Popular Spring Break Destinations

As spring break times approaches, many families and college students are thinking about where they want to go this year. The destinations that appeal to families may not be the same destinations that will appeal to college students but there is always some overlap. For everyone who is not a college student and does not have children, for the most part, the popular destinations discussed in this article are places that you will want to avoid during much of the month of April. Unless of course, you enjoy parties and long lines, in which case these will be the perfect destinations for you too. 

Daytona

Daytona has been welcoming spring breakers for 40 years or more and it is still one of the 'go to' places, especially for college students. The beach is a big attraction and if you plan to stay at a beachside hotel, hopefully, you made your reservations a long time ago.

Orlando/Kissimmee

Even though there will be thousands of other families trying to get into WDW, for many families the perfect combination of weather and time off make this one of the most popular spring break destinations for families in the world. If you are really lucky, your school district has chosen to have spring break on one of the less popular weeks but there are plenty of parks in the area to spread the crowds around.

Panama City, Fla.

Are you seeing a pattern here? Florida definitely is one of the most popular destinations for spring break. Panama City even has its own website to fill you in on all the happening during spring break. The city, the hotels, the bars and the restaurants are all ready to welcome you so if you enjoy the beach culture and a great party, Panama City is the place to be.

Washington D.C.

For families who are not worried about a lot of sunshine but want to combine education with entertainment, Washington D.C. has a lot to offer. It has more kid-friendly museums than almost any place on the face of the earth not to mention the National Zoo, and almost all of them are free which is even better. Once the cherry blossoms have passed, so have the crowds and it is an enjoyable place to visit with lots of hotels, great restaurants and affordable public transportation.

Cancun

Cancun is a perennial spring break favorite and this year is no exception. Keep in mind however that the US State Department has a travel warning for many parts of Mexico. Carjacking can be an issue and much of the violence is related to drug trafficking. While travel is not discouraged and millions of Americans travel safely to Mexico every year, it is good to be informed and to read the state department warning. The area around Cancun and Cozumel has no specific warning issued and should be a safe and affordable area to visit.

Students and families everywhere look forward to spring break with great anticipation and this year is no exception. Many great places are available to visit and of course, a cruise is always a popular option. No matter where you chose to go it is a time to relax and recharge for the rest of the academic year. Okay, it is also time to party, but party safely and always be aware of your surroundings.

Pennsylvania: Charming and Historic Milford

If you have ever traveled from New York State on I-84 into Pennsylvania, then you have seen the sign for Milford, Penn. Located only 75 miles from New York City, you couldn't find a place less like the Big Apple. Milford is known as the birthplace of the American Forest Conservation Movement. With a population of only slightly over 1,000 people you are not going to have to worry about crowds of locals, the same can't be said of tourists.

What brings people to Milford? There are several very worthwhile local attractions. One of my favorites is the Pike County Historical Society at the Columns. This is a local history museum that also has one of the nation's most historic flags in its possession.

The night that Abraham Lincoln was shot, his box at Ford's Theater was draped with a flag, this flag was later used to cradle his head. His blood still stains the flag. Any lover of history and the Civil War era, in particular, will find this poignant. There are many other interesting artifacts in the museum including a shirt worn by the largest man who ever lived in Pennsylvania, and it is huge.

Another not to be missed destination in Milford is Grey Towers. This is the former home of the father of the Conservation Movement, Gifford Pinchot. The Pinchot's were French Huguenots who came to the area shortly after it was founded in the early days of the nineteenth century. James Pinchot the father of Gifford built this lovely mansion and today it is considered a national historic landmark.

Grey Towers has hosted several presidents and Gifford Pinchot was himself the governor of Pennsylvania. The house must be visited on a guided tour. You tour the first floor of the house and some of the outdoor spaces. It is well worth your time.



The grounds are quite impressive as well. You can walk on trails into the woods and visit the waterfall on the property. Pinchots are still active in the area and they are still implementing green technology at Grey Towers.

Staying in Milford is amazingly lavish. The Hotel Fauchere has hosted some very famous people in its day and if you are looking for a top-notch place to stay, this will certainly hit the mark. They also have two very highly rated restaurants.

I have a couple of other favorite restaurants in Milford. If you are looking for a delicious breakfast the Waterwheel Café is the place to stop. They have a bakery that serves some scrumptious pastries but that isn't all that is great. I love the Challah bread French toast with fresh fruit, it is worth the drive just for these. They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner and have a bar. You can even visit the waterwheel while you are waiting for your meal.

Our other favorite restaurant is the Apple Valley Pub and Restaurant. You can expect great sandwiches and soups, always fresh, always generous portions and always friendly service. My favorites include a super open face Reuben and an even better chicken pot pie in a bread bowl. You can also get steaks and larger meals but we seldom do.

We often stop in Milford, Penn. just to do some shopping. There are several very interesting antique stores as well as a nice variety of craft and small independent merchants. Milford is a wonderful small town to visit, you can come on a day trip or come for a week, with the proximity of the Delaware Water Gap and the Delaware River, you will find plenty to keep you entertained.

Florida: Planning a visit to Fort Lauderdale

Located on the Atlantic side of Florida, Fort Lauderdale is a great place to retire to and also a great place to visit. It has its own International Airport with regular flights from all over the country and even the world. Amtrak and Tri-Rail both service the train station in Fort Lauderdale. For people who want to drive to Fort Lauderdale, I-95, and I-595, as well as the Florida Turnpike, all lead to this part of Florida.



Where to Stay

Lots of rooms are available to stay at in Fort Lauderdale. One of them is the Granada Inn. The exterior is simple but once inside it is all about European luxury. Twelve rooms offer cable TV, plantation style furniture, and European soaps. Complimentary wireless Internet, continental breakfast by the pool and a mini fridge are part of what every guest can expect.

Many other options including most of the chain hotels such as Embassy Suites, Hilton, and Holiday Inn are offered in the city. If you are taking a cruise out of Fort Lauderdale, Embassy Suites offers a shuttle bus to the port.

What to Do

If you are going to be in Fort Lauderdale on Sunday evening there is no better way to spend an hour than by taking the River Ghost Tour. Reservations are required. The tour is $25 per person and meets at 7:30 p.m. It includes a boat trip on the New River and a tour of the Stranahan House, one of Fort Lauderdale’s most historic buildings.

For more than 20 years, Broward Center for the Performing Arts has been bringing the arts to residents and visitors. Concerts of all sorts are offered. Make it an entire evening by booking dinner at Serenade, the upscale dining venue at the Center.

The Parker Playhouse is part of the Broward Performing Arts Center and has a 40 plus year history of providing a great venue for smaller productions. The Playhouse seats slightly more than 1,100 patrons.


Fort Lauderdale has a unique Antique Car Museum. It is dedicated to the Packard and has 22 of them that date from 1909 through 1947. In addition, there are other items collected by Arthur O. Stone.

From the IMAX Theatre to the child-friendly exhibits, the Museum of Discovery and Science is a place the entire family can and will enjoy. There is a newish permanent exhibit about the human body that adds a new dimension to the already jam-packed museum.


Every visitor to Fort Lauderdale should take a tour and what could be more fun than a paddle boat.

The Jungle Queen offers a three-hour sightseeing of the New River. It also offers a BBQ dinner at 6 p.m. in the evening. Dine on chicken, BBQ ribs and shrimp while enjoying a comedy revue. The boat provides a delicious and memorable evening’s entertainment.
Dining

When you are ready to eat, head to the Las Olas Riverfront area. This area has a wide selection of dining options including Big City Tavern, Yolo, Coconuts and Wild Sea just to name a few.


When you are planning a visit to Fort Lauderdale you will find lots of things to see and do. It is easy to get there and you will find plenty of places to stay and eat. You can spend an entire vacation getting to know the area. You can use this guide to help you plan the perfect trip.


More information:

http://www.granadainn.net

http://www.junglequeen.com

http://browardcenter.org/

http://www.mods.org

http://www.antiquecarmuseum.org/

Worcestershire: Places I like to visit

Worcestershire has many claims to fame but one of them is of particular interest. Geoffrey Chaucer was here working at court in the Forest of Feckenham when he was inspired to write the Canterbury Tales. You may well be inspired to write about the area after your visit here as well, I know I am. Come along as I share a few of the places I like to visit in Worcestershire.

Places to Visit:

Worcester

Allow at least one whole day to visit the city of Worcester. Begin your visit to the thousand-year-old cathedral. It is the final resting place of Bad King John, the brother of Richard the Lionhearted and son of King Henry and Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine. He is the protagonist with the Sheriff of Nottingham in the Robin Hood Legends and also the King who signed the Magna Carta. Prince Arthur, the heir apparent of King Henry VII and the brother of King Henry VIII is also buried here. 

It was his marriage to Queen Katherine of Aragon which led King Henry VIII to seek a divorce from his queen (Katherine, yes he married his brother’s wife) and when Rome refused to grant the divorce, Henry crushed papal influence in England and made himself the head of the Church, which still survives today as the Anglican Church.

Royal Worcester Porcelain

In 2001 Royal Worcester Porcelain celebrated its 250th anniversary. It used to be one of our favorite places to shop in Worcester. All that ended in 2008 when the factory closed. However, the Museum of Royal Worchester has remained open in one of the Victorian Factory Buildings since it was not affected by the closing.  The porcelain is so iconic to this area, that it is certainly worth a visit and is only a two-minute walk from the cathedral.

Worcester is a fairly large city so driving can be challenging. Have a good map in hand. Parking is available adjacent to the Royal Worcester Porcelain Museum and this is a good central location. From here you can walk to the cathedral easily and to the shopping mall.

A downtown shopping mall at Crown Gate offers all the shopping options you could possibly want. The city of Worcester has an art museum that is worth visiting.

Broadway

Allow at least half a day even more if you really want to hit the shops. As you drive out of town make a detour to the Broadway Tower. If you are only going to visit one Cotswold Village, this would be a fine choice. The cottages are the typical honey-colored stone and just driving down High Street gives you the historic English village feeling.

Shopping in Broadway is about as good as it gets anywhere in the Cotswolds. Small chain stores and plenty of typically English village type stores and a few surprises line High Street. You will find a bookstore, clothing, food and tea stores and certainly a nice selection of restaurants and cafes. Edinburgh Woolens is a chain but offers lots of good deals and excellent inventory.

Broadway is a charming village with some parking along High St. A good sized pay and display car park is located behind the Cotswold Court Mall. This is a very good walking village. Start on one side and just walk until the shops' end and then cross the street and do the same on the other side.

Many charming B&Bs and hotels, as well as self-catering units, are available in the area. This is not an inexpensive area to stay in but the charm of the entire area makes it very desirable. 

To learn more about the area check out their website.

Elegant Irish Tours

On my recent trip to Ireland we based ourselves in Dublin but since the other three people I was traveling with had never visited before, they were anxious to get out into the countryside to see some of the sights. On a previous trip, my friend Kathy and I had hired a driver for the day to take us around. Since driving can be challenging for Americans on the left side of the road, it seemed like a good option for this trip. I looked around and found Elegant Irish tours and passed the info to my friend Irene.

She contacted Elegant tours and books a full day tour to the Boyne Valley. What was included was a stop at Newgrange, The Battle of the Boyne Visitor Center, The Hill of Tara and Trim Castle. We found this to be an excellent selection of things for us to enjoy. The cost was €595 plus tip for the driver. Split four ways this seemed a good bargain. No entrance fees were included but tolls were.

Our driver picked us up at our hotel and we headed out of Dublin. Traffic on the way out was easy, however, on the way back it was horrific. It made us very glad that Jerry was dealing with it and not us. We were very comfortable in the high-end minivan with onboard wifi.

Our first stop was Newgrange. I am so glad we stopped here, it was absolutely amazing.   It was our longest stop and I estimate we spent about two hours here. The tour tickets are timed so you know when you will be taking the bus up to the tomb.

Next, we went to the Battle of the Boyne Visitor Center. It is the most significant battle of the war between English Protestant and the Catholic Irish. We spent about an hour here. We headed to the Hill of Tara where we first stopped for lunch.

We then had a short time to accomplish the climb to the top of the hill. In November the days are short in Ireland so we had to head out a little quicker than perhaps we would have liked if we wanted to see Trim Castle. We did manage to get there but the castle is closed in November for the season so we just got to see the exterior.

As it got dark we had to deal with traffic as we tried to get back to our hotel in Ballsbridge. Jerry managed it wonderfully in spite of the crazy bicyclists who seem to have no regard for their lives.

We had a fabulous day, it was without a doubt the highlight of our trip and I would highly recommend Elegant Irish Tours if you are wanting to get out of Dublin for a day or even more. We were treated like valued customers at every part of the journey from booking to drop off at our hotel.