Looking for something a little different in a package deal overnighter?

Bring your horse...AngelWoods Hideaway Bed & Breakfast welcomes human and horses alike with its "Giddy Up Getaway" package. After a good nights sleep hit the trail on your horse or rent one. This package includes two horse stalls, a packed lunch for the trail and more.

Dive in...does the family love the water? Bring the whole family to Comfort Inn "Splash Harbor" for the Family Fun Package. You will receive four harbor indoor water park passes, $10 in game tokens for the video arcade, one dive-n-glide pool toy, a large pizza and more.

Pastry Chef, Stella Parks is a champion as well. She recently was named one of the the Top Five Pastry Chefs in the Nation by the editors at Food & Wine Magazine. She is known for playing with chocolate and the yummy things she bakes.

Stella is a chef at Lexington's Table Three Ten and is a 2002 graduate of the Culinary Institute of America. She also worked at Emmet's and Holly Hill Inn before moving to Japan. After spending some time abroad, Stella came back to her "Kentucky Home" and has been the lead pastry chef at Table Three Ten. She is known for creating whimsical desserts where every piece right down to the sprinkles on the cup cakes are made from scratch. Enjoy making Stella's recipe for macarons at bravetart.com/recipes/Macarons

Follow her blog at www.bravetart.com and try her delectable creations at Table Three Ten in downtown Lexington.

Table Three TEN works closely with local farmers to insure only the freshest of ingredients. The restaurant has a warm and inviting atmosphere with a historic twist.

 

Spring has sprung! Baseball has had its opening day and now it is time for your taste buds to have theirs.

Velvet Ice Cream's Ye Olde Mill is hosting its opening day on May 1. The famed ice cream shop is located in Utica, Ohio.

The Mill is kicking off its season to individual travelers, groups and school field trips at 11 a.m. on the upcoming first day of May with its signature fun tradition that brings more than 150,000 people to the Velvet Ice Cream headquarters each year.

Guests will enjoy a scoop of ice cream at 1970's prices and tours of the sweet shop where they will see this famous creamy treat being made in the viewing gallery. Many will walk the nature trail and play on the Ye Olde Mill playground. If you like, bring a picnic and enjoy a family gathering at one of the shelter houses. Visit the 1817 grist mill with a water wheel and the real 19th century style since cream parlor.

The fun does not end there as you can eat at the Wheel Room Restaurant, visit the Interactive ice Cream and Milling Museums, feed the ducks on the two catch and release fish ponds or take
a cruise through the gift shop. This Olde Mill offers you a little bit of the modern world, complementary Wi-Fi.

For you bikers there is a bike friendly nature trail close by. You will find quiet country roads and beautiful scenery. In fact, this year the Mill is giving away a custom bicycle. Sign ups begin on May 1 and the winner will be drawn on August 11.

Velvet has been a family-owned and operated business for nearly 100 years. It was Joseph Dager that founded the company in 1914 and since that time...four generations of Dager's have run the company.

Velvet is no little "ice cream stand" they produce more than five million gallons of ice cream every year from its Utica headquarters. At the site of the Ye Olde Mill there are 25 acres of "sweet" fun.

f you miss opening day you can visit all summer long until Sept. 1 and make a point to attend the annual Ice Cream Festival on May 26 through 28.

Kentucky's World Class Dressage, Cross Country
and Stadium JumpingGet a little taste of this year's London Olympic Games in Lexington, Kentucky. This year the Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event features a selection of U.S. Eventing team trials for the Olympics.


It all takes place at the beautiful Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington running
April 26 through the 29.
The park is something to see on its own, but add in this event and it is a "don't wanna miss" weekend.
The nation's best horses and riders will be competing hoping to earn a place on the summer Olympic team.

This year's Event also features the 15th Rolex USEF Four Star Championship for the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation Pinnacle Cup. Horses and riders from around the world will join with those from the U.S. to compete for their share of  the $250,000 in prize money and also a shot at the $350,000 Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing.

This prize is awarded to any rider who wins Rolex Kentucky, Mitsubishi Motors Badminton and Land Rover Burghley Four Star Events in succession.
Former Rolex Kentucky champion William Fox-Pitt of Great Britain, who won his record sixth Burghley championship last fall, will be seeking to win the second leg of the Rolex Grand Slam at Kentucky in the hopes of joining Pippa Funnell of Great Britain, who won it in 2003, as the only rider to win the Rolex Grand Slam.

For more information on the event visit www.rk3de.org.

FreeFoto.com

For years I would see pictures of the wind farms in California. I always wanted to see them, but never knew where they were or really had much of a chance to get there.Recently, I was able to check another item off of my "bucket list". I visited Palm Springs, the city where wind works for the people.

Traveling from Los Angels back to Laughlin, Nevada I decided I would take a long detour on Interstate 10 to see these wind farms.

Coming from the west all of a sudden you come up over a hill, around a bend and there are thousands of wind mills or wind turbines as they are called today.

It was awesome to see. They look big, but you really don't have a handle on how big until you stand next to one. On some, the blade is half the size of a football field. They stand about 150 feet tall and at the top there is a compartment that contains a generator weighing 30,000 to 45,000 pounds.

One turbine can produce 300 kilowatts of electricity. That is about what your typical household uses in a month.

This wind farm is located on the San Gorgonio Mountain Pass in the San Bernadino Mountains and contains more than 4,000 separate windmills and provides enough electricity to power Palm Springs and the entire Coachella Valley.

FreeFoto.com

You can tour the wind farms and feel the energy. They blades will make that whooshing sound right over your head. You will learn the ins and outs of making wind energy. Several companies offer a variety of tours with different pricing depending on how much you choose to do.

It is interesting and if it is on your bucket list...make sure you see these whirling wonders. Even though I had visited these fields I really got a real idea of how big the blades are when I was traveling in Ohio. Several semis passed me on the road and I realized the long items they were carrying were the blades for the wind turbines...they were much larger than you could imagine.

Visit the sites below for the specifics! Due to technically difficulties (like I am that technical) I could not use my photos. But, I will be able to the next time!

http://www.elitelandtours.com/palm-springs-tours.php

http://www.thebestofthebesttours.com/

photos courtesy Weirick Communications

Its winter, but it is important to think ahead. Dream of a warmer month and get out your calendars and mark this down. It is a week of great food and great times at the Hartstone Inn & Hideaway in Camden, Maine.

The inn has parnered with Italy's Chef Benedetta Vitali who will be sharring her Tuscan cooking heritage.

During this five-day immersion cooking school, Vitali will share original family recipes straight from her Tuscan roots.
Each day, guests will receive hands-on instruction while cooking 3 to 4 recipes for lunch. The student chefs will then eat and discuss the meal they have prepared.

Vitali will show the importance of selecting quality ingredients. Guests will learn to use their sense of smell,touch and sight in order to pick perfect ingredients for each of the Chef's family dishes.

This one-of-a-kind cooking experience is only abailable to Harstone Inn guests. It is a full five days of cooking school and includes accommodations and most meals.

Vitali is a native of Florence and has taught cooking classes around the world. She is an experienced restauranteur, award-winning chef and author of "Soffritto: Tradition & Innovation in Tuscan Cooking," a James Beard Award finalist.

The one-of-a-kind cooking experience is only available to Hartstone Inn guests. The full five-day cooking school, including accommodations and most meals, starts at just $1250 for a Traditional Room (Superior Rooms are $1500; Suites, $1650). The value-laden package includes:

• Five nights of deluxe accommodations (Sunday - Thursday) 
• Private Sunday welcome Maine lobster bake dinner on the beach at the home of Hartstone Inn Owner/Chef Michael Salmon and Wife/Innkeeper Mary Jo Brink
• Hartstone Inn Apron and welcome gift 
• Breakfast for two each morning
• Lunch each day
• Six cooking courses and two tastings
• Fresh Mozzarella Cheese Making class at the nearby State of Maine Cheese Company
• Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar tasting at Fiore Artisan Olive Oils and Vinegar
• Chef-led tour of Camden Farmers Market
• Wine tasting and private tour of the Cellardoor Winery

*Priced based on one class participant. Additional guest (double occupancy room), offered for $525 supplement. This exclusive package is limited to just 14 participants.Complete information is found at hartstoneinn.com or (800) 788-4823.

Okay, so I know you cannot swim at Virginia Beach in the winter, but you might be happily surprised to see other options offered. The weather is looking like the mid 50's right now (Feb.) and sunny. So what are you waiting for?

Whether it is a taste of history or viewing wildlife the area offers visitors unique winter options.

You can hike and bike the nine self guided trails of First Landing State Park. Yes, even in the winter. The air could be a little crisp, but there are 20 miles of trails to explore and that will warm you up! The Bald Cypress Trail will take you a mile across ponds and sand dunes. It is one of the most popular trails and is handicapped-accessible. There are also guided walks with interpreters, and trail guidebooks. Brochures can be found at the Trail Center. Bike rentals are available at the Bay Store. Don't miss the wildlife and bring your camera.


The Virginia Beach area offers several opportunities to see wildlife in the winter months. At Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, visitors can view the thousands of snow geese that call the park home during the winter months. By hiking the three mile loop you get a chance to view the pond where the geese gather. Watch for the wild ponies on the hillsides throughout the preserve.

Kiptopeke State Park is located over the Chesapeake Bridge-Tunnel just north of Virginia Beach. It is a great place to access the bay area and recreational opportunities. Best known of viewing migratory bird habitats this park was designed to study birds, including hawks, osprey and kestrels on one of their stops on the Atlantic flyway. With over 4 miles of hiking and biking trails that offer scenic travel this park also offers programs about bay ecology and natural history.

For a little history Virginia Beach is not far from historic Williamsburg. A great place to visit walking the streets that our nation's forefathers walked while learning about our nation's beginnings.

You may not think romance when you think of Atlantic City, New Jersey, but it is one of the most romantic spots to celebrate Valentines Day.

Sure there is gambling, the ocean and historic sites, but you can also renew your wedding vows in a special group event.

Romance is in the air. It is surprising how many romantic activities there are in the city along the Boardwalk. From a moonlight stroll along the ocean or a couples massage in one of the many spas.

Take a ride in a rolling chair

Atlantic City does not have the horse drawn carriages that you may see in Central Park, but is known for its rolling chair rides along the Boardwalk.
These rolling chairs operate by man or woman power and give travelers a good view of the sights, sounds and smells of the famous Boardwalk, including those famous fries, the screams of excitement at the Steel Pier and the rolling waves of the ocean. The chairs roll along the Boardwalk year round.
A bicycle built for two ride on the boardwalk is a fun thing to do. Rental bikes are available in multiple locations and near the Tropicana and Resorts Hotels. Rentals are available from 6:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. daily. Bike riding is permitted during those hours only, with extended hours during the winter months.
For a romantic scene right out of a movie take a ride on the Ferris wheel at Steel Pier (seasonal) and enjoy the view from above the action of the Boardwalk and the calmness of the ocean.

What is better than a romantic sunset? Atlantic City offers visitors’ sunset cruises on Cruisin’ One from Gardner’s Basin (seasonal). Another option is to watch the moon rise. View the moon from the open deck located at the Shops at Caesars.  It stretches several hundred feet into the ocean.

Dance the night away, enjoy the night life and watch the sun rise over the ocean from anywhere on the Boardwalk. Cocktails at Alto Vino wine and cheese bar at the Tropicana offers spectacular views of the city. It is located on the top floor of the hotel. There are also opportunities for a view of the Boardwalk and beach at restaurants located in the Pier Shops and casino restaurants.

Visiting one of the many day spas for a couples massage can start the romantic weekend off to a relaxing beginning. Getting rid of the tension will help you relax for the rest of your visit. There are day spas available in most of the resort hotels.

Also, the Absecon Lighthouse has a special Valentine's Day event that has smooching stations and catered "aphrodisiacs" at each level as you climb to the top and to the champagne toast.

There are many things to do is this city on the Boardwalk. Enjoy a relaxing, romantic trip to Atlantic City. Visit http://www.atlanticcitynj.com/#.

The months may be a little cooler right now, but there is plenty to do in Lexington. It is a great time of year to explore the wonderful museums. Through the month of March you can purchase a museum pass from the Lexington Convention and Visitors Bureau or any of the participating museums for just $20!


Lexington History Museum...This museum is located in old Fayette County courthouse. The building alone is a prime example of history with its Richardsonian Romanesque architecture. It is located in downtown Lexington. You will travel back in the past through exhibits such as Athens's of the West, In Black and White, Lexington During the Civil War and Lincoln and his Wife's Hometown. Find out more at www.lexingtonhistorymuseum.org.

The University of Kentucky Are Museum...Art lovers are not left out of this museum tour.  The Art Museum at UK has a collection of more than 4,500 pieces.  The collection includes American and European paintings, drawings, photographs, prints and sculpture. You will also find changing exhibits and special events, lectures and programing open to the public. The museum is located on the campus. For more information visit http://www.uky.edu/ArtMuseum/.

But Wait! There is another deal offered to make your visit even more interesting. It is the Historic Homes Pass.  For $20 you can visit Ashland, home of Henry Clay, as well as the Mary Todd Lincoln House, Hunt-Morgan House and Waveland State Historic Site. For more information on everything Lexington visit http://www.visitlex.com/.

If you are not sure that the Winter Hike in Hocking Hills (part I) is your thing try this warm side of an Ohio winter.  Make a winter "Great Escape" at The annual AAA Great Vacations Expo held at the Veterans Memorial North Hall on Jan. 20, 21 and 22.
It is here, at the more than 250 exhibits, that you will find travel options and the deals for everything travel. From ski trips to a a chaise under a palm tree or places close to home to explore.

On Friday those over 55 will receive a $2 discount on tickets as it is Prime Timers Day presented by Hoosier Park Racing and Casino.  Your day will be filled with entertainment, and everything travel including special discounting for those of a "certain age". Entertainment Editor for AARP Magazine, Bill Newcott will appear on stage 3. Presale tickets are on sale at all AAA locations or at the door the day of the event.

Saturday is kids day and there will be a lot of excitement when Nickelodeon star Sponge Bob Square Pants will be the featured guest as well as that lovable dog, Snoopy. Kids Day begins at 10 a.m. with there plenty of workshops, events and activities just for kids! The first 300 kids will receive activity books from Universal Orlando Resort and the first 250 will receive Mickey Treats from Disney World. Kids 16 and under are free.

Locally, Experience Columbus will be on hand to give you the ins and outs of travel things to do in Columbus. Metro Parks will tell you how to play outdoors,

No matter what day you chose to attend your day will be filled with travel info, entertainment and interactive events. Thrill-seeker Bert Kreischer, host of Travel Channel's popular Bert the Conqueror will be on hand to share his adventures.  Also on stage will be  San Francisco Chronicle Travel Editor Spud Hilton. He will share his tips on many travel subjects including taking better travel photos.

Bring your calendar as the deals are real at the best ever prices. If you are looking to book that dream vacation this could be your chance.

The AAA Great Vacations EXPO opens Friday, January 20 and runs through Sunday, January 22, at Franklin County Veterans Memorial in downtown Columbus. Show hours are Friday 12 p.m. - 8 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. – 8 p.m., and Sunday 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Tickets are available at the door or at any AAA Ohio Auto Club store for $9 or $6 for any AAA member. Children ages 16 and under are admitted at no charge. For additional event details or to purchase tickets in advance, visit www.AAAGreatVacations.com.

More and more states are deciding to give casino gaming a whirl.  It is what is being done to keep resident's dollars in the state and not spent in surronding states.
For those recreational slot and table players these state casinos are perfect for a night or two of fun and entertainment.  They come in all sizes with all kinds of emenities.  One such casino is Belterra, in Florence, Indiana. 

Sitting on the scenic Ohio River you will find this tradional Indiana boat casino, fun, family friendly, and loaded with entertainment.  It is one of four that sit on the banks of the river.

The name, Belterra Resort and Casino, sums up what you will find on and off the gambling boat.  A variety of table games and slot machines are available on the stationary river boat.  There are two floors of gaming.  It is not the largest of the casinos, but has the all around entertainment factor.

A hotel with a variety of room types that include a standard room that has a jucuzzi tub in a large bathroom and in many rooms, there are tv's in the bathroom.  Take a bath and watch your favorite show.  The rooms are a good size and always clean.  Some have refridgerators and all have hair dryers and coffee pots.

If it is the swing of a club you enjoy...take it to the driving range, and track the distance of your drive on a GPS enabled golf cart.  Play the Tom Fazio world-class golf course that is rated as one of the top courses in the region.  It is ranked in the top 20 casino courses in the U.S. by Golfweek.  The rolling hills and well landscaped course adds to the game.

If you are looking for a place to cool down or get a tan...the pool at Belterra has comfortable chaises, private cabanas and a relaxing atmosphere.  It is open beginning in April and through the warmer months.

Entertainment is on the agenda for Belterra guests from big name entertainers, including musicians, commedians, groups, and shows.  The Center Stage Showroom is a spacious room that hosts the top names in the 1,500 seat theater.  You can get up close to entertainers such as Loretta Lynn, and Vicki Lawrence, to the Chipendales.

The Beleza Spa and Salon offers spa goers a place to de-stress with massages, body treatments, facials and more.  A place where you can indulge.

After a day on the links, in the spa, in the casino, or by the pool, enjoy a meal at one of the Belterra restaurants.  Grab a quick bite at the casino cafe, a steak at Jack Ruby's Steak House, dinner at the Aquarium Cafe, a sandwich at the Out of Bounds Bar and Grill, have a treat at Ben and Jerry's or wake up with a cup of Java at Starbucks.  Casinos have a reputation for buffets and Belterra is no different.  I am not a buffet lover, but Beterra's Ultimate Buffet is second, in my opinion, only to Paula Deens!  The food is good, an excellent variety and deserts...mama mia!

For you shoppers, there is a selection of shops to fill your need to see what is new in the world of fashion, look for bargains or a special gift.

And yes, you can bring your family.  There are not really kid things to do during the winter, but in the summer the pool is a great place to hang out.  You will also find activities in the surrounding area that are fun family "things to do".

For more information log on to www.belterracasino.com/ and see what is in store for you at Belterra.  Details of the My Choice players card are available on the site.  Realize rewards for your play from discounts, hotel rooms, food comps and cash back.

There is much more to Camden, Maine than shopping, but for those of you that do enjoy a day of ducking in and out of unique shops you won't want to miss this town.
That uniqueness might be best displayed by Lucy's Dollhouse. This shop has a specialty not found too many places other than its location at 49 Bayview Street, antique dolls. They also have dollhouses and miniatures and just about everything that a little girl at heart could long for.

For those of you that love explore the galleries...Camden is loaded with art galleries.  There is no lack of artistic talent displayed in the galleries they are loaded with the works of Maine artists and much more.

You will find many There is no lack of art when it comes to Camden's galleries. The galleries are loaded with the works of Maine artists and much more. Displayed at the Bayview Gallery are some of the most well known artists of American Impressionists. This gallery offers restoration and framing services and is located at 33 Bayview St.

At the Camden Falls Gallery you will find sculptures and art work from New England artists. The gallery also offers a variety of shows that celebrate architecture, traditional watercraft, landscapes and seasonal scenes of costal Maine. Shows are rotated and the gallery is located at 8 Public Landing.

After perusing the stores and finding just the right treasures, take a break at one of Camden’s fine restaurants for a great meal and don't leave town until you have enjoyed ice cream at one of Camden’s great ice cream stops.

Calling all shoppers and non-shoppers...you will love this New England harbor town, Camden, Maine.
It is better than shopping...it is a harbor town loaded with shopping.  With beatiful views, friendly people, and a boat load of things to do and see.

Camden has everything from antiques to candy and dolls to ice cream. There are plenty of unique shops and restaurants for any traveler to shop and eat their way through town.

Camden is a town of about 5,000 residents and is loaded with book and antique stores, art galleries, nautical stores and even a dollhouse.

Read all about it...as Camden is loaded with book stores.  The Owl and the Turtle was voted as the number one independent bookstore in Maine, it offers two floors to browse and is well known across the country for its marine section. Located at 32 Washington Street you will find the staff friendly and ready to help you find just what you are looking for.

No true book worm would stop there as Sherman's Books and Stationery has been in the business since 1886 and has a lot to offer Camden visitors. Located at 14 Main Street Sherman’s is loaded with books, stationery and gift items. They carry a selection of toys and the store is well known for stationery items including note cards that feature scenes of Maine. Gift items include blueberry products and the weather predicting Woodman’s Weatherstick. This is something that has to witnessed to be believed.

If you don't want to read about and experience Camden walk through the historic district and find antique shops galore. The Downshire House is historically famous for its unique and rare clocks. Tall case clocks from the 18th and 19th centuries are the specialty of this 30 year old establishment.  Their experience in restoring and collecting clocks is unparalleled. Don't miss the United Kingdom, Europe and Ireland mercurial barometers. Downshire is located at 49 Bayview Street.

There is an uniqueness about walking and shopping along the streets of Camden.  There is much to explore throughout the downtown area.  Rockport Harbor and Lincolnville Beach also have a section of shops.

Watch for the second part of the Camden Maine.

Courtesy of The Christmas Story House

One of the most famed Christmas movies of all time was filmed in Cleveland, Ohio, A Christmas Story. Now you can tour the house where Ralphie lived.

The popular movie is a walk down memory lane for those who grew up in the Cleveland area and even the surrounding states, The large iconic department stores of Higbee’s and Halle’s decorated the windows with holiday scenes for many years.  Halle’s seventh floor was the home to the “keeper of the keys”, Mr. Jingaling. Both stores had large decorated areas with Santa. The Higbee’s building was used in the movie.

The famed movie was released in 1983 without a lot of hoop la and became one of the most popular holiday movies of all time, right up there with It’s a Wonderful Life and Miracle on 34th Street. The story is a semi-autobiographical story of author, Jean Parker Shepherd’s childhood. The star of the movie, nine year old Ralphie Parker, wants a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas. His mother is afraid he will shoot his eye out.

Higbee’s

The well-known Higbee’s Department Store was used in three scenes for the movie. The opening scene where Ralphie is peering in the store window at the Red Ryder BB Gun, look for the there glow of the Higbee sign. The parade scene was filmed just outside Higbee’s in Cleveland’s public square at 3:00 a.m. and Higbee’s is seen during the parade just before Ralphie goes to see Santa. Also, when Ralphie and Randy visit Santa it was filmed inside Higbee’s. The store kept the Santa slide that was made especially for the movie and used it for several years after the movie’s release.
The 12 floor Higbee building was the first department store in the greater Cleveland area and is right in the heart of Cleveland’s Public Square. It opened in 1931 and closed in 2002 and the building still stands and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The House Where Ralphie Lived

Traditionally many of us watch each year so we know Ralphie did not shoot his eye out with his Red Ryder BB gun because Start a new tradition, after watching the movie pack the family in the station wagon and visit the house where Ralphie lived.
Brian Jones purchased the house in 2005 on an eBay auction. He paid for it by selling leg lamps. He restored it from its more modern and re-modelled look to be just like it was in the movie; detailed right down to the shed in the backyard and the leg lamp in the window. It is now open all year for public tours.

Directly across the street there is the official, A Christmas Story museum, which displays original props, costumes and memorabilia including behind the scenes photos and a gift shop. The house was chosen for the movie as it represents the houses in the neighborhoods of Hammond, Indiana, the hometown of Shepherd. The director of the movie sent people out to 20 different cities to find the right location, one that resembled the Indiana town of the 1940’s – Cleveland was that city.
A Christmas Story House convention is held each year at late in November. Actors from the movie are on hand including those evil department store elves. The convention events include a Chinese Turkey Dinner, Fa Ra Ra Ra Ra and all, tours of the house and museum, a BB gun range in the back yard, a Ralphie look-a-like contest, screenings of the movie, Winterfest fireworks, a parade and much more. Owner of the famed home, Jones, sleeps in the house when he is in Cleveland.

Other Ralphie Stories
In the 1994 sequel to A Christmas Story, My Summer Story, the kids are on summer vacation following Ralphie’s Christmas with his Red Ryder BB Gun. A third movie about the Parker family was made for television and is called Ollie Hopnoodle’s Haven of Bliss.gained its popularity not so much in the theater but when it first aired in a 24 hour marathon by the cable network TNT. It then became a tradition and by popular demand it is aired each year beginning on Christmas Eve and running for 24 hours TBS with over 40 million people watching.

A Christmas Story

Watch the movie for the first time or watch it again, then visit the restored house detailed to “its” movie days, it will be like winning a major award.

So you like the beach, but find it a little cold in December?  Don't give up a trip to the beach just because it might be cold. Virginia Beach, Virginia offers many fun and interesting things to do in the midst of the winter months.
You will find some interesting history...in Williamsburg.  The history filled village has an abundance of traditional holiday trimmings from a time long ago.  A walk through the village will give you a feel for what it was like when the nation's forefathers traveled the historic streets.
A Holiday parade at the beach...can be a special family event, or take in a light display, or both.  On Atlantic Avenue between 15th and 25th streets you can view a parade that includes schools, organizations, local businesses, marching bands, floats, performing dance groups and much more.  But, it is the end of the parade that children are most excited about, that is when Santa arrives. 

Lights on the beach...at this time of year cars are allowed to drive on the boardwalk so visitors get a spectacular view of the display of the McDonald's Holiday Lights at the Beach.  The lights offer everything from the traditional to the nautical, which including fish, jumping dolphins, and much more.  You will also find a 40 foot Christmas tree standing tall on the beach along with Santa and his elves.  The display stretches for over 30 blocks from 2nd street to 34th.  And, don't miss the giant "12 days of Christmas" display standing 30 feet tall. More than 30,000 vehicles travel the festive boardwalk each year and hotels in the area offer special package deals for holiday travelers.

For something a little different...check out First Landing State Park where visitors can hike and bike on the nine, self guided trails, throughout the winter months.  Yes, it can be cold, so prepare for the weather, but hiking or biking the 20 miles of trails and fitness trails will warm you up.  The Bald Cypress Trail takes you for a mile across ponds and sand dunes.  It is one of the most popular trails and is handicap accessible.  Interpreter guided walks are available as well as trail guidebooks and brochures at the Trail center.  Didn't bring your bike?  The Bay Store offers bike rentals.  You will want your camera on this trip.

Up for a little duck, duck goose?  Winter wildlife is abundant around Virginia Beach including the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge.  There are thousands of snow geese that call the park home during the winter months.  Hike the three mile loop and get a view of the pond where the geese gather and watch for the wild ponies on the hillsides of the preserve.

The Kiptopeke State Park located over the Chesapeake Bridge-Tunnel just north of the city offers a great access to the Chesapeake Bay area and its recreational opportunities.  The area was designed to study birds, hawks, osprey, and kestrels on this stop along the Atlantic flyway.  The park has four miles of scenic hiking and biking trails as well as programs about birds, bay ecology, and natural history.

Don't miss the 9,000 acres of the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, home to the migratory birds.  About 10,000 snow geese and a variety of ducks visit during the winter with the peak month being December.  The habitats consist of dunes, wooded area, beaches, fields, and marshes.  Hikers, enjoy the boardwalks and trails, you never know when you might run across a bald eagle, sea turtle, falcon, or other wildlife. There is no biking in this park from November through March.

Winter months are a great time to visit Virginia Beach.  For more information on Williamsburg visit http://www.history.org/ and for information on wildlife http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/wildlife/. 

For some of you, the cold winter winds have begun to blow.  After so long the clouds, snow and cold can get to you.  Why not make plans for a winter get a way?  Or take a trip during the holidays to chill!

Ohio Inn Keepers know about the cold and the Inn at Honey Run, located in the heart of Ohio's Amish Country, has plenty of fireplaces to keep you toasty warm.  For those of you that live in a warm place the Inn affords you a place to see the snow from a toasty, unique, comfortable room.

This cozy inn offers visitors a quiet setting among the tree tops of Ohio Amish Country.  The Inn at Honey Run is like an oasis of peace in a busy world.  The inn offers comfy places to sit by the fire, curl up in a comfortable chair to read a book, play board games, or take a hike, or just hang out in your  room.  This inn offers 36 rooms, each unique.  There are also cottages available that offer panoramic views of the country side.



The Inn at Honey Run offers visitors a quiet retreat after exploring what Amish Country has to offer or just a place to get away from the cell phones, emails (although you can get reception and Internet) and de-stress, relax and make use of the services the spa has to offer.

Whether you plan to spend a weekend, have a mouth watering meal, or just stop by for a drink...go on in and set awhile...enjoy the fire, the view, and the comfort of this inn, spa, and restaurant. There is coziness lurking in every corner of the beautiful Inn at Honey Run.