Get Spooked at a Real Ghost Town

With well over 500 listed "ghost towns" and mining camps in Nevada, it is a fun place to visit...especially around this time of year!!

One of the best ghost towns in Nevada, Rhyolite is full of character and lots of great stories. This town, founded in 1904, had a population of up to 10,000 at one time. Though by the looks of things now, you'd never know it.

The history of Rhyolite is much like other fast-booming towns in the early 1900's Wild West.  Following a rich strike of ore, 2 men, Eddie Cross and "Shorty" Harris built a town to accommodate an influx of people in the thousands.  A train station, 2 schools, and $90,000 bank were quickly built.  And the town filled....quickly.

Rhyolite reached it's peak in 1907, boasting 45 saloons, an opera-house, several dance halls, 2 railroad depots, and 3 public swimming pools.  In January 1907, 400 electric streetlight poles were erected to light the town 24-hours a day.

During this time, 85 mining companies set up shop in the hills surrounding the "small" town.  The financial panic of 1907 spelled doom for Rhyolite.  Most of the towns investors were from back East and when they pulled out their backing, most of the mining companies were forced to shut down.  And by the Spring of 1908, most trains pulling out of Rhyolite were filled with people leaving town. By 1909, the population was well under 1000 and over the next 10 years, had shrunk down to a measly 14 residents.

Rhyolite is located 4 miles west of the town of Beatty, Nevada on Highway 374. Many structures, though crumbling and desolate, are still standing.  I was lucky enough as a child in the very early 90's to have seen Rhyolite.  I remember overwhelming feeling of history as I stood in the center of "town".  The quietness of the Nevada desert provides an eerie backdrop to this well-known host town.  And it is just as you would picture it - the wind whistles through the cold, stone structures.  Dirt and grit blows all over you.  And you can't help but feel a little bit sad knowing what "could have been" for the residents of Rhyolite.

Recently, the "Ghosts of Rhyolite" were created on the outskirts of town by a Polish artist, Albert Szukalski.

For a fascinating online historical tour of Rhyolite, please visit the Rhyolite Site  Hear stories of many of the famous buildings, such as the Glass Bottle House and the Cook Bank.  My thanks to this great website for reminding me what a gold mine (no pun intended) this fun town really was.

All photos credit to Rhyolite Site

Friday Daydreamin': Halloween Edition

Welcome to a SPOOKY edition of Friday Daydreamin'......Halloween Style!!

Post your favorite Halloween Pictures - cute kiddos, funny costumes, trick or treating,......post them!! We want to see your favorite!

Remember that excited feeling when you hit the ground running to go trick or treating?  That "I-don't-know-which-way-to-run-but-I'm-gonna-run-because-I-want CANDY-NOW" feeling??  It's such a fun thing for kids to do and I was lucky enough to capture this excitement back in 2007.  Off we go!!

I can't wait to see all of your pictures!

Make sure you post them, link up here, and then visit everyone else - we all love a little comment love, especially with this fun edition!

Happy Halloween!!

Illinois State Museum ~ Springfield, IL

This past summer, we spent a few weeks with family in Central Illinois and while there, took advantage of all the fantastic things they had to offer families.  And while Springfield, Illinois has amazing historical sites, they have a few hidden gems as well.  One of which is the Illinois State Museum.

The Illinois State Museum has some pretty incredible Natural History Exhibits that were engaging and easy to follow.  The museum check in desk suggested that play one of their scavenger hunt games. My kids both picked their topic (Reptiles & Amphibians for one, Mammals for the other) and off we went into the Changes in Illinois exhibit.


Did you know that Illinois once sat south of the equator?


Or that it was once covered in sea, filled with all sorts of funny-looking marine life?


This exhibit showed us 500 million years worth of change in Illinois and my kids loved it!


The scavenger hunts helped slow us down and really look at the exhibits - there were some unique facts that we would have completely missed had we buzzed right through it.

One of the favorite things we learned & saw were all the HUGE mammals that once roamed the central part of the US!

 The Illinois State Museum has plenty of interactive displays that get the kids involved in learning.

 And they recently added a "play museum" for little ones where you can dress a mannequin in period clothing, build a dinosaur, or dig for fossils.

While you may never get a chance to visit the Illinois State Museum, may I encourage you to check out the museums that are available to you in your neck-o-the-woods?  My kids enjoyed every corner of this museum.  With winter coming it, what better way to spend the day than exploring your local gems??

And better yet?  Come back and tell us about it - email rebecca@rwethereyetmom.com to get your trip tot the local museum featured!

Tuesday Travel Tips: Amazing Car Games

Nothing beats a good, old-fashioned car game to kill time on long car rides. Here are a few fun ones I recently discovered:

1. All-State Roundup

To play this game, you will need one laminated map of the united States and one marker per player.  Players look for license plates from the fifty states and record the state name by marking off that state on their map.  For a variation, you can also note each license plate on a piece of paper (but the map adds the additional challenge of learning where it is!).  The player with the most states marked off by the end of the day or trip wins.  

2. A,B,C I Spy

For young kids, searching for letters of the alphabet is very compelling.  Have them call out, in order, each time they find a letter in a road sign or on a passing license plate.  You end up looking for an A, then a B, continuing through Z.  You must find them in order.

3. On Sale

One player owns a store of his choosing and all the players have to guess what it is her is selling there.  Whoever guess the correct answer gets to open his own store.  For example, one child starts by saying, "I own a camping store and I sell something that starts with the letter T."  Each of the players get 3 chances to guess what he is selling.  If a player guesses correctly (tents, for example and he is right, he gets to open his store next.  If the item is not guessed correctly, the owner of the store gets to sell something else.

4. Car Lot

The object of this game is to spot and count different kinds of cars - trucks, buses, convertibles, vans, motorcycles, four-wheeled drive vehicles, or others.  You can keep a tally playing alone or against an opponent.

5. A B Cities

The first player names a city.  In turn, each player names another city that starts with the same letter of the alphabet as the first city named.  For instance, if the first player says, "San Antonio," the next player can say, "Santa Fe," and the third, "Sacramento."  If a player can't name one, he is out and the last player wins and choose another city to play again.

Have a fun car game?  Let us know in the comments below or send us an email at rebecca@rwethereyetmom.com. You may be featured in a upcoming Tuesday Travel Tips.

Friday Daydreamin': 10.21.11

WOW!!  Thanks to all of you, we had 17 Daydreams posted last week!!  I had more fun visiting all of your blogs and reading about so many cool locations last week.  Kid-friendly comedy clubs, kissing blarney stones, and hugging on the Rock were a few of the funniest ones I visited!!

I love that many of you are getting creative in your vacation-sharing - whether it be a dream vacation for an anniversary to Costa Rica or the beach that is 20 minutes from your doorstep - It gives me a chance to escape this hot Texas morning and daydream.  Thank you.

My hope is you are enjoying this meme as much as I do.

So, where are we off to today?

Today my daydreams are in the past.  

I have always loved traveling.  And my family has always loved it too.  Whether it be in a Winne with my grandparents heading to Disney World when I was a youngin', like in the above photo.  Or traveling the west one summer with my parents (we camped the entire summer!!), I know that my family instilled this sense of adventure in me from the very beginning.   

Where do your traveling roots start?

****NEXT WEEK!!  We will stray a bit from our usual vacation photos!  Post a picture of your favorite Halloween photo and tell us about it!! I can't wait!!

P.P.S. Take a second and enter our Eco Lips Gold Lip Balm giveaway - this stuff is amazing y'all - I have been using it for 2 weeks and it rocks!!

Ready to Daydream your Friday away? It's simple!

1. Post your favorite vacation picture and tell us a little about it.  

2. Grab the "Friday Daydreamin'" button and link up your post below.

3. Visit some of the other amazing vacation photos that have linked up (and leave some comment love!)!

4. Let the Daydreamin' begin!

A Rocky Mountain High...on a train!

Living in Texas, we don't get to see much of a change of season in the Fall - I mean it was in the 90's this past weekend - we will be wearing shorts clear into December! 


That's why I rely on posts lie the one below to get my Fall fix.  Connie lives in Colorado.  I obsessively follow her tweets to see and hear about all the FUN things she gets to do up in the mountains with her family (she is an awesome mom of 2!) - plus she incredibly entertaining!!

Living in Colorado means that beauty and entertainment are always a short car ride away.  I was born and raised here and there are still so many things I haven't seen.  Luckily for my kids, we like to be adventurous!

For years we've talked about going up into the mountains to see the fall colors.  The timing has to be just right because it can happen quickly and if you don't plan it...you'll miss it.  Our trip occurred on October 1st and was perfect timing.  The next weekend...the high country got their first snow of the season.

Helpful Links:

Colorado.com Fall Foliage Guide 
Forest Service Updates

We decided to take the historic Georgetown Loop Railroad to Silver Plume and back to see some color. There isn't an abundance of Aspens on this route but the one hour train ride is really fun.  This area was built up during the silver boom in the 1880's and has been preserved by the Colorado Historical Society.  You receive a very interesting history lesson on board the train.

They have several different train excursions here.  A moonlight train ride, beer and brat ride, wine tastings and at Christmas time....a ride with Santa and Hot Chocolate!

Helpful Tips:

• Buy your tickets online AND arrive 45 minutes before your trains departure time.  Everyone stands in the same line to exchange your printed email for actual tickets.  If you want to purchase your tickets at the depot there is a good chance the time you want will be sold out and you'll have to come back later.
• Bring water and snacks.  There is a gift shop with refreshments for sale but they are expensive.
• Bring your camera! 
• If you go in the fall...bring a blanket, it gets chilly and windy in the open train cars. 

Before you leave Georgetown visit the City Park (Rose St and 10th St).  We found it by accident when my brother-in-law's GPS malfunctioned.  It's one fo the coolest parks I've ever seen and it was built and maintained by volunteers.

More to do: 

Georgetown-Silver Plume has one of the biggest collection of Victorian buildings in the country!  Every summer you can go on a house tour.

Downtown Georgetown has many shops, museums and art galleries.  If you're hungry they also have a wide array of restaurants, cafes and even a candy shop!

If you visit in the month of December, you can't miss the Christmas Market and Christmas at Hamill House.

If you'd like to sample wine from Colorado then stop by Canyon Wind Cellar on your way out of town for a wine tasting.  They are open daily from 10am-6pm.  The first four tastings are free and then $1 each after that.  And they sell a cheese plate to go with it if you like.  I can tell you that I'll be stopping here next time I visit Georgetown.


Trivia: The made for TV movie called The Christmas Gift, starring John Denver was filmed in Georgetown in 1986.


Georgetown is just a short 45 miles from Downtown Denver.


Connie is the author of the wildly funny blog, The Young and The Relentless. She fills her days running after her two children and fixing elaborate meals for her Apple App Developer husband. Her nights are filled with reality TV, Chocolate Goldfish crackers and wine. She aspires to be a PTA President in 2014.

Off the Beaten Path: Indianapolis

I have loved hearing about your hometown treasures in our Off the Beaten Path Series.  Who better to be our tour guide than YOU!

Today, Nicole from Arrows Sent Forth, tells us all about her hometown, Indianapolis.

With the Super Bowl coming to Indianapolis in February 2012, there’s lots of interest swirling around Indiana’s capital city. I lived in downtown Indy for 7 years, and now I’m a frequent visitor. I am happy to report that there’s so much to see and do, even when the Big Game isn’t in town!

The city is home to the world’s largest children’s museum, a fantastic zoo, and many other fun and popular attractions. I highly recommend visiting those spots. But here are a few of my favorite places in Indianapolis when visiting with kids that are “off the beaten path.” You can read about many more of my family’s Indiana Adventures at my blog, Arrows Sent Forth.

Southside:

Garfield Park Conservatory: Indianapolis has a great network of city parks. Garfield Park is one of the larger parks, and its conservatory is a natural oasis in the heart of the city.  It is essentially a giant glass house, and its best feature is probably that it is indoors, meaning it’s a fun spot to visit and connect with nature regardless of the weather. At the holidays, the conservatory is a favorite spot for Christmas photos, as it is filled to the brim with poinsettias. But there are amazing plants to be seen year-round, and it’s a great spot to take a walk regardless of season. If the weather is nice, be sure to also visit the Sunken Gardens and aquatic center.

        Dining: Just a few minutes from Garfield Park is Smokehouse on Shelby. A renovated diner-turned-barbecue joint, the food is great and the restaurant is spacious. If you want to burn off that pulled pork and mac ‘n cheese, you’ll find a really cool retro duckpin bowling alley in the same building as the restaurant, the Fountain Square Theatre.

Downtown:

Eiteljorg Museum: I’ve written about the Eiteljorg Museum on my own blog and as a guest post at Midwest Guest. It’s a museum dedicated to Native American and Western art and culture. While it might not sound appealing to kids at first glance, they have a great exhibit in the basement called The Western Family Experience. Here, your kids can design and raise their own totem pole, ride in a stagecoach, and experience life on the Western frontier from a variety of perspectives. Everything is hands-on, with plenty of opportunities for imaginative play.

The Eiteljorg is located right on the Indianapolis Canal Walk. If you’re familiar with San Antonio’s River Walk, this is a similar concept. But you’ll find far fewer bars and restaurants, and much more public art, fountains, museums, memorials, and other cultural attractions. Instead of riverboats, you can ride in a gondola or rent paddle boats.

Rhythm Discovery Center: When the Percussive Arts Society decided to move their headquarters to the city, they also brought a great musically-inspired museum with them. There are exhibits about the history of rhythm, types of vibrations, and more. A highlight for kids will be the Interactive Area, where everyone can get their hands on some drums and give them a whirl. It’s like a musical playground.

Dining:

There are several fun options for family-friendly dining downtown. Please note, though, that due to Indianapolis’ smoking laws, many bars do not allow diners younger than 21, so you may want to call ahead if you plan to visit a pub or bar to eat.

Scotty’s Brewhouse: This restaurant has a huge menu, with lots of variety. Their outdoor patio also offers plenty of space for little ones to get the wiggles out while they wait for their food. If you plan to dine at Scotty’s, I recommend following @brewhouse on Twitter, where the owner himself is always tweeting special deals.        

Bazbeaux Pizza: I love this place because most kids love pizza, but here you’ll also find some really amazing exotic flavor combinations sure to please the adults, too. Plus, you’ll be just steps away from Indy’s best toy store, Mass Ave Toys, so you could always bribe the kids with a visit in return for good behavior.

Northside:

Traders Point Creamery: Just minutes outside the city limits in Zionsville, Indiana, this all-organic dairy farm is a great introduction to sustainable agriculture for kids and adults alike. They offer avariety of tour options, but it’s also just a beautiful location to wander the farm. The Creamery puts on great, seasonal events throughout the year, as well as a farmers market during the summer.

        Dining: You can eat on the farm at The Loft restaurant. For more casual fare, especially with young kids, I recommend pulling up a stool at the Creamery’s Dairy Bar and ordering their award-winning yogurts and ice cream. You can also buy their dairy products, which includes milk and cheese, at the farm’s store. I reviewed the food at Traders Point Creamery on my blog here.

{Disclosure: I received complimentary admission to the Eiteljorg Museum and Traders Point Creamery as part of two press tours. I was under no obligation to write about my time at either location, and all opinions expressed are my own.}

Nicole Wiltrout is a stay-at-home mom (who rarely stays home) and lives in Columbus, Indiana. Nicole writes about adventures at home and away with her husband and 2-year-old son at http://arrowssentforth.com. They are expecting their second child in December. Nicole loves Hoosier road trips and is an Expert Blogger for the state’s tourism blog, theIndiana Insider at Visit Indiana. She has also written guest posts at Travel Mamas, Rookie Moms, Go Explore Nature, Go Big or Go Home, Midwest Guest, and Pitstops for Kids.

You can also find Nicole on Twitter at @arrowssentforth or Facebook. 

***Don't forget to enter our Eco Lips Gold Lip Balm & Eco Clip giveaway - we will draw a winner on Thursday at noon!!

Tuesday Travel Tips: Reader Suggestions

A BIG THANKS to all of these wonderful reader & twitter submissions:

Can You Hear Me?

When we travel to Florida each summer, we go with several families and are caravanning.  In the past, we have used walkie-talkies to communicate, which is always fun for the kids.  But now, in the day & age of cell phones, we have multiple ways to communicate and our kids love it - texting, tweeting, hey telling - they do it all!

Jen, Texas

In Case of Emergency....

Before setting off for the day of sightseeing, form your own rules about what your child should do in case he gets lost or separated from your family or traveling group.  We always pick a meeting point near the entrance.  Also, we dress our kids in bright colors so they stand out in a crowd.

Lisa,  Illinois

Frequent Fliers!

Don't forget to sign your kids up as frequent fliers in your favorite airline too!!!

Anne,  Texas

A Postcard Diary

We get postcards from every stop we make and write our days summary on them. Once we get home, we slip them in a photo album with plastic dividers and we have our travel documented instantly!

Becca, Texas

It's As Easy as a Ball

This summer, our son's favorite toy while driving in the car from Los Angeles to New Mexico was a blown up beach ball.  He would blow it up and then let the air out of it.  It kept him entertained for hours.  Sometimes it can be that simple.

Marnie,  California

Thank you for all these great tips ladies!  If you have an ideal travel tip, please leave it in a comment below or email it to us at rebecca@rwethereyetmom.com.  It might get featured on our next Reader Suggestions edition of Tuesday Travel Tips.

***Don't forget to enter our Eco Lips Gold Lip Balm & Eco Clip giveaway - we will draw a winner on Thursday at noon!!

Friday Daydreamin': 10.14.11

The weather is beginning to cool down a bit here in Texas, which makes me long for those Fall days I used to love when I lived up North.  I love the crispness to the air, I loved the leaves changing colors, and I loved all the wonderful, yummy fall food - chili and hot apple cider anyone?

So, today I am day dreamin' about fall.

When the kids were younger, we took them to an amazing pumpkin farm that had a train, bounce houses, an elaborate hay maze and tons of pumpkins.  It was always such a fun thing to do with the kids. And helped create such fun memories of an afternoon spent together.  

I know we have many visitors to Friday Daydreamin', but not many posters!!  I have heard that a few of you don't feel like you have any vacation photos to post - don't let that stop you!  Vacations are NOT just hopping on a plane to somewhere different!  In our family, vacations can be just down the road at the Inner Space Caverns, a road trip to go see family, our our family dreams of where we'd like to travel to.

Tell us about a favorite local museum you like to visit, your favorite restaurant you went to while traveling, or where your 10-year travel goal takes you!  Daydream about what "vacation" means to you and tell us all about it!!

Ready to Daydream your Friday away? It's simple!

1. Post your favorite vacation picture and tell us a little about it.  

2. Grab the "Friday Daydreamin'" button and link up your post below.

3. Visit some of the other amazing vacation photos that have linked up (and leave some comment love!)!

4. Let the Daydreamin' begin!

One Girl's View on Atlantis (Part II)

Yesterday, Ashlei took all of us on a fun trip to a little beach resort called Atlantis.  Today, she tells us more about her time there.....

Urban Legend… the food prices
Ok, so we are back to the budget. I love to go out to dinner with the hubby and friends…. Sushi, steakhouse, etc. so I didn’t have complete sticker shock. (My Daddy says that the only thing I know how to make is reservations) They sell a dining plan, which is a little like Disney and little not.. It wasn’t for us so we decided to go freestyle. The only problem is that ALL of the reservations are taken. Unless you want to eat at 5 or 9.

Here’s the scoop from the places we went.
Carmines: Just like New York but the buildings nicer! Scored 2 seats at the bar.. It is served family style which means you have to somewhat agree on what to order. Feeling generous, I tell Hubby to order whatever he likes and I will share it. So we order the chicken parmigiano. The people next to us have a casserole dish of something yummy, and the other have a small platter of deliciousness . So we wait, and wait., and wait. What could be so long? OMG They bring out of food and it is enough to be Thanksgiving dinner. OMG…6 chicken breast and pounds of pasta… I heard people gasp when they set it down. Deslish, but who‘s gonna eat all this! We ate dinner and leftovers for lunch… and then threw some away. 3 cocktails, stuffed mushrooms, and this entrée with 15% gratuity… $115’ish

Seafire Steakhouse: Scored 2 seats at the bar again! This was soooo good. I had an Asparagus and lobster salad, hubby had an incredible steak with 2 yummy sides.. 4, 5 ,or 6 cocktails later…who’s counting? Bill was $150’ish. Don’t miss this one. One of the best dinners I’ve had in a long time.
Lunch is grab something from one of the stands.. Variety of options at different things. Don’t like what you have to choose from at one? Go to the other stand, and they will have something different. The usual prices $10 -$15 or so for a meal. Sodas $4, cocktails $10, etc. If you’ve been to Disney, you know this one well.
We did leave the property 2 nights to go to local favorites,  The Poop Deck and The Fish Fry. Cabs are about $4 per person each way. We had fried fish, grilled shrimp, lobster, appetizer, etc. at a restaurant at the Fish Fry for about $65.. Food for thought…

Night life.. With kids?
They do have a nightlife at Atlantis, if you like to club or gamble. We spent our evenings at the Marina walking around having a cocktail or Ben & Jerry’s with Pookie. We can gamble or club here in our town so it’s kind of a bus driver’s vacation. They do have a “seasonal” place called Club Rush for 6-12 year olds, and another for older teens. The little one’s have one during daytime hours or you can hire a babysitter. My girl was ready to play and NOT have dinner with us old people, and decided to try Club Rush. Let me explain how wound tight I am about leaving my one and only. I hear it gets better with more kids, but I will NEVER know. So after a THOROUGH interrogation of their policies and safety, and much reassurance by the staff, I left her. I painstakingly waited 2 hours to get her, to find her perfectly safe and HAPPY. Yep, a dinner of Funyuns and soda, computers, movies, and wacky dress up. What more could you ask for at 10? If you want to know how freaked out I was… we went back 2 nights later and they knew me when I walked in… maybe a little therapy would help, ya think?

TOP TIPS:
1. Have a plan. No, I don’t mean plan your waking hours. I mean have a plan for times when you split up. For instance, I stayed by the pool in the water park and they went to slide. Up comes a lightning storm and everyone has to get out. They are on one end and I am on the other now. How will you EVER find each other??? Trust me on this one.. Have a plan. A solid one .. Not one of those “oh we will meet over at that hotel” You will NEVER find each other. It’s not like meeting at Cinderella’s Castle. This is WAY beyond that. I took one for the team on this one for you ladies.

2. The Dolphin Encounter is a great family experience. It is costly, and the picture thing is a nightmare, but it was a highlight of our trip. Don’t book something your kids are going to be scared to do. Less is more!

3. Don’t plan every moment. Do what you feel like doing. Go with the flow. It’s the Bahamas!

4. Bring kids who have a sense of adventure. This isn’t for kids who fear big drops, rides, don’t like the beach, etc. Wait a little while till they are ready.

5. Get a room with a kitchen of some sort. Spending $10 for a box of waffles for breakfast is WAY cheaper, faster, and easier than a $25 buffet for each of you and your 10 year old to only eat a muffin. We didn’t encounter the buffets. Just wasn’t feeling it.

6. Use the transportation option or don’t. Lots of cabs available and cost about the same. We did it and the company showed up for our “shuttle” with an 11-passenger van. FULL except the backseat. Now I don’t know about your hubby, but mine is 6’3 and the seats don’t fold up. You get the picture. Going home, we were the first on and had tons of space and a DELIGHTFUL driver. She gave us a little history and tour on our way.

Go to the Atlantis at least once....when the time is right for your family. Don’t pay full sticker price, and have a FABULOUS time with champagne taste on a beer budget!

Thanks Ashlei for the great review of a fun family resort!


If you'd like to tell us about your family vacation, email rebecca@rwethereyetmom.com.  We'd LOVE to feature you travels!

One Girl's View on Atlantis

Over the summer, my very funny friend from Mississippi took a trip to a resort I have been dying to go to.  I asked her to tell us a little a bout it - not only did she let us know all the wonders of the Atlantis, but she threw in a bunch of useful tips too.  Thanks Ashlei!!


Champagne taste on a beer budget.. Ok maybe imported beer budget
I am just a girl from South Mississippi… I read the blogs of super mommy’s like my super fabulous friend Rebecca and think.. How did they do that? I am a super sarcastic working mom, with just one fabulously smart, sharp tongued, 10 year old girl Pookie. I am a former Catholic schoolgirl married to a lovable Hubby who we call Boog, and I love my family and friends more than anything. I don’t cook, and I certainly don’t clean my own house. Does this make me a slacker? I think it makes me really efficient, or at least this is what I tell my hubby… I do however, LOVE LOVE LOVE to vacation. As the old saying goes, I have champagne taste on a beer budget. Okay, so maybe it is an imported beer budget. I don’t rough it, don’t think of terribly clever things for my kid, but I do manage to get us out of the house. Pretty good for a slacker, right? Our latest adventure takes us “out of the country”, as Pookie likes to say. She thinks it sounds glamorous. Well 90 miles outside of Miami, but it does require a passport.

Out of the country it is. Off we go to …. Drum roll please… Atlantis.


Are they serious?
We started this surprise vacation as a plan to go to Universal for Pookie’s 10th birthday. But we were lucky enough to find a FABULOUS deal at Atlantis for $99 a night (courtesy of a travel blogger ) . $99?? Seriously? I was just sure it was one of those tricks where there are only 5 rooms at that rate… but hey what do I have to lose? Wait, it’s real!! We upgrade to the Reef, after MUCH research because they have a private pool and beach where the cruise passengers cannot go.. Now wait. I’m not hating on cruise people.. I’ve been a cruiser. I’m just saying I DO NOT fight for pool chairs on vacation. PERIOD. In fact, one criteria in selecting hotels is if they offer beach chair AND umbrella setups. No setups, no deal. I have officially retired from schlepping beach chairs, etc.


The Reef is FABULOUS.
So being frugal, I book a harbor view room, rather than ocean view. I read review of watching the cruise ships coming in, and how nice the view is. I get in my room, and my view is sort of harbor view but I am staring over a roof. Hmmm. Not feeling very happy. So I convince my Hubby to go down and work his charming magic to see about an upgrade (but NOT for tons of moola). He happily comes in and produces keys to the 20th floor looking over the ocean. $50 bucks. That man is my hero.

Check out the photo!! It is what brochures are made of!! They offer unbelievable customer service, fabulous grounds, upgraded bedding, and there is a mini kitchen in your room. Boy are you gonna be glad you have this after you see the price of food at Atlantis.. Urban legend is true. IT IS EXPENSIVE. We used ours to store drinks, make some simple breakfast like waffles , and oatmeal, and warm up some leftovers (see the Carmine’s “is this thanksgiving?” incident). Now, I am of the “why pay for the room if you’re never going to be in it” club if I am truly NEVER going to be in it… This is not the case if you are traveling with children who are under the age of being left in it alone. Time to step the beer budget up to the import beer here ladies… Oh wait! I forgot to tell you… Starbucks downstairs. Not sure about your coffee addiction but this is ALWAYS a selling point for me.


HUGE.
This place is basically a watered-down version of Disney on a beautiful island. Tons of children, families, and WALKING. They do offer shuttles to take you around. Use them. The paths may seem logical and close, but it’s a mirage. Trust me on this one. The Reef is close to the Aquaventure (water park), and Dolphin Cay for the Dolphin encounters. Off our pool is a private beach, where you will happily find setups, bar service, and snorkeling. PARADISE. Did I mention bar service?

When to go?
Simple. You go when they are offering a deal that makes you think “are they serious?” Check out the rentals in the timeshare portion of the resort, Harborside Resort at Atlantis. You'll get an entire APARTMENT for your family which includes a full kitchen, washer and dryer, whirlpool tubs and separate bedrooms. Many timeshare owners will rent their units out for crazy low prices, so be sure to try and go on the off season as that's when prices are best. Okay, make sure the weather is warm enough to get in the fabulous water. If you have children, you may want to wait until they are 48 inches tall. Most all of the waterpark requires 48 inches to slide… they do have lots for little people but it is not much more than your local waterpark… If you have big ones and lil ones, you definitely need a divide and conquer plan.


What to bring?
Bring what you would to your local waterpark, and DOUBLE check you have it all. I say this because that one extra bottle of sunscreen you forgot to pack will now cost you…. Are you holding on?…. $28 big ones. See what I mean? Bring your water shoes (it’s hot!), sunscreen, hats, snorkel gear, goggles, etc. We just discovered swim shirts on this trip. Being from the Coast, we are always on the water, but this was a HUGE lifesaver after being in the Bahamian sun for 5 days (and some pretty fast waterslides). Bring a big beach bag. One your husband doesn’t mind carrying. I put this shout out in for my hubby. I have a BIG Scout bag that I LOVE, and he hates. It is in fact so great that people stop me to ask me where I got it. He just doesn’t get it. Love you honey. Here’s a big perk. Unlimited towels every time you look… if you have kids you know what I am talking about. And you don’t have to wash them!!!!!

What not to bring?

I didn’t know this would bother me so bad, but come on ladies… show Louis some respect.  Is there ever a time when you feel as though you need to bring your BRAND NEW THIS SEASON Louis Vuitton to a waterpark? Other than that, think simple.  Bathing suits, cover ups, sundresses, and nice dressy clothes for dinner a night or two will be plenty to pack. 

Check back tomorrow for Part 2 of our sweet southern friend's trip to Atlantis and find out if those "Urban Legends" about the resort are true...... 

Tuesday Travel Tips: And Some More Car Games

No more "Are We There Yet??" Here are some more fun games to try on your next road trip:

1. The Principal's Puppy

Each player gets to name a characteristic of the Principal's Puppy.  The object if the see how silly your descriptions can be.  The first player begins: "The Principal's Puppy is a perky puppy." The next player has to describe the principal's puppy using any other words that begin with P.  He may say, "peppy", "pretty", or "private".  When all the players run out of adjectives beginning with P, they choose another letter and start again.

2. What If...?

Young children love this game and are particularly good at it since their imaginations are not limited by reality.  Name an unusual situation that is not possible but whose consequences would be dramatic and funny.  For example, ask your child, "What is hamsters could sing songs?" or "What if fish flew in the sky?"  The result will be remarkable enough for you to note down the answers.

3. One, Two, Three

The object of One, Two, Three is to name as many words as you can to rhyme with numbers.  For example, start with one: "fun, run, bun."  Continue with two: "you, shoe, zoo." Think of as many words to rhyme with each number as you can and then move to the next number.  See how high you can go.

4. Match It

To play Match It, the players choose a category, such as the circus.  Each player must name something associated with the circus.  Play continues until someone repeats something or can't think of a match.  Pick a new category and start again.

Have a fun car game?  Let us know in the comments below or send us an email at rebecca@rwethereyetmom.com. You may be featured in a upcoming Tuesday Travel Tips.

Friday Daydreamin': 10.7.11

I love Fridays!  I love having so many people link up and show us their favorite vacation photos!  Now I know I don't need to bribe you to join in on the daydreaming, but link up today and watch for a little shout-out on the Facebook!!  (Make sure you like R We There Yet Mom?'s facebook page too!)

Today I am dreamin' about Family - while some vacations are to far-off destinations, historical locations, or playful fun, some of the best vacations are spending time with family.  There is nothing my family loves more than being together.  This past summer, we had such fun playing with the cousins, visiting with Grandmas, Papas, Aunts, & Uncles, and relaxing around people who know you so well.  Sometimes, these are the most restful vacations of all.

Ready to Daydream your Friday away? It's simple!

1. Post your favorite vacation picture and tell us a little about it.  

2. Grab the "Friday Daydreamin'" button and link up your post below.

3. Visit some of the other amazing vacation photos that have linked up (and leave some comment love!)!

4. Let the Daydreamin' begin!

A Good Old Fashioned Road Trip!

I just love hearing about Road trips!  I don't see them taken as much anymore, flying is just so much faster.  But there is something so great about packing up the car and heading out for a week.  

I love hearing the below story coming from Rosemary.  Rosemary, a Face book fan, took a recent road trip down the east coast and wanted to tell us all about it!

This was our first vacation as a family and our first honest-to-goodness vacation in nine years. Needless to say, we were thrilled but also a little apprehensive as to how things would go during the drive to our destinations: Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and Savannah, Georgia.

Our boys are seven and five, so we were brainstorming prior to the trip about how to keep them occupied on our travels. Turns out that good old fashioned conversation, singing, books, I Spy, and frequent breaks for the bathroom, snacks, and meals were really all we needed. A miracle, to be sure! Don't get me wrong. We did hear our share of whining and bickering. And, it took only an hour into the trip to hear "Mom, are we there yet?"

Our first stop was Myrtle Beach. This place is truly family friendly, with endless things to keep folks busy. We spent most of our time playing in the ocean, but also found some time to enjoy a trip in the Sky Wheel, a Ferris wheel that began opeation in May 2011. It's temputure-controlled and rides as smooth as silk. You get great views of the boardwalk and the ocean. I was told it operates year-round.

The other highlight of our trip was a tour with Carolina Safari Jeep Tours (www.carolinasafari.com). This was a great experience, as we were able to see many things off the beaten path, such as Huntington Beach State Park. The park boasts the rarity of a freshwater lagoon directly next to a salt marsh. We were able to see alligators and numerous birds and a beautiful forest and unspoiled beach. On the tour, we were also taken to a cemetary, plantation, and to other spots of interest to most children and adults. The tour guide was fantastic. He had a great manner with the children, too.

 The sunrises and sunsets are not to be missed!

We packed up after our three days were up and headed to quite possibly one of our favorite places ever--Savannah. I could go on and on about the city's beauty and the manners and the charm of the people who reside there, but it's really something you should experience for yourself. We statrted with a sunset tour around the city. It provided a thorough and kid-approved history of this delightful place. The following day, we drove a short distance to Tybee Island for a dolphin-watching tour. We were not disappointed! Within just a few minutes of setting sail, we met up with numerous dolphins, all too eager to follow our boat and show off their antics for a crew of delighted people! After the tour, we headed over to Fort Pulaski, which is on Cockspur Island (www.nps.gov/fopu). There's a drawbridge over a moat, numerous cannons, and lovely views all around. The fort is quite large and provides for a fantastic history lesson.

The next day (and the day after) proved to be the highlight for our boys. We spent a good deal of time at the Roundhouse Railroad Museum (www.chsgeorgia.org). Your passes are good for multiple days, I believe. There are many train cars of the period for viewing, some of which you can tour. The turntable was a huge hit, as was the train car (a caboose, I think) that has been converted into a play area for the younger set. It's air-conditioned, too!

On our final, full day in Savannah, my wonderful husband took the boys to The Flying Frogs (www.theflyingfrogs.com), an indoor playground with games, food, and all the stuff kids love. I'm a photographer, so he wanted to give me some time to walk around the city alone to take pictures of the beautiful homes, churches, squares, and people that make Savannah the lovely place it is. The Flying Frogs received three enthusiastic thumbs up!

On leaving Savannah, we visited Bonaventure Cemetary, which is on the banks of the Wilmington River. A breath-taking place, full of beauty, peace, and history. The boys really enjoyed seeing this landmark.

Don't go through Savannah without taking the kiddos to Leopold's Ice Cream (www.leopoldsicecream.com). They just celebrated 92 in business. I can definitely see why they have been around for so long!

Wishing you happy travels!


Thanks Rosemary! I loved hearing all about your trip!  And your pictures are fantastic! If you'd like to share your travels, please send me an email (rebecca@rwethereyetmom.com), we'd love to feature you!

Tuesday Travel Tips: Sightseeing 101

While on vacation, sightseeing may be a large part of your trip, possibly the reason you are going to a new place.  And when planning, we may get overly zealous in our itineraries, especially if we are traveling with children.   That's why it is a good idea to look for spots your children will like, rest frequently, and reserve time for spontaneous plans.

And keep a few of these in mind:

* It's really important not to deflate the things your children find exciting and wonderful.  Go with it!  They may not be as fascinated as you are that the Gateway Arch took 2 1/2 years to build, they just want to look out the windows in pure delight.  Go with it!!  Revel in THEIR excitement.


* Children are fascinated by the obvious differences between the lives they are seeing and life back home - point out the differences and talk to them about it - the houses people live in, the forms of transportation, the way people dress, the local customs, the foods they eat.  My kids asked us so many questions about the "L" in Chicago.  Here in Texas, there is not much need for an elevated train in the suburbs!

* Parents are sometimes astonished at personality changes on their trips.  Normally outgoing, friendly kids can become shy and dependent around strangers, especially when they are out of their comfort zone.  Don't worry about it or force them to act differently - they are learning how to react to different environments & surroundings.  Continue to be an encourager.

* Bring along brochures, maps, and books that you have used to research the area.  Take the time to learn about what you are seeing and ask questions - it will enhance the trip for everyone!

* If something catches you or your child's eye, but it wasn't on the itinerary, abandon the schedule and go for it!  Some of the best memories have come from moments like this.  Just this past summer, we happened upon a man telling stories of Abraham Lincoln.  It was fascinating and my kids loved every minute of it.  It wasn't on our schedule and it delayed us by an hour, but it was completely worth it.

* Shopping the gift shops typically follow any day of sightseeing.  Make a plan before you head in there and you won't spend as much.  My kids take their "earned money" when we sightsee shop.  They become much more frugal and start to really think before they spend.  Who says you can't teach an 8 year old about money??

* When the kids seem cranky or begin to dawdle, it's time to stop sightseeing.  Kids can only absorb so much information.  When they are "full", it's time to relax and play.  This is a great opportunity to go back tot he hotel and swim.  Or grab a spot in the shade an cool down with an ice cream.  Either way, take it easy and don't drag your kids along.  That just makes for an unpleasant day.

Sightseeing is one of the reasons we go on vacation. There is SO much to see of the great big world out there. Just remember to allow time for relaxation.  An unhurried vacation is a successful one.