, boating, swimming, hiking trails, picnic areas, campsites, and an abundance of wildlife.

Near the Missouri community of Pittsburg, the 7,800-acre Pomme de Terre State Park offers two hiking trails with many areas to spot native orchids. The lake is a great place for bass, walleye, catfish and crappie fishing. Also, this is the home of Missouri’s big game fish, the muskellunge, more commonly called the muskie, the largest member of the pike family.

While famous for its more than 40 caves, including Fisher Cave, where you can take a tour,Meramec State Park, off of I-44, south of Sullivan, is home to at least 10 species of native orchids, which can be found by exploring the many hiking trails. Canoeing and rafting the Meramec River are very popular in the park. The park’s visitor center holds a large aquarium that shows the diversity of aquatic life found at the park.

You can discover upward of 11 species of Missouri orchids near Troy, in the Cuivre River State Park, which is known for its 11 hiking, backpacking and equestrian trails which meander through prairies and forests. The park has modern campsites, group camps, picnic areas and a lake.

While orchids are widespread throughout the state, they are not common and are rarely abundant. Many species of orchids are tiny and inconspicuous in the landscape, like the crane-fly orchid with its half-inch blossom; but you can spot them if you look closely and know what to look for. The yellow lady-slippers orchid, which blooms in late April, is Missouri’s showiest, often reaching three feet tall. Missouri’s seven species of ladies’-tresses orchid, which bloom from August into November, are the most commonly encountered, especially in parks with glades that have controlled burns.

Let’s not be stingy by limiting our discussion to only Missouri native orchids. The orchid is earth’s second largest family of flowering plants, numbering between 21,950 and 26,049 currently accepted species; more than twice the number of bird species, and about four times the number of mammal species.
The Missouri Botanical Garden, located in St. Louis, maintains one of America’s largest and finest Orchid Collections, including roughly 7,500 plants, of 2,500 species of these fascinating plants. Orchids can be viewed in the Garden’s Visitor Center and in the Climatron conservatory on the grounds, as well as their Shaw Nature Reserve, in Gray Summit, 30 miles outside of St. Louis. The Garden holds an annual Orchid Show from late January through mid-March in their Visitor Center. Founded in 1859, Missouri Botanical Garden is the oldest botanical garden in continuous operation in the United States. It is a National Historic Landmark, with 79 acres of gardens and historic structures.

Another great place to view orchids from around the world is Powell Gardens, located in Kingsville, southeast of Kansas City. Set on 915 acres of lush, rolling hills and meadows, Powell Gardens offers breathtaking display gardens, interesting architecture, a nature trail, plus a year-round calendar of special events and classes for the family. Powell Gardens includes the Island Garden, the Perennial Garden, the Rock and Waterfall Garden, the Wildflower Meadow, a chapel, and the ever changing Terrace Gardens. The 12-acre Heartland Harvest Garden is one of the largest edible landscapes in the nation.

Information on orchids and other native Missouri plants is available through Grow Native, a joint project of the Missouri Department of Conservation and the Department of Agriculture. Contact The Orchid Society of Greater Kansas City for guidelines on growing orchids in your home.

You can get help with gardening from the Missouri Botanical Garden. They offer a Horticultural Answer Service, where master gardeners provide personalized answers to your specific phone-in questions. Call 314–577-5143, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to noon.

To help identify Missouri’s orchids, a guide book, titled “Missouri Orchids,” compiled by Bill Summers, is available through the Missouri Department of Conservation Nature Centers. In his book, Summers gives this reason to protect, and preserve, Missouri’s orchids: “To suddenly come upon a colony of lady-slipper orchids in full bloom is a sight to be remembered always,” he writes. “They will hold you spellbound until you suddenly realize they are real and that nature, once again, is the perfect artist.”

Be very careful in your quest. Orchids are to be admired, not touched. The roots are attached to fungal threads in the soil; if you disturb the roots or dig one up, the orchid will die when those threads are broken. It is illegal in Missouri to dig up or remove any plant from the right-of-way of state or county roadways, state parks or public lands—the penalty can be a year in jail and/or a fine of up to $1,000.

Find listings for thousands of Missouri attractions, events and vacation ideas on Official Missouri Travel Guide.”

Photo by photobydave

Caving in Arkansas at War Eagle Cavern

Ron — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 12:53:57 +0000

Don’t let the name fool you. At War Eagle Cavern on northwest Arkansas’s Beaver Lake you experience more than a cool cave. It’s a full day of fun where you can maneuver through a maze, pan for gems, dig for fossils, hike trails, take in the view from scenic outlooks, feed fish, have a birthday party, shop for gifts, and eat in the cafe or picnic area.

“We’re more than just a hole in the ground,” explains Dennis Boyer, who owns the attraction with his wife Vicki.

Boyer says War Eagle Cavern is also unique because you can get there by car or boat. He has a dock on the lake for people who want to come via the water. In addition to being on Beaver Lake, the attraction is located in the middle of several other popular locales. “We’re right here with Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area. You can visit the War Eagle Mill and Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge,” he explains. “We’re a half hour either direction to Rogers or Eureka.”

He stresses that it is important to him for visitors to have a good experience regarding every facet. “Our staff is well-trained and provides quality tours,” he explains. “We maintain good clean restrooms and nice grounds. We’re pet friendly, and we try to make it as family friendly as possible.”

About 30,000 people visit the facility each year, with about 20,000 taking the cavern tour. The cavern also hosts more than 4,000 kids each year on school trips.

The Cavern

The attraction’s namesake is a prime feature, of course. You might meet a bat in the cavern, a great summer retreat with its year round temperature of 58 degrees. “Early in the spring you can see them coming out of here like tornados,” says Guide Jerry Dill. It is home to more than 75,000 bats. The two main species are the Eastern Pipestrelle and the gray bat.

The well-lit, guided tours last about 60 minutes. In addition to the physical features of the cave, the tour highlights the history of the cavern. Osage and Cherokee Indians once found shelter in this protective grotto. One chamber is called the Indian Council Room. “This is where the Native Americans would have lived,” explains Dill. A movie about outlaws Frank and Jessie James was filmed in the cave. It provided an ideal place to make moonshine not only because it served as a hideout but also because of the clear running water inside.

Cavern features include stalagmites, stalactites, cave pearls, rimstone dams, and fossils. Water droplets cling to the ceiling, a crystal clear stream runs along the tour path, and small waterfalls flow. Several chimney features have water falling down them. It’s said to be lucky to be dripped on. There are also rocks that appear to have animal shapes and a huge pile of bat guano.

The cavern is spacious and open, making it easy for adults to walk through and a good starter cave for children who might be a little apprehensive. There are wide walkways and no stairs. “Wheelchairs and strollers can go through 90 percent of the cave,” Boyer adds. “We have lots of dogs go through the cave.”

A Wild Cave Tour is offered from July through October. “We do get you wet and muddy on those wild tours,” Boyer says.

War Eagle Mining Company

Kids and adults have fun panning for gems such as rubies, peridot, amethyst, Arkansas crystal points, sapphires, topaz, pyrite and more. You buy a large bag of a substance that looks to be dirt, dump small portions of it at a time into a sluice box, and then dunk the box into the water sluice. Washing away the grime, you end up with colorful treasures. In addition to the gem mix, you can choose bags with only Arkansas crystal points or fossils. “For the kids it’s the highlight,” Boyer says. He adds that some adults pan for gems to use in making their own jewelry.

Lost in the Woods Maze

The maze is over a half mile of twists and turns inside a wooden stockade. Your challenge is not just to find your way out but also to find four lost Indian tribes along the path. “There’s even a tree house in the middle you can climb up and look around,” Boyer explains. It takes cunning, skill, logic and luck. Boyer says you sign yourself in at the beginning of the maze and there’s a record time you can try to beat. “The average person takes 12 to 14 minutes to get through,” he adds.

Nature Trails

The nature trails are open to anyone on the regular tour. The Lake Walk is stroller friendly. Other trails lead to lookouts or sinkholes, and some have information signs along the way. One leads to a rest area containing a fossil dig. Buried in sand are the artificial remains of a mastodon. Children dig in the sand to uncover the bones, then cover them back up for the next person to find.

Smoke Signal Cafe

The cafe is open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. from Memorial Day to Labor Day. You can order smoked pork or turkey sandwiches, hot dogs, and hamburgers served with baked potato salad or chips, and a root beer float. Also on the menu are chili dogs, deep dish pizza, and nachos (mild or spicy). You’ll find plenty of ice cream choices as well.

If You Go

War Eagle Cavern is located one-half mile off Ark. 12. The GPS coordinates for the parking lot are 36° 17′ 43.48″ N, 93° 54’ 15.88″ W. It is an easy drive from Fayetteville, Springdale, Rogers, Bentonville, Eureka Springs, or Branson. Visit www.wareaglecavern.com or call 479–789-2909 for more information and driving directions.

War Eagle Cavern’s boat dock is located in the last cove on the right in Devil’s Gap Inlet, south of Marker 6. Just stay to the right as you follow the inlet back, and look for the “CAVERN” sign on the boat dock at the end of the inlet. The GPS coordinates are 36° 17′ 46.49″ N, 93° 54′ 16.05″ W.

Finding Fun Faster: Travel Wisconsin iPhone App Launched

Ron — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 15:13:16 +0000

Wisconsin Department of Tourism launches new app to connect travelers to Wisconsin’s fun quicker and easier while traveling

MADISON, Wis. – There’s now an easy way to bring all the fun Wisconsin has to offer right to your fingertips. And even better, it’s free.

The Wisconsin Department of Tourism has unveiled its new Travel Wisconsin mobile application for the iPhone. The free app makes finding local attractions, lodging, dining and recreation throughout the state a piece of cake. The app can be downloaded from Apple’s iTunes Store and will work on any Apple mobile device running iOS 3.1.3 or greater.

Mobile apps are quickly becoming a “must have” for travelers. According to the July 2010 report of the State of the American Traveler, 28 percent of travelers have relied on smart phones, PDAs, or other handheld devices to access travel information in the past year.

“Introducing the Travel Wisconsin iPhone app allows us to serve the rapidly expanding market of smart phone users,” said Tourism Secretary Kelli A. Trumble. “It’s one more way we can reach out to travelers as they journey throughout Wisconsin and put the state’s wealth of travel information right in their hands immediately.”

The iPhone application taps into the Department’s TravelWisconsin.com database to serve up nearby attractions, events, restaurants and accommodations in relation to the GPS coordinates of the iPhone user. Attractions and events are organized by categories to further tailor the results. Events are sorted by proximity with the closest events listed first and are also organized by date. Lodging results are sorted by accommodation type (hotels, bed and breakfasts, resorts, campgrounds) and show what amenities are available so users can easily find where they want to stay. Dining options are sorted by cuisine. Directions and maps to each location are also available.

Social media sharing has also been integrated into the application allowing users to link to their Facebook and Twitter profiles from within the program. In addition, the app allows users to save and bookmark their favorite listings to easily return to them later.

Travelers looking for Wisconsin getaway ideas, events and free guides can discover their own fun at TravelWisconsin.com. Or like them on Facebook at Facebook.com/TravelWisconsin and follow along on Twitter at @TravelWI.

Virginia is for Lovers iPhone App Puts Travel at Your Fingertips

Ron — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 15:45:25 +0000

New mobile application connects visitors to more than 12,000 destinations statewide

RICHMOND, Va. – (Richmond, Va.) The Virginia Tourism Corporation announced the Virginia is for Lovers iPhone App - Virginia’s first, statewide mobile travel guide of its kind that puts more than 12,000 attractions, events, accommodations, restaurants and special offers at visitors’ fingertips. The mobile guide is available for free at the iTunes app store for iPhone and iPad users.

The Virginia is for Lovers iPhone app is designed to help visitors immediately access lodging, entertainment and dining options to encourage them to extend their stay and visit more destinations in Virginia.

Special features and highlights of the Virginia is for Lovers iPhone app include:

More than 12,000 listings including restaurants, hotels, wineries, museums and historical sites across the state.
A “Near Me” feature which allows users to find all attractions in a 15 mile radius
Directions and mapping feature for every listing
Direct access to call for reservations via phone or Web site
Customer reviews for restaurants and lodging properties
Pet-friendly attractions and destinations listed by locality

Alisa Bailey, president and CEO of the Virginia Tourism Corporation, encourages Virginians to take advantage of this new service to help assist residents on travels throughout the state.

“The Virginia is for Lovers iPhone app is a great resource for Virginians as well as visitors. Take advantage of this free service and get access to the nearest restaurants, wineries, museums and events while you are traveling throughout Virginia, either on business or vacation with your family.”

Tourism generates $19.2 billion in revenue for Virginia, supports 210,000 jobs and provides $1.28 billion in state and local taxes for communities.

Go to Virginia.org for more information on the free, Virginia is for Lovers iPhone app or visit www.Virginia.org for more details and information. Or call to request a free, Virginia is for Lovers travel guide.

Superman’s Hometown: Arkansas Diamond Mining Day Five and Six

Tonia — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 15:37:02 +0000

Day 5, Saturday June 13

A Day With Family On The Arkansas/Missouri Border

We spent today with our extended family. This happens every two years with this branch of the family, and as usual, it was a good time. Lots of food, conversation, and river play along the Current River. The kids pretty much spent the day in the river, as usual. The grownups kept an eye on the kids and visited with each other. We caught up on what cousins were up to, met new additions to the family, and generally had an enjoyable day.

Day 6, Sunday June 14

The Trip Home: Back To Illinois

Well, it was a fast week, full of adventure, and today we got to take the last leg home. Having done it many times before, we knew it was around ten hours, so we headed out by 9am, as usual. We always say earlier, but it’s hard to manage. This part of the journey is generally uneventful. We were all tired and ready to sleep in our own beds again and normally we decide to make a minimum amount of stops. Today we decided to mix it up a bit, and take a small detour. “Let’s visit Metropolis, home of Superman,” I suggested. Everyone said “OK, why not?”

The Man of Steel in Superman’s Hometown, Metropolis, Illinois

I expected a quiet town on a Sunday. I envisioned a fast group photo with Superman before getting back on the road. Little did we know that we would also meet Batman, Iron Man, Super Girl, the Joker, and many more super heroes! We had no idea that this was the weekend of the Superman Convention in Metropolis Illinois. Wow! We had unknowingly walked into an outdoor carnival, complete with contests for superheroes, villains and monsters. We wandered the town for an hour thoroughly enjoying ourselves. As the kids exclaimed, “It’s like Wizard World (a Chicago area comic book convention we go to every year), for Superman!” And yes, indeed, it was. We all agreed that Mr. Freeze was the best costume. If you’re are out there Mr. Freeze, we voted for you! It made for a fun side trip on a generally unexciting part of our vacation.

A fun whirlwind adventure. Four states: Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, Kentucky. One more state to mark off our map as visited and explored. One more experience to mark off our list of things to try! One more adventure to add to our memories.

Hot Springs: Arkansas Diamond Mining Day Four

Tonia — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 15:26:47 +0000

Day four, Friday June 12

Hot Springs, Arkansas

We made one more group breakfast, got everyone cleaned up and ready to go. As the kids put it, the shower was pretty small, but you didn’t feel like you would fall over. Always the optimists! And it had lots of hot water, which was nice. We checked out, and moved on our way. It was about a 40 minute drive to get to Hot Springs, then about 10 minutes to get to the park area. I think everyone else was expecting an actual park, but we knew this was a more urban setting. The Hot Springs are actually some of the historic bathhouses which have been restored and you can go through. There is one that the National Park Service runs, and a couple which are still functioning bathhouses. We didn’t have the time to take a bath, although it did sound nice. Maybe next time.

Sauna Contraptions, Fordyce Bath House, Hot Springs, Arkansas

We spent the time to get the kids their park ranger badges. This involved an extensive tour of the Fordyce House, which is the one the park service runs. We compared the architecture on the original houses, explored the rooms in the Fordyce House, saw where the springs feed into the structure, saw equipment used in old days and generally discovered where current spa services and physical therapy evolved from. Surround showers, steam rooms, massage tables, physical therapy equipment; it all started here. It would have been amazing in its prime. I am sure it was an experience like no other at that time.

As we were walking the promenade behind the bathhouses, a major storm started rolling in behind us. The rest of our group decided to call it a day and head back; we stopped at one of the filling stations to fill our jugs of water from the Hot Springs, then juggled the 140 degree jugs from hand to hand to try not to burn ourselves as we headed to the cars! We watched in amazement as vanloads of people would stop and fill multiple jugs of water and speed off. The water is free and it looked like some of these people were locals who must come fill jugs daily. Many people believe the waters have healing effects, but it is bizarre to watch all the same. The water was still hot hours later, amazingly. Maybe the locals just don’t want to pay for hot water.

Once we split up, the storm had pretty much passed us by, so our family went back out to the town for some gift shopping and then on to the mountain tower. The area around the park buildings is all shops, and we spent a little time finding some souvenirs, then decided to take a drive up the mountain for a different view of the town. We started with the North Mountain drive and went up in the mountain tower. This is an observation tower at the top of one of the mountains, where you take a glass elevator up to an observation deck. You can see for miles, and it’s gorgeous. You can see why this area is popular, it is very peaceful. You can see to Missouri and Oklahoma from up here, and in the early days of this settlement, it must have been a pretty awesome sight. Next we took the West Mountain Drive. You could see just as far, with many scenic outlooks. It was a pretty drive, worth the time. Next order of business, we all agreed, was food!

Natural hot spring, Hot Springs, Arkansas

We decided to find a local place to eat, a general requirement for us, so we drove the strip looking for something appealing. There were several pubs that looked OK, but we decided to go back to the spot that struck our fancy when we were souvenir shopping, Bubbalu’s, for burgers and dogs. Pretty basic fare, well done, in a quaint old building. We took a seat at the counter, ordered malts and burgers, and some excellent chili cheese fries! The food was all good, cooked from scratch (the burgers were not a frozen affair) and the service was extra friendly. You can’t ask for much more. And the building was fun, antique without being stuffy. I was amazed that the high ceilings made it open and airy, even with the hot humid weather all day. The doors were open, a breeze flowed through, and it was cool and inviting. We all agreed it was a great choice.

We felt like we had done the town justice. Although if we had another day we would try a bath. We headed out to meet back up with the rest of our group. We had a family affair the next day, so we needed to get back to our home base to prepare.

Ohio’s Ozone Zipline Adventures Announces Major Expansion With Longer Zip Lines

Ron — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 15:13:23 +0000

Oregonia, OH – (November 10, 2010) — Ozone Zipline Adventures is the largest zip line canopy tour in the Midwest and it’s getting bigger. Ozone is adding two new 1,500-foot-long lines which will be 200 feet above the Little Miami River and will connect Ozone to Fort Ancient near the North Watch.

“Each 1,500-foot-long line is longer than any single line on our existing course, and longer than any single zipline in Ohio,” said Jeff Merhige, Executive Director of YMCA Camp Kern which operates Ozone Zipline Adventures. “When the new lines open in April we will have grown our total zip-tour length to more than a mile and a half, a nearly 50% expansion.”

The first 1,500-foot-long line will start at the top of Ozone Tower, a multilevel platform tower where all tours begin. The zip line will connect to a platform on a designated tree on the Fort Ancient side of the river. From this platform, riders will connect to the second 1,500-foot-long zipline and zip back across the river.

“As you zip out on the new river lines, the canopy will drop away below your feet…within a few seconds you’ll be zipping in 360° of open air with an amazing view of the river and valley,” said Merhige.

The new lines will allow Ozone Zipline Adventures to offer three, hands-free, guided tours beginning April 1, 2011. The “Traditional Tour” will include seven zip lines and seven sky bridges. The new “River Tour” will include nine zip lines, nine sky brides and the nature trail. The new “Extended Tour” will include 11 zip lines, nine sky bridges and the nature trail. Preliminary construction will begin in December and conclude prior to opening on April 1, 2011.

According to Merhige, more than 14,000 riders from 46 states and 11 countries have zipped on Camp Kern’s educational eco-adventure since it opened in July 2009. Almost all of those out-of-town guests have stayed overnight, says Merhige, and added canoeing, Kings Island or other attractions to their vacation.

“Ozone Zipline Adventures is an exhilarating educational experience that combines the thrill of flying with an environmental and historical curriculum,” said Merhige. “With the expansion connecting to Fort Ancient, Ozone Zipline will now include a history of Fort Ancient and information about the federally designated scenic Little Miami River.”

The expansion was made possible through a partnership with YMCA of Greater Dayton the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), Ohio Historical Society (OHS) and Fort Ancient.

Additional Tour Details:

Riders must be at least ten years old and weigh at least 80 lbs. Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult or guardian
Reservations are required
The zipline canopy tour is open seven days a week April 1 through Dec. 12 (weather permitting)

Located just minutes north of Cincinnati, Ozone Zipline Adventures is nestled alongside The Little Miami State and National Scenic River in Southwest Ohio, a hub of outdoor activities such as the Little Miami Bike Trail, Morgan’s Canoe Livery and Fort and world renowned historical sites like Fort Ancient.

For more information visit www.ozonezips.org or call (513) 932‑3756.

A Day In The Quartz Fields: Arkansas Diamond Mining Day Three

Tonia — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 14:00:15 +0000

Day three, Thursday June 11

Wegner’s Quartz Mine, Mount Ida, Arkansas

The cabins were great for our setup. We all met at Cabin One and made breakfast together. We cooked up a nice meal and enjoyed planning out and discussing what we would find today at the quartz mine. Cabin one had a large table and we almost all fit around it! The kids wanted to eat back outside at the picnic table, so it worked out well. We cleaned up and headed out. This cabin was a little further than our original plan from the Diamond Mine, but we could bring along the dog. It was closer to the quartz mine though, so all in all, it worked out well. That meant that today, we didn’t have far to go for our next round of treasure seeking.

Stare into my crystal… er, rock-like thing

We chose well in Wegner’s Quartz Mine. The people who checked you in were so friendly and helpful, it was great. I am not a rock hound by any means, so I need someone to show me what I am looking for, and how to find it. They were great for me. The kids have been studying minerals and rocks in school, so they already knew some of this; however, they have never found them on their own out of the mine. It is a bit different than studying a sample in school which is already cleaned and polished. The instruction was great. No one at the mine made us feel inferior for asking novice questions. In fact, they took us under their wing and gave us some extra tips on how to be successful. This was great, since the kids soaked up the advice and moved all over the field looking for new “hot spots” for the best finds.

Red dirt rovers; sifting for quartz

This mine was wonderful, in that they gave you buckets and garden shovels to use. We had brought our own, having read up on mining and having friends who are rock hounds guiding us in the gear we should take. We felt pretty well prepared. The mine is really a field of red clay that has been dug to the surface from the underground mine. This is surface mining, and you work your way around the field. Each person found their spot, and began digging away!

Immediately you could hear excited cries of “look at this piece!” and “I found a great one over here!”; “This one is so pretty!” This continued for hours, as we all filled our buckets with prime samples of quartz. One child proclaimed they had more than they could ever use, so they might sell some of theirs! The great thing about the mine is that you only pay an entrance fee and whatever you find you take home. There is no additional charge, one piece or one bucket full. It’s up to you and the space you have in your car! We went for buckets of course!

The mine had some picnic tables set up in the shade, so we took a break and had a picnic lunch. Next, we moved over to the gemstone sluice. Now, these aren’t gemstones native to Arkansas, so if you’re a purist type of rock hound this won’t appeal to you. But the experience was worthwhile for the kids. Where else can you sit with your bucket of dirt, pour it into a screen and run it through a sluice and work hard to identify all the gemstones you uncover? We had a great time and everyone took home a big bag of gemstones.

Washing off our finds in the sluice

We spent around 4 hours at the mine, and it passed by pretty quickly. Of course, we had kids who love to dig in the dirt, and the excitement of finding lots of treasure. We were hot and sweaty at this point from sitting out in an open field with near 100 degree temps and what felt like 100% humidity, so we decided to go into town for ice cream. There was a great little ice cream shack, the Dairyette, just up the road, and it hit the spot perfectly. We sat outside with our dripping ice cream and tried to eat it before it melted. It tasted pretty good after a hot day at the mine.

Since there was a grocery store right across the street also, so we picked up a few supplies for dinner, including charcoal, and headed back to the cabin. We had another dinner by the fire then spent time wading in the river and enjoying the peacefulness of the river setting. This night the kids decided to sleep inside, which is ironic since it was a beautiful night! Go figure…

Photos by eJourna

For more photos from our Arkansas Diamond Mining adventure, check out the gallery.