At a time when marriage equality is top of mind for Washington voters, Seattle Men’s Chorus is proud to share, through song, The Beatles’ powerful messages of peace, love, and understanding. With their all-Beatles Spring concert, Come Together, the nation’s largest gay men’s chorus (250 men) pays tribute to the Fab Four by belting out over two dozen faithfully arranged songs from the best-selling band in history.

The all-Beatles concert has been in the works for almost five years, and with Washington the 7th state to legalize gay marriage (or marriage equality, if you prefer) the timing for this message of love is near perfect.   You’ll hear your favorites, including “Because,” “Imagine,” “Eleanor Rigby,” “Yellow Submarine,” “Let it Be,” “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds,” and the list goes on. Seattle Men’s Chorus will recreate this collection of favorite Lennon and McCartney tunes in exactly the same style as the originals, following the same musical terrain, from mop-top hair and skinny ties to the psychedelic and colorful costumes including: mustaches, inscrutable uniforms, peace glasses, and batik shirts. It’s a tripping evening back in time.

With a mission to entertain, enlighten, unify and heal our audience and members, using the power of words and music to recognize the value of gay and straight people and their relationships, the Seattle Men’s Chorus has been entertaining the Seattle area since 1979.  The Come Together concert looks to continue the tradition.

Go.  See.  Listen.  Love.

Location:  McCaw Hall, Seattle Center Campus,

Date & Time:  March 31st, 2012 at 8 pm and April 1st, 2012 at 2 pm.

Tickets:  $20-65, available online or at the McCaw Hall box office.

Performances are also scheduled for the Performing Arts Center in Wenatchee (April 7th at 8 pm), and at South Whidbey High School in Langley (April 14th at 7 pm).

Photo credit:  Courtesy of Flying House Productions

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One of the rich traditions of the Mardi Gras season is the King Cake, and with only a couple day left until Fat Tuesday, bakeries are madly trying to fill the last orders before the Lenten season begins.

The history of the King Cake dates back to the celebrations of Epiphany, the 12 days after Christmas.  Epiphany is more widely celebrated in Europe than in the United States, but Louisiana adopted the King Cake and made it a part of its Mardi Gras traditions.  The King Cake is served throughout the Carnival season – Epiphany, or 12th night, until Fat Tuesday, this year February 21st, 2011  – and is a part of this time of celebration, feasting and partying.  During the Mardi Gras season, king cake parties are popular, and date back to the 18th century, but increasingly King Cakes are showing up at festivities all year round.

The cake is more of  than a cake, and is mixed up, left to rise, kneaded and rolled out, and eventually shaped into a circular ring before baking.  Inside is placed a trinket, usually a small plastic baby, that is baked into the cake.  After baking and cooling, the cake is frosted and decorated, with traditional Mardi Gras colors of purple, green, and gold.  The frosting itself can be these bright colors, or it may be colored sugar sprinkled into the frosting.  The cake is sliced up for serving, and the person who eats the slice that contains the plastic baby is supposed to host the next party or provide the next King Cake.

I had never tried King Cake until last year when I enjoyed Mardi Gras festivities in Shreveport-Bossier City.  One of our stops was for King Cake at Julie Anne’s Bakery and Café where I sampled the pralines and cream filled cake.  One delicious bite and I was hooked.  One slice wasn’t enough and I took advantage of Julie Anne’s overnight shipping and ordered one for home delivery.

Julie Anne’s offers a nice variety of fillings in addition to pralines and cream, including blueberries and cream, chocolate chip and cream, red raspberry, apple, black forest and lots more.  They’re made by hand, iced with a buttercream frosting, and then sprinkled with the traditional colored sugar.  The cakes come in three sizes, the regular will serve 8-10, the medium will serve 20-25, and the large will serve 30-35.  The regular and medium sized cakes can be shipped, for an additional charge, and arrive in a decorative box complete with Mardi Gras necklaces, doubloons and decorations.

Julie Anne’s makes King Cakes year round, so it’s perfect for a special party any time of the year.  I know I’ll be placing another pretty soon.

Location:  Julie Anne’s Bakery, 825 Kings Highway, Shreveport

Hours:  6:30 am – 6 pm, Monday through Saturday.  Breakfast and lunch is served, along with other bakery goods.

Prices:  $15.99-19.99 for regular sized king cakes.  Breakfast and lunches are very modestly priced.

Photo credits:  From my personal collection

NOTE:  My visit to Shreveport-Bossier City was part of a sponsored press trip. 

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How did I miss this? I keep up on the latest in museums and exhibitions around the country, and somehow managed to miss that a Bruce Springsteen exhibition opens tomorrow, February 17th – but this somehow passed me by until just now.

Philadelphia’s National Constitution Center, a preeminent history museum, is hosting (and is the only venue to host) the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s exhibition, “From Asbury Park to the Promised Land:  The Life and Music of Bruce Springsteen.”

The exhibit has never been seen outside of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, and is the first major exhibition about this iconic American songwriter.  The exhibition provides an in depth look at the full Springsteen’s catalog, starting with his early bands (Child, the Castiles, and Steel Mill) and chronicle right up through his work with the E Street Band and as a solo artist.

Impressive artifacts on display include the Fender Esquire guitar from the cover of Born to Run, the outfit he wore on the cover of Born in the USA, numerous handwritten lyric manuscripts, concert posters, and his Academy Award for the the song “Streets of Philadelphia” from the movie Philadelphia.  The biggest artifact is a 1960 Chevrolet Corvette, purchased by Springsteen after the success of his album Born to Run.

Since visiting Philadelphia may be in my not too distant future, I’m putting this on my must-do list.  I expect all music lovers and historians of rock and roll will likely do the same.

And oh yeah, the National Constitution Center is chockfull of plenty of other good stuff, too.

How did I miss this?

Location:  Independence Mall, 525 Arch Street, Philadelphia

Dates:  February 17th-September 3rd, 2012

Hours:  Monday – Friday, 9:30 am-5 pm, Saturday till 6 pm; Sunday noon-5 pm.

Tickets:  Combination tickets allow admission into the Bruce Springsteen exhibit as well as the rest of the Center.  $27 adults; $22.50 seniors (65+), $1.50 active military; $13.50 child; $22.50 students (with ID) and youth (ages 13-18).  Tickets can be purchased online.

Photo credit:  Amazon

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A day of love and caring, this video seemed a fitting tribute to Valentine’s Day.

May your travels be full of people to love and care about, and may you always return to them safely. Happy Valentine’s Day!

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Located in the highlands of Aberdeenshire, Scotland, Balmoral Castle is a large estate house best known as one of the residences of the Royal Family.  It was originally purchased by Queen Victoria, who razed the home and rebuilt it from the ground up, and has been owned by successive monarchs since that time.  The working estate covers about 49,000 acres, and has managed herds of deer, cattle, and ponies. With a mix of rugged topography and manicured gardens, it’s easy to understand why the Queen loves her highland holidays at Balmoral.

Also on the estate:  Birkhall, where Prince Charles and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall spend their summers, and Craigowan Lodge, where other royal friends and family stay.  There are also six smaller cottages on the property that are available for rent.

While your stay in your Scottish cottages may not be as grand as the Royal Family’s, you can visit the grandeur of Balmoral – if only for a short time.  The formal and vegetable gardens are open to the public, along with a variety of exhibits, including  The only interior look you’ll get of the castle is the Ballroom – all others are the private quarters of the Queen and are closed to the public.  Throughout the year there are also a number of guided walks and luxury land rover safaris, lead by the Ranger Service, that will give guest a chance to check out the Scottish wildlife.  The safaris are offered twice daily, April-June, and weather permitting is late October-early December.  The official website will list dates and details.

Some other interesting tidbits about Balmoral:

• One of the hills on the estate was the setting for a children’s story, originally told by Prince Charles to his brothers.  The Old Man of Lochnagar was eventually published, with the royalties going to The Prince’s Trust, a charity that supports disadvantaged youths.
• The Royal Family keeps a full time staff at Balmoral of around 50 people.  An additional 50-100 part timers are also on staff.
• A distillery is located on the estate that produces Royal Lochnagar Single Malt whisky.
• The Queen was at Balmoral when she heard the news of Diana, the former Princess of Wales, death.  She was harshly criticized for choosing to remain in mourning there instead of returning the London.
• The last estimated value of Balmoral puts it in excess of 22 million dollars if sold on the private market.
• Balmoral is the private property of the monarch, and not part of the independently managed Crown Estate.
• Parts of the Balmoral estate is available for private events, including weddings.

You can visit Balmoral on your own or, if you prefer, contact one of the many tour operators offering day tours to the castle.  You can see the sights of the Balmoral estate is an hour or two, but in nice weather plan on taking a little more time to enjoy the day.  There are plenty of trails and guides paths to wander and enjoy this beautiful estate in the Scottish highlands.

Location:  On the south bank of the River Dee, midway between Ballater and Braemar.  The location is secluded, and requires a car or tour bus to access.  The nearest rail station is in Aberdeen.

Hours:  10 am-5pm daily, April 1st-July 31st, 2012.

Admission:   £9.00 adults; £8.00 seniors/students; £5.00 children (ages 5-16); £25.00 family ticket (2 adults and up to 4 children).  Admission includes the audio handset tour.  The 3 hours Land Rover safaris are £60 per person, binoculars are provided.

Value added:  You can use your Balmoral admission ticket to receive a 10% discount on a visit to the Royal Yacht Brittania, located at the Ocean Terminal, Leith, Edinburgh.

Photo credit:  Stuart Yeates via flickr

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Fans of the offbeat, quirky museums, and industrial history, may enjoy London’s Kew Bridge Steam Museum, home to a collection of water pumping steam engines.  While it may sound a bit dull at first thought, Victorian era London produced some of the finest waterworks around, and it’s on display here.  Located on the River Thames in west London, the museum is easily accessible from most hotels and apartments in London.

The museum is on the site of the original Kew Bridge Pumping Station which originally opened in 1838.  Although the pump station expanded over the following few years, eventually the steam engines were retired from service.  The final use of steam engines at the site was in 1958 – it was a demonstration only.  The pumps weren’t eliminated completely, however, they were merely stored in the hopes that they could be displayed to the public at some later time.

Fast forward to today, and the former pumping station has become an internationally recognized museum of steam pumping engines.  With a Victorian-styled setting, it’s a wonderful blend of elegant and practical, and the Italian Renaissance-style standpipe tower is a recognizable local landmark.

The Kew Bridge Steam Museum is home to the world’s largest collection of Cornish Beam engines, including the largest one – which was used to pump water in London for nearly a hundred years – which stands 40 feet high and weigh around 250 tons.  It’s one monster of a pump, and is fired up once a month for specially scheduled public viewing. Also on display:  a Bull Engine dating back to the mid 1800s, an Allan Diesel engine, and plenty more.

The museum is also a celebration of London’s industrial history, with an excellent display of huge sewers, pumping stations, public fountains, and an operating steam railway.  The railway operates on a short track that runs around the Kew Bridge site, and while at one time it might have transported coal to feed the engines, today it offers passenger rides (during the summer).  There are a number of special events that are regularly scheduled, including the Giants of Steam weekend when they fire up the big engines, so check the official website to see if there’s something going on when you plan to visit.

Location:  Green Dragon Lane, Brentford (on the north side of the Kew Bridge).  Take the Kew Gardens Tube, the Kew Bridge rail, or any number of buses that stop at Kew Bridge.  If you stay at one of the Citybase Apartments, you’ll find the convenience of public transportation near your front door.

Hours:  Tuesday-Sunday, 11 am-4 pm.

Admission:  £ 10.00 adults; £ 9.00 students; £ 4.00 children (ages 5-15).  Tickets are valid for one year and for multiple visits, so you can return as many times as you want.

Photo credit:  Les Chatfield via flickr (train) and via wikimedia (steam valves)

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In springtime the Welsh countryside is surely one of the most beautiful in the world. There is a lush greenness unmatched anywhere in Europe and it’s very easy to see why the daffodil is the region’s official flower. They are everywhere, from the planted beds in suburban public parks to wild outcrops by the roadsides. Take a short hike through the hills and you’ll also see wild foxgloves, primroses, and dozens of other flowers in full bloom. There are crocuses in the open spaces and bluebells in the woods.

Hiking is just one of the activities that bring visitors to Wales, and there are thousands of marked routes to choose from, ranging from gentle countryside meanders to full mountaineering experiences. The relatively gentle Brecon Beacons are perfect mountains for kids – a family with kids aged six or seven can reach the top of Pen y Fan, the highest peak in South Wales, within about 90 minutes. On a clear day the views from the top are spectacular. The car park and bus stop is less than an hour from Cardiff, the capital city.

Further north, it’s even easier to reach the top of Snowdon (in photo above). At 3,560 feet it’s the highest peak in either England or Wales, and it’s much craggier and more dramatic than its southern cousins. There are several walking routes to the top but those with little kids (or those whose knees are not quite what they used to be) can take a narrow gauge steam train right to the summit.

North Wales is also a wonderful place to try outdoor sports like rock climbing and white water kayaking. The National Mountain Center is a few miles from Snowdon and it puts on a huge variety of adventure sports courses and activities for all ages and ability levels. There are also dozens of smaller adventure companies to choose from, offering all kinds of outdoor activities. Kids as young as five can try indoor rock climbing, for example, and families can also try sea kayaking, mountain biking, or go on a guided tour down one of the old mines.

The castles are great fun at any time of year. There are more than 100 castles still standing in Wales, most of them hundreds of years old. They range from the massive and intimidating fortresses built by the invading English (Conwy and Caernarvon are the best examples) to smaller structures built by local lords.  Many of them welcome visitors.

There is also a more ancient history to explore. The Romans left all kinds of artifacts and remains behind when they left Britain. In the village of Caerleon in the south east there is a beautifully preserved Roman amphitheatre, a bath house, barracks, an old Roman town wall, and of course, an excellent museum. Staff put on regular special events where kids can dress up in costume armor and have a go at being in a play Roman army.

Wales is very proud of its history and its language, and with very good reason. Although English is spoken everywhere, it’s one of the few places where a Celtic language is still spoken on the streets. If your family has roots in Wales, try planning your visit to coincide with St. David’s Day on March 1. Throughout Wales there are celebrations of traditional Welsh food and clothing, poetry and music, and you’ll have a wonderful taste of your heritage.

Vacations in Wales are great for families who want to try new experiences and get involved in the action. There is plenty for adults to enjoy and plenty for the kids to do, see, touch, and taste!

Guest Author Bio: Jess Spate has lived in Wales for six years and still has no trouble finding new things to do. She writes for Appalachian Outdoors, a camping and hiking gear retailer.  

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Kendal is a small town located in the Lakes District of Cumbria with a rich history that attracts tourists.  Located on the River Kent, it was once known as Kirkby in Kendal, but now is referred to as simply Kendal.  It’s historically been a popular spot for visitors in the Lakes District, both because of its setting and its history.  If you’re planning a visit you can book Cumbrian cottages and settle in just like you were a local, then spend your days setting out exploring the area.

One popular spot to visit in Kendal is the Kendal Museum.  Founded in 1796, the Kendal Museum features collections covering a variety of topics with a focus on history, archaeology, geology, and nature.  The museum is divided into galleries, each featuring impressive exhibitions.

• The Wainwright Gallery – Named after a former honorary curator of the museum, this gallery traces the history of man in Cumbria, spanning from Prehistoric to present day.  In this gallery you’ll see a variety of Mesolithic tools and a large collection of Neolithic axe heads and stone tools from the surrounding Cumbria area.  The Gallery features a nice display about the 13th century Kendal Castle, explaining the story of the castle and its integration into the town life.  There’s an original key from the castle on display, along with drinking jugs, and weaponry.  (The Kendal Castle ruins are a short walk away, so after looking at the exhibits, go take a look at the real thing.)  The Wainwright Gallery also contains a nice collection of funerary artifacts. Kids will enjoy the Wainwright Gallery with age appropriate activities including making a medieval tiled floor, coin rubbings, and playing a slate xylophone.
• World Wildlife Gallery – Divided into geographic areas, this galley is an introduction ot the animals, birds, and insects of the world.  The gallery has a display on evolution and ecology, which seems at odds with the collection on animals head mounted on the wall, but wandering through the sections will give visitors a look at a lion, a great flamingo (that was donated over 150 years ago), a polar bear, three-toed sloth, armadillo, duck-billed platypus, and more.  Kids will enjoy meeting the museum’s famous polar bear and following the creepy crawly trail of insects.
• Lake District Natural History Gallery – Volcanic activity is responsible for the great mountain ranges of the Lake District, and you can follow the area’s geological history dating back back a mere 520 million years ago.  Artifacts on display include fossils, local shales, and a variety of mineral and rock types.  The gallery features a diorama in the form of a nature trail that you walk through to look at various Kendal habitats.  The animals found in this gallery were victims of accidents or died a natural death, and are preserved here for educational purposes.  Kids will enjoy fossil rubbings and the opportunity to explore and identify a variety of common place objects.
• The Hamer Collection – This collection features over 2,000 specimens of minerals, including beautiful ruby crystals from Myanmar and spectacular tourmaline crystals embedded in quartz from Brazil.  There are many specimens from the mines from the Lake District, where mineral collecting is now banned.  These specimens are not only beautiful, but provide an invaluable reference guide to scientists.

After viewing the various museum collections, you may want to enjoy some quiet time in the museum’s small wildlife garden.  Complete with a pond, marsh, and heather beds, the garden is home to a variety of fish, frogs, birds, plants, and insects.  Typically the wildlife garden is viewed from a corridor in the museum, and access is restricted in order to protect the wildlife.  However, if you’d like to visit the garden just ask at the reception desk; they’re usually happy to oblige your request.

Kendal Museum is managed by Kendal College as part of the community’s commitment to the arts.  You can find a nearby Kendal accommodation that will allow you to stay in the heart of the Lakes District and enjoy all that the community has to offer.

Location:  Kendal, Station Rd, LA9 6BT

Hours:  Wednesday – Saturday, 10:30 am-5 pm.  Closed for Christmas week.

Admission:  FREE

Photo credit:  Jerry1250 via wikimedia commons

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Taking a two year old on holiday is always a little daunting, even for the experienced traveler. No matter whether you are staying close to home or going long haul, successful holidays with pre-schoolers take precision planning.

For our first holiday as a family, we decided to push the limits and go long haul, opting for South Africa for a family safari, more specifically, Cape Town, the Garden Route, followed by a few days at a family safari lodge. During the build-up to our safari holiday, we primed our son with the Lion King, Madagascar and all Disney characters that pertained to an African safari, making sure he knew the names of the different animals he might be fortunate enough to see.

We bought all our travel essentials, including perhaps the most useful (in hindsight) a pair of toddler reins, with an incorporated backpack.  The reins meant that not only could my son proudly carry his own teddy, book and drink around Heathrow, but that we could keep hold of him with a simple loop of the wrist, while other hands were free to carry bags, check for passports, push trolleys and generally get ourselves to Cape Town.

With a free upgrade to Business Class under our belt after a debacle of a departure, my son slept the whole flight, waking in Cape Town with fresh eyes and a smile.  What more could a parent ask for?

We stepped out of Cape Town International airport into the morning sun, and instantly relaxed to absorb the friendly atmosphere.  Joseph (our meet and greet) shook our hands, gave us an amazingly warm smile and took all of our bags. An hour or so later as we walked into the reception of the Cape Grace Hotel, my son was shocked into good behavior as he was cheerily greeted by name, given orange juice and a toy as a gift to occupy him while the adults took care of the check in details.

At midday we strode out onto the waterfront and enjoyed a fabulous lunch before wandering the markets and shops and then enjoying an afternoon at the nearby Two Oceans Aquarium. My son’s sheer delight was evident as soon as we discovered a large dome full of Angel Fish, or “Nemos” as he gleefully called them.

The next morning we ascended Table Mountain in a revolving cable car that provided fantastic views of Signal Hill, the glistening Waterfront and working harbor. In the afternoon we hopped on and off the open top buses that pottered along the Cape peninsula, stopping off at both sandy and rock pooled beaches, much to the delight of our son.

After a fabulous couple of days in Cape town, we climbed into our rental car and drove along the picturesque Garden Route to the malaria free Kwandwe Game Reserve.  Our goal – to spot as many animals as we could with our excited son.

On arrival at Ecca Lodge we were greeted by our guide Alistair and the staff of Ecca who did a fabulous job at looking after us. The game viewing was, superb. My son’s face instantly lit up with delight when he spotted “Dumbo” far in the distance silhouetted against the horizon, only to then be told to look to the other side of the jeep, to see another elephant slightly hidden behind thicket, asleep on its feet just a short ways away. We saw three lion that day, and heard the grunting of hippo in the river as we headed back to the lodge for dinner, with a very sleepy, happy two year old.

With heads full of the adventure that had turned into wonderful memories, we boarded our flight home.

Guest author bio:  Nicola Valentino is a writer for Opulent Africa a luxury safari operator.

Photo credits:  Courtesy of the author and ©Opulent Africa.

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Presiding proudly over the city of St. Louis, the Gateway Arch is the most recognizable building in the city’s skyline.  It’s that iconic symbol, often photographed, that helps identify the city to millions of people who have never, and perhaps will never, visit.

The Gateway Arch is located in the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, near the location where the Lewis & Clark expedition started, giving rise to its moniker Gateway to the West.  It was designed by Eero Saarinen, the renowned Finnish architect, and completed in 1965.  It wasn’t opened to the public, however, until June 1967.  At its tallest point, the arch stands 630 feet tall, the same dimension as its base from leg-to-leg.  That’s the equivalent of 63 stories.

At the bottom of the arch is a visitor center and a Museum of Westward Expansion.  Visitors are required to go through a security checkpoint before accessing the visitor center, so allow a little additional time in your plans.  Exhibits in the visitor center and museum show the history of St. Louis and the surround riverfront area.  After a look around there, it’s time to head to the top of the Arch.  An elevator like tram takes visitors to the top of the Arch in a quick 4-minute ride.  The tram leaves every 10 minutes, but during peak tourism times, the wait can be lengthy.

The viewing area at the top of the arch will hold up to about 160 people.  That can be a bit crowded as everyone waits to look out the windows (there are only 32 windows), but the view is worth it.  On a clear day you should be able to see for about 30 miles.  After you’ve enjoyed the view you can take the tram back down.  IMPORTANT NOTE:  There are no restrooms at the top.

There are steps to the top – 1,076 of them – but are used only by workers and staff.  Visitors are not permitted to make the climb to the top.  But it’s nice to know the stairs are there, just in case of an emergency.

Allow about two hours for a visit to the St. Louis Arch.  That will give you time to explore the museum as well as have some time at the top.  Allow additional time to explore the rest of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial or during peak times when crowds will likely result in long wait times.

Location:  Memorial Drive.

Hours:  9 am-6 pm during the winter, and 8 am-10 pm during the summer.  Closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.  It is most crowded during the midday hours.

Tickets:  $10 adults; $5 kids (3-15); and $7 with a National Park Passport.  Tickets for the tram can be purchased in advance online or onsite on day of visit.  During the heavily visited summer months, advance purchase is strongly recommended.

Public Transportation:  Take the MetroLink Lightrail to Laclede’s Landing stop.  The Memorial is about a 5 minute walk.  From the airport, the ride is about half an hour, with departures every 15-20 minutes.

Photo credit:  Buphoff (exterior shot), Daniel Schwen (observation deck), both via wikimedia commons

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