Celebrate the magic of the season during Holidays at the Disneyland® Resort

Holidays at Disneyland® California

Now through January 3, 2010 save up to $45 on a 2 to 5 day Park Hopper® Bonus Ticket. Enjoy the magic of  the season with unlimited access to all the resort attractions.

Walk to the park and save by staying at a nearby hotel. Special rates for the season.

•Snow on Main Street:

•Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle:

•Main Street Christmas Tree:

• “it’s a small world”

•Mickey’s Toontown:

•Disney’s Electrical Parade:

•Santa’s Seaside Pavilion:

•“a bug’s land”:

•Pixar’s “A Bug’s Life.”
•Paradise Pier:

•Main Entrance Plaza:  

•Kitson Kids.

•LittleMissMatchedTM.

•The LEGO® Imagination Center.

•Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen®:

•House of Blues® Stage:

•ESPN Zone®:

•Rainforest Café®:

Walk to the park and save by staying at a nearby hotel. Special rates for the season.

Now through January 3, 2010 save up to $45 on a 2 to 5 day Park Hopper® Bonus Ticket. Enjoy the magic of  the season with unlimited access to all the resort attractions.

Ruskin Community Market opens for season

Saturdays 9 - 1

The Ruskin Community Market re-opens for the season on Saturday, October 24.

From 9am to 1pm the outdoor market will be open, offering fresh local produce, foods, plants, arts, crafts and music.

Join local artist Cory Wright to learn about the time honored tradition of Italian Street Painting- with chalk as the medium and the pavement as the canvas. Cory will explain various techniques for working with pastels and provide valuable tips, as well as give a short presentation of Street Painting examples.

Kids (and even adults who still connect with their inner-child) can make their mark on the pavement under the Camp Bayou tent during the Seasonal Opening of the Ruskin Community Market. Chalk will be provided as well as some natural objects as starters to get the creativity flowing, or bring your own vision of nature to create your masterpiece. No charge or RSVP but if questions contact Dolly at campbayou@yahoo.com

The Ruskin Community Market is located across from the Ruskin Post Office, in the 600 block of First Street , NE. New vendors are welcome. Please call 813 645-6028 to reserve a spot.  fred@GoThere.com

The market is a project of the Ruskin Community Development Foundation, www.RuskinFoundation.org

Proceeds from vendor space rentals will go to fund various Ruskin community projects.

Ghost Tours of San Diego

Ghostly Tours in History

We took two ghost tours of San Diego recently, in part to compare the $50  3-hour city limo tour with the $10  1-hour walking tour of the Gaslamp Quarter. Each had its advantages, you decide which is for you.

The Gaslamp Quarter tour meets at the haunted William Heath Davis House Fridays and weekends just as the city is getting dark. Our favorite story here is about the tourists who start to follow a “guide” upstairs and half way up are greeted by the real guide at the bottom of the stairs. There were no guides upstairs at the time.

Upstairs - no one there!

Walking around the Gaslamp Quarter at night is quite pleasurable, especially in the company of others and with someone who knows their way around. Not only did we see a restaurant in a former mortuary, we passed by several historic brothels and a haunted hotel. We also noted an interesting new restaurant that we later returned to for a late night snack.

Old Town Cemetery

The evening limo picked us up at an the Living Room Cafe and Bistro in Old Town.  Great place to arrive early, enjoy the food (and have your check paid) so that you are relaxed and ready to go. Door-to-gate service brings you to a cemetary that dates back 200 years and is located very near the very haunted Whaley House. Many violent deaths in San Diego’s history led to burials here. In the darkness you can feel some spirits. Many have seen figures drifting near the surrounding walls, but none seen this night.

Captain's quarters

The highlight was the Star of India sailing ship. Several deaths there have left wandering spirits above and below decks. With the other stops along the way we felt we had a pretty good introduction to San Diego, and a very enjoyable story time to boot. We were able to go to 5 different locations and the story for each one worth the time, trip and money. Tour more online at GoThere San Diego Haunted Places.

 

San Diego Wine Rave

 

Wine Rave November 18 2009

The San Diego Wine Rave is the opening event of the 2009 San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival. Test drive more than two dozen cutting edge wines and specialty spirits. Not only drink, but food will be offered that is guaranteed to knock your socks off, if you come wearing any.  In previous years this has really been the highlight of the week-long event. 

The “Big Event” of the entire Wine & Food Festival is the Grand Tasting at Embarcadero Park North behind Seaport Village. In our experience this is simply too many people trying to sample too many wines and foods. Stick to the more intimate Wine Rave.

This year the Wine Rave is in the San Diego W Hotel which, if you stay there, makes getting home after the event a much safer alternative. Tickets online now, only $45.

Date: Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Location: W Hotel
Time: 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

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Steamboat Natchez Evening Jazz Cruise

Natchez Steamboat, New Orleans

I can almost promise you that there were no locals on board with us for this evening jazz cruise. So much the pity, because there is NOTHING like being out on the Mississippi River at sunset with the sounds of live jazz and live steam!

We spent most of our time out on one of the several decks, watching the the sun go down and the lights from the shore slip by in the darkening twilight. But we did find the buffet when we fianlly went inside. Like most buffets everywhere you can always find something to like or not like.

Who can screw up prime rib? Almost no one, and they couldn’t either. We found it quite good. I passed on the catfish, but may be mostly a personal preference. Only once, along a river’s edge in Florida have I enjoyed catfish; fresh, coated, deep fried & crispy, but that is another story.

Here is some more information about the Steamboat Natchez and online ticketing. You WILL want to get tickets before you go. The locals may not stand in line for this tour, but tourist like us make sell-outs disappointing for those who don’t plan ahead.

Dolphin Cruise on Tampa Bay

Tampa dolphin cruise

There is nothing like getting out on to the water when you visit Tampa. The Florida Aquarium has a special tour boat that leaves downtown Channelside daily at 2PM. Parking is right across the street.

We spent part of the time inside, looking out the windows, and part of the time on the covered upper deck to catch the breeze. From here we could see a cruise ship in port, a restored Navy ship and the Aquarium. We got a great view of downtown Tampa and the waterfront homes along the bay. Nice way to live!

It didn’t take long to get out into the main part of Tampa Bay, and sure enough there were dolphins out there playing around. We even saw what looked like a family of dolphins with a little one.

We had no idea that Tampa was such a busy commercial port. Who would have thought that big ships and wild animals could coexist so well?

The trip was smooth and no one got sick. The boat is designed to be very stable in all kinds of conditions. After the boat tour you can tour the Florida Aquarium which is right there.

Channelside Tampa

A short walk from the dolphin tour and aquarium is the Channelside restaurant and shopping district. We ate at Gallagher’s New York Steak and had the best meal so far on the trip. Not  tourist trap at all.

From here we could walk back to our hotel, also on the bay the, Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel and Marina, and is right across the street from the Tampa Convention Center.

Here is a Google map of the hotel where you can also see where channelside and the aquarium is located.

Rome crypts and catacombs

Capuchin Bone Chapel

When in Rome, do as the Romans? Touring the city’s subterranean burial chambers is something often done by locals, but is almost unheard of with tourists.  So be the first one on your block to have gone “catacombing”.

The Capuchin Crypt chapel walls are completely covered on the inside with human bones. It is only creepy if you stop to think what you are seeing – and standing next to!

Some of the catacombs like the Domitilla Catacombs no longer have bodies on display to the public, but you can sure get the feeling what it must have been like. Bodies were not so much buried here as they were set into shallow holes in the walls, far underground, in the dark. Thank goodness for electric lights. (no cameras though, in any of these places.)

There is a 3-hour tour that starts daily around 2:30 from the Piazza Barberini. – Map - This one is close to a metro stop.
Read what others have said about the tours.
Get more information and reserve tickets before you go. These tours sell out early.

Here is are some pretty good,  reasonably priced, nearby hotels.

SeaWorld Orlando – Adult tickets at kid prices

Orlando SeaWorld up close

Now through the end of the year, buy Adult tickets to SeaWorld Orlando online at the same price as kid’s tickets, plus get a second day free!

Be sure you take the new Journey to Atlantis ride. Get set to splash down from the top of a tower high above SeaWorld. Also new is the Manta coaster. Over 3,000 feet of track gets you upside down over the water. Don’t eat lunch before you go.

 

 

San Diego Scenic Champagne Brunch Cruise

 

San Diego Champagne Brunch Cruise

This two hour tour is  nothing like the one that led to Gilligan’s Island. This is a very civilized boat trip around San Diego harbor with food, drink and music. Stay inside or walk about the deck for better views. You can even visit the captain.

This is a great way to see San Diego from the water; Navy ships, planes & submarines; sailboats, water-side parks & hotels. If you live here it offers a pleasant reminder of why you do. Make out of town visitors wish they lived here too. Brunch Menu - Map

Full Moon Dinner Cruise on San Diego Bay

Not into brunch? There is also a two-hour sunset bay cruise with hors d’oeuvres and drink specials every Friday and Saturday this summer through September 27.

Night owl? How about a Full Moon Dinner Cruise? Next departures are September 4, October 4, November 2 & December 2.

More information and online tickets

Singapore Changi Airport Plaza Premium Lounge

Snacks, Juices, Tea, Views

When you fly in and out of Singapore consider the Plaza Premium Lounge at Singapore’s Chiangi Airport.

Why wait in a crowded airport boarding area when you can relax, snack, exercise and take a shower in this ulu place? Freshen up and clear your head after a long flight. Catch up on the news in the library and access the Internet. Conveniently located inside the immigration area of Terminal Three and in the arrivals hall of Terminal Two to sooth you while coming or going.

Read some recent traveler reviews of the premium lounge services.
Chope a ticket now, lah!

The Plaza Premium Lounge has recently been upgraded to create a “Straits Chinese and Zen” combination shiok concept that uses space to create a soothing environment to reduce stress and promote relaxed state of mind after a long flight.

Welcome. Enjoy service, gym and shower

The shower area has twelve individual shower rooms with attached dressing and dry areas that can be used by men and women. Male and female without gender segregation, which will eliminate waiting time and improve utilization. Luxury male and female common  dressing areas include wash basins and hair dryers.

We liked the self service buffet bar that included salads, finger sandwiches, pastries, cookies and seasonal local and imported fruits. Hot tea, coffee are on hand. Beer was extra, but well worth it. In the media library we found international newspapers, magazines and Internet access for our laptop computers.

For more informatin about getting around Singapore, things to see and do and to make hotel reservations, visit GoThere Singapore.