Category Archives: Vacations/Travel

Traveling

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We just got back from traveling a long way to see my mother-in-law. When I say long, I’m talking about approximately 1,700 miles of driving round-trip.  We didn’t have a vehicle maintenance log, but my husband made sure the oil was changed, new windshield wiper blades put on, tires checked, etc.,  before we left home.  Our vehicle was in great condition for the trip!

We didn’t have gps route planning software to use on our trip, but our son has an iPhone which has a GPS on it.  That was great because we relied on his GPS to route us a different way when three lanes converged into one due to construction on the highway we were traveling on.  Re-routing helped!  If we lived in this area, it might be nice to have an automated meter reading to help us figure out the best routes to take on a daily basis.  Whatever type of traveling, there are ways to make it  efficient.

*Note: I was compensated monetarily for this article. However, the views and opinions are my own.

Branson, Missouri

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Have any of y’all been to Branson?  We’ve been but only briefly while stopping over at Springfield.  We just wanted to see what the area looked like, and it was really pretty.  I imagine people who live in the surrounding areas such as Table Rock lake homes enjoy the scenery.  The area with all the shows wasn’t how I had pictured it.   Each show is in its own separate building, and the buildings are built close to each other throughout several blocks.  We didn’t take time to go see a show but did take time to walk along the riverwalk and the downtown area a little bit.  That was enjoyable!

Spring Break Travelers

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With Spring Break occurring this week for some and next week for others, there will be a lot of people traveling.  When planning a trip, most people think about what clothes to pack, what all they will need on the trip, etc.  But I wonder how many plan what they would do if they needed emergency assistance far away from home?  It’s good to know that there is help available.  So while packing toothpaste, shampoo, and everything else needed while traveling on a trip, it would also be good to pack emergency phone numbers.

Branson, Missouri

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When we were in the Springfield area one time, we took a drive down to  Branson to see what it was like.  It’s a really pretty area but wasn’t what I was expecting.  Everything is so close together and the shows are all in different buildings, spread all over town.  I wouldn’t mind winning a Branson vacation package sometime and actually going to some of the shows.  That would be nice.

Luggage, etc.

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The first month of this new year is almost over.  Spring Break will be here before we know it, and many people will be thinking about traveling and maybe getting new luggage.  For the busy traveler, luggage can conveniently be bought online at luggage stores.

Whenever we travel, I like to be organized with a bag for everything.   I like to have a separate bag for vitamins, my own toiletry bag, a separate toiletry bag for my husband, a bag for each of us for small clothing items, and a couple of garment bags for clothes on hangers.

CSN Online Stores has given me an opportunity again to review one of their products.  I’ve been looking through their luggage to see if there is another piece we could use.  But CSN has so many different stores to look through that I can’t decide for sure what I want to get.  They have some great products that would be nice to review!  And they have quite a few products that have free shipping.  I’ll let you know soon what I choose!

Note:  This is a sponsored post.

How to Prevent Bed Bugs

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Since there is a bed bug epidemic in the US now, what can we do to help prevent bed bugs from entering our homes?  These bugs can be anywhere including nice hotels, dorm rooms, apartments, and other places where there is a frequent turnover of people.  They can be on new clothes, new sheets, new towels, etc, because these items are often made in countries where bed bugs are a problem.

Here are some good tips from various sources on how to prevent bed bugs from being an uninvited guest:

  • Check out the  BED BUG REGISTRY before staying in a hotel.
  • Keep suitcases off the floor in hotels.
  • Wash all clothes as soon as you return home from a trip.
  • Vacuum luggage as soon as you return home from a trip.
  • Do not purchase clothes and hang them in your closet! Always wash new clothes or send to the cleaners first.  (It doesn’t matter how much the item cost!)
  • Always wash new sheets and new towels which most of us do anyway.  But also wash new curtains or any new fabric where these bugs could be hiding.
  • Cover your mattresses with a plastic mattress cover.
  • (Maybe put stuffed animals in the dryer for 20 minutes?)

Here are a few sources for more information:

eHow

Good Housekeeping.com

WebMD

Wikihow

Relaxing on the Beach

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I’ve read on several blogs during the last month about people wanting to rent one of the Outer Banks beach rentals.  That sounds so relaxing to spend a weekend on the beach and just mellow out and chill.  Some weeks are so hectic that it’s nice to get away and not have the phone ring (or at least put your cell phone on silent mode) and not have any laundry or housework.  I think everyone could benefit from that every once in a while!

NASA Space Center Houston – Home School Families Day on October 6, 2010

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For homeschooling families, this is a great opportunity to go visit NASA’s Space Center in Houston, Texas.  Home School families only are allowed on this day as it is closed to the general public.  There is a big discount on tickets which is great!  Here’s more info for those interested.

B & B Review: The Mansion at Elfindale, Springfield, Missouri – Part Two

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………        .<PART ONE ……. PART TWO…….PART THREE >

In Part One of The Mansion at Elfindale series, I showed you the beautiful staircase and Chapel Suite where we stayed. To continue my review of this absolutely charming Victorian Bed and Breakfast in Springfield, this picture shows the size of this B & B, The Mansion at Elfindale. Shown here on one side of the Mansion is a covered drive for the carriage entrance.


The history of The Mansion at Elfindale is interesting! John O’Day and his wife, Alice, lived in the Mansion which was completed in 1893 and contained 27,000 square feet. Several years later when John and Alice divorced, Alice was awarded the Mansion. Eventually, Alice could not afford the upkeep and sold it to a group of nuns for use as a school.

The nuns built a beautiful chapel next to the Mansion (which is used as a wedding chapel today and will be featured in Part Three of this series). Next to the chapel they built a three-story classroom building which you see pictured below.

The property was sold once again in 1977, to a small group of Iranian businessmen with intentions to use the Mansion as a safe house for the Shah of Iran, but that didn’t work out. So the property was sold again, this time to Cornerstone Church in 1979. They built a sanctuary on the property, made the chapel available for weddings, and made the historical Mansion available to the public in 1990 as a Bed and Breakfast after fully restoring and renovating it to make 13 suites with private baths.

Each suite in The Mansion has its own distinct charm and personality, and I have chosen three more suites to illustrate that uniqueness and charm. In Part One, the Chapel Suite was featured.

The Veranda Suite as seen in the picture below has beautiful stained glass surrounding the doors out to the veranda.


When you go through the doors pictured above, you find yourself on this beautiful veranda pictured below. This is the only suite with a veranda and such a serene outdoor setting. Wouldn’t this be a lovely place to sit and have a cup of coffee or tea in the morning? So peaceful!

The Flora Jane Suite, pictured below, contains this beautiful canopy bed and reminds me of something out of a movie. Isn’t it gorgeous?  This is such a pretty room!

This suite, even though it contains the large canopy bed, is very spacious and also has a lovely sitting area where you can sit and relax, read a book or visit in nice peaceful surroundings.


The Rose Suite in the picture below is very spacious and keeps with the theme of roses. It looks like a comfy and cozy place to sit and talk, watch TV, or just relax from the busy life so many of us have!


Before closing, I must share one thing we really enjoyed. During the middle of the afternoon in the large hallway outside the dining room, you can help yourself to coffee or a selection of teas along with gourmet cookies. Or maybe you would prefer to have a cookie and some coffee in the evening.

We had delicious chocolate chip cookies both days. I could definitely get spoiled to afternoon tea of my choice and fresh baked cookies every day.  Very nice!

Next, I want to share with you about the beautiful wedding chapel and which suite I think would be wonderful for a honeymoon, so watch for Part Three!

………..<PART ONE ……. PART TWO…….PART THREE >

B & B Review: The Mansion at Elfindale, Springfield, Missouri – Part One

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………… <PART ONE ……. PART TWO……    .PART THREE >

 

We were blessed to be able to stay two nights and review this beautiful European style B and B, The Mansion at Elfindale which at one time was the largest bed and breakfast in Missouri.  It exceeded my expectations, and I must say that the pictures on their website do not do it justice. The pictures do not completely capture the spaciousness and elegance of this Victorian era mansion. We felt as though we had stepped back in time, only with the modern conveniences of air conditioning (which worked really great), cable television, and wireless Internet. Since the mansion was completed in 1892, I expected a little bit of a musty smell but there was absolutely none…not at all. My husband can testify to the freshness of the air as he has a very good sense of smell.

The Mansion is a wonderful place for a couple or a family with older children to stay.  This beautiful bed and breakfast in Springfield has hosted ladies’ retreats, even a youth group retreat, family reunions, wedding parties, and “girls’ night out” events.  If you’re headed to Branson, it’s less than 40 miles away which makes it a perfect bed and breakfast near Branson, yet out of the busy tourist area.

We stayed on the second floor which you can see on the far left side of the picture. A beautifully decorated, extra-large bay window provided us with a wonderful view.

Let me give you a tour inside.  Pictured below is the magnificent grand staircase made with imported teakwood, adorned with stained glass windows.


Once we got to the second floor landing, our room was straight ahead.  You can see my husband and our son unlocking the door to our suite.  By the way, there are thirteen suites in the Mansion, each suite complete with its own distinctive charm and personality.  And this is very important, each suite has its own private bath unlike some B & B’s.

I was impressed with the sliding, wooden doors, the original doors from 1892.  Once inside, this was the first view of our spacious room, authentically decorated in Victorian style and elegance:

The Chapel Suite where we stayed had two very comfortable queen sized beds with luxurious sheets which made for a wonderful night’s sleep. There were plenty of pillows which were great for propping up to read in bed at night.


 As I mentioned, we had all the modern conveniences of cable television, DVD player, telephone, and wireless Internet which was greatly appreciated while using the laptop.  Here’s another view of our room with the entertainment center:

The furniture throughout the mansion was styled according to the era in which the mansion was built.  This chair in our suite was so cool!  It’s the early version of a recliner which my husband took to instantly!


I could have slept longer, only I woke up hungry and thinking about the breakfast which was going to be cooked for us.  The first morning, we had eggs, bacon, sausage, cantaloupe, homemade biscuits and gravy with strawberry preserves on the side.  Coffee, a selection of teas, and orange juice were our beverages.  The second morning, we had eggs, sausage, homemade gourmet muffins, and sliced bananas topped with yogurt sprinkled with granola.  Our son took the picture below which is my favorite breakfast picture:



MORE TO COME!  In Part Two, I will share some interesting history of the mansion.  It was once a convent/school and later was considered as a possible safe house for the Shah of Iran before it became a bed and breakfast.


………. <PART ONE .    …… PART TWO…    ….PART THREE >

Royal Kona Resort in Hawaii – Family Friendly

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Family vacations are something that we have treasured throughout the years.  It’s a time when a family can get away from the hustle and bustle of the daily routine in life.   If cell phones and technological devices can be kept to a bare minimum, or better yet can be turned off completely, then the family can focus on quality time together.  It doesn’t have to be at a resort, even the simplest of vacations can accomplish bringing a family even closer together.

Several years ago, our family went to Hawaii for a vacation we will never forget.  Beautiful scenery surrounded us almost everywhere, and we had a lot of fun as a family visiting the abundance of sites and attractions on four of the islands.  When we were on the Big Island of Hawaii, we stayed at the Royal Kona Resort pictured above.  My husband was able to get a significant discount through AAA Travel, and we thoroughly enjoyed our stay at this resort.

The Royal Kona Resort gets a top rating from us.  The resort, which sits on the oceanfront overlooking Kailua Bay, provides a perfect vantage point for a spectacular view.  We thoroughly enjoyed sitting by the pool and watching the waves crash against the shore which sent huge sprays of water up into the air.  Our kids especially enjoyed watching this.  The evening was so pleasant sitting outside that it was hard to go inside.

Once inside, our rooms were spacious and nicely decorated.  We slept well and were ready for sightseeing the next day.  Before heading out on our adventure, we had breakfast in the charming open-air restaurant pictured below.  The spectacular view of the Pacific along with the scrumptious breakfast made for a wonderful ambiance the family still remembers.
Once we had breakfast, we were ready to head out for the day.   We headed first to the Punaluu Black Sand Beach (this is due to the constant volcanic activity of the island) to see the huge Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles.

Then we headed on to the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park:


Even though the terrain was bare in spots from the volcanic ash, it was a neat experience to be that close to an active volcano:

Next we visited the Ola’a Rainforest and went for a hike, enjoying the natural beauty of this lush forest.  Our daughter, Christi, and I walked at a slower pace:

After a long day of sightseeing, we headed back to the resort.

For anyone interested in visiting the Royal Kona Resort, they are a family-friendly, non-smoking hotel (they do have a designated smoking area).  They are conveniently located, being within walking distance of International shopping, historic attractions and restaurants.  Besides having a split-level swimming pool, they also have four lighted tennis courts.  And one of their popular amenities is the hosting of a luau (a Hawaiian feast) on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.  To contact them, you can call 800-22-ALOHA (222-5642).

* Note:  This post was completely my opinion.  I was not compensated in any way by the Royal Kona Resort.

FREE Admission to Museums with Bank of America Card – First Weekends of Each Month

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Free Ticket:

Check out “Museums on Us” and see if you’re close to one of the 100+ museums participating in this freebie.  There are museums located all over the United States that have free admission for the primary cardholder on the first weekend of every month. Just click on your state and the museums will be listed.  This works with Bank of America ATM, debit and credit cards.

Our son told us about this offer last year, but then he went off to college and things got busy with us here so we never utilized this freebie.  Our daughter, Christi, reminded me of this offer (thanks again Christi!).  Our son is home from his freshman year at college and so I  located the museums we’re wanting to see.  We’re planning to visit a museum this weekend for FREE.  All three of us have B/0f/A cards and are the primary cardholder, so we all get in free of charge!