RSSJan|03|2008
Year-end at Guimaras, Philippines
Posted by Noemi as Around The World, Asia, Destinations, Islands, Nature, Resorts, Travelogger
We were fortunate enough to have a short break at the end of December and we decided to go to an island – or a group of islands, rather – with a several other couples. Guimaras is a cluster of islands in the middle part of the Philippines and it is known best for its sun ripened mangoes.
December is not the season for these delicious fruits, though, so we had to settle for the wonderful beaches and pristine waters – I am not complaining one bit!
We stayed at this small island resort called Baras Beach Resort. It was not our first choice as they only had electricity from 6 pm – 11 pm. This could pose a thousand problems for children and adults alike. However, when we got there and saw the cottages, the view, and the cove, …
Oct|10|2007
A-Maze-Ing Corn!
Posted by Camica as Adventure, Around The World, Destinations, Eco-Friendly, Events, Family, Food and Drink, Nature
Last week, I suggested visiting a corn maze for a Halloween treat. It’s a great outing for a family, especially because it has something for everyone. A corn maze isn’t just fun, it’s educational too, and all at a very affordable cost, since most mazes just charge a modest fee. And you don’t have to go far, you can find a corn maze (especially this season) just about anywhere.
The fun in a corn maze is a-maze-ing (pardon the pun). Your kids will surely be wowed at the pictures the corn mazes depict. There are dinosaurs, pirates, scarecrows and even a depiction of The Duke. Lest you think there’s nothing in a corn maze to see except rows and rows of corn, most corn mazes also offer additional fun, such as hay-rides, …
Oct|05|2007
Halloween’s Harvest
Posted by Camica as Eco-Friendly, Events, Family, Festivals, Food and Drink, Nature, Travelogger
When I think of October’s harvest, the things that come to mind are pumpkin and apples. For me, apples and pumpkins have become synonymous with Halloween. What child hasn’t tried bobbing for apples, or received candy apples as a treat? Everybody in the family enjoys a nice, warm glass of apple cider, especially after coming in from trick or treating. And Halloween decorations aren’t complete without a jack-o-lantern. That’s why I’d recommend apple and pumpkin picking as an activity the whole family will enjoy. It’s a fun, outdoor (healthy!) activity that’s easy on your budget. You won’t even need to travel far; you can search the internet for a local farm near your area.
Incidentally, did you know that Apple Day events take place more or less around the whole month of October? There are a lot …
Oct|04|2007
October’s Treats
Posted by Camica as Events, Family, Food and Drink, Historical, Nature, People, Tips
October is one of my favorite months. Not only is it the month of Halloween and Trick or Treating, it’s also the prelude to the whole holiday season, culminating in every kid’s favorite month, December. October became more special when I became a mom and started buying in to all that Halloween hype. Usually, by the first week of October, I’m already racking my brains trying to come up with a killer costume (pun intended) for my kids. If you want to experience the whole Halloween fun, there’s a lot more to do than just trick or treating.
• Enjoy the fall harvest. Now’s your last chance to get your pick of fresh vegetables and fruits. Visit local farm markets with your kids (tip: it’s also a good way to introduce veggies and fruits to their plate!). Find a farm that will let you …
Oct|02|2007
Safest Towns In America
Posted by Noemi as Americas, Around The World, Destinations, Getaways, Nature, Travelogger
What do you look for in a vacation? Different people would have different answers, I am sure but there are times when you might want to just relax and go to the safest environment you can find. Well, the Discovery Travel Channel did the legwork for you and came up with a list of the “best safe towns” in America. (Yeah, I got inspired by Hannah’s list of the world’s greenest cities.) Here they are, from number 5 to number 1:
Greece, New York
This place is perfect for those who want to escape city life. Located near Rochester, Greece offers waterfronts and hiking trails. You’ll feel as close to nature as you can get in this small suburb. Bird watchers would also love Braddock Bay, where migratory birds pass by on their way to the north.
Thousand Oaks, California
From the East …
Sep|12|2007
How To Sleep In An Igloo
Posted by Camica as Around The World, Destinations, Eco-Friendly, Hotels, Nature, Travelogger
Want to experience something unique? Check out Sweden’s Ice Hotel. Located in the shores of Torne river in the village of Jukkasjarvi, Swedish Lapland, it’s just 200 km north of the Arctic Circle. The Ice Hotel is built from scratch every year, with a team of snowbuilders, architects, designers and artists from all over the world contributing to the creation of the Ice Hotel. It’s one of the most environmentally friendly hotels, since the material used for its construction is the ice and snow supplied by Mother Nature via the Torne River. It normally takes 10,000 tons of crystal clear ice and 30,000 tons of pure snow to build the Ice Hotel every year. When Spring comes, of course, …
Aug|10|2007
Beach Bums
Posted by Camica as Destinations, Nature, Travelogger, United States
Summer’s almost over; it’s just a couple of weeks until school starts again. I remember when I was young(er!), my friends and I spent our remaining days of summer on the beach, trying to soak up as much sun and fun as humanly possible. The nights, we spent taking turns sleeping over at each other’s houses, taking advantage of the opportunity to sleep as late as possible, before bedtime became the norm again. Our parents, thankfully, were extremely understanding, and it helped that we lived in an old-fashioned neighborhood where everybody knew each other, and everyone felt reasonably safe.
I wish I could say that the same is still true today, but we hear horror stories all the time now, and parents are much more cautious as a result. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t squeeze in as much fun as possible. While sleep-overs may …
Aug|09|2007
Why You Should Consider a Fall Family Vacation
Posted by Noemi as Eco-Friendly, Family, Nature
It is true that families rarely go on trips together during fall because school has just re-opened at this time. Yet if you are anything like me, I would think of this season as the perfect time to take the whole family out of town and take advantage of the absence of tourists. Of course, not wanting to have the kids miss school, it would be best to take a weekend trip or even just a day trip. Still not convinced of the merits of a fall vacation? Here are some ideas that may just change your mind.
What is this season most famous for? I would say trees with fiery leaves and pumpkins! For those in the city or suburbs, why not take the kids out for a drive and hit a pumpkin patch trail? This will not take more …
Jul|25|2007
Protecting Endangered Species: San Diego Zoo
Posted by Jen as Eco-Friendly, Education, Features, Nature, Travelogger, United States
Did you know that in the United States alone, there are 496 species of endangered animals listed? And that worldwide, there are about a thousand more animals whose lives are in danger? These are not just numbers, mind you. These are issues that affect every living being on this planet, whether we are conscious of it or not. Perhaps one of the main causes for the endangerment of these animals is habitat destruction. Over the decades, man has been a little less considerate when it comes to expanding and construction. Sure, there are new roads being paved and new infrastructures being built. Still, at what cost?
In recent years, a lot of things have been done to help the environment recover from past mistakes. Laws have been enacted to protect various wildlife. Organizations have been set up to ensure that these laws are being put into good use.
Also, there are now …
Jul|22|2007
How To Live Like A Fish
Posted by Camica as Adventure, Around The World, Destinations, Eco-Friendly, Hotels, Nature, United States
Want to experience a really unusual vacation? Check out Jules Undersea Lodge in Key Largo, Florida. I already wrote about this hotel in one of my previous posts (Hotel Wish List), but I wasn’t able to post any pictures or write more details. But I promised myself I would rave more about this unique hotel in another post.
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