Take Nashville Tours With Your Family in Nashville!
January 20, 2011 by admin
Filed under Nashville TN
Head down to Nashville for a full exploration of the city’s culture, arts, history and music. You can take several tours that are specifically geared toward visitors’ interests, whether it’s focused on the Nashville music stars and legends that live here or a look inside some of Nashville’s most famous plantations. Make sure you bring your entire family to share in the joys of your vacation. The city has several restaurants and attractions of all kinds downtown, so be sure to travel slowly as you discover new opportunities in this great city. For some great activity starters, you can book the following tours.
For visitors who are looking to view the quaint homes and large mansions of some of the most famous music legends in the country, this tour is a must-see. The tour will travel past gorgeous neighborhoods where the stars spend their time when they’re not out touring or making records. You’ll travel on a 25 passenger motorcoach, and you’ll see plenty of historical landmarks native to Nashville along the way. Take a look at the legendary homes of singers and musicians like Ronnie Milsap, Dolly Parton, Martina McBride and Alan Jackson.
After viewing the high life of the country stars, you can take a comprehensive tour of the entire city. Head out on a large bus and visit exciting places and landmarks like Fort Nashborough, the Parthenon, and the Tennessee State Capitol. The tour offers you information that you won’t get any other way and you can take pictures of the city sights as you travel. Your tour finale takes place in the Legends Corner.
Finally, history buffs can rejoice in an incredible tour of the area’s plantations and homes with this exciting tour. Stop by the Belle Meade Plantation and learn about the 10 rustic outbuildings and the old slave cabin dating back to 1832. You’ll be amazed at the cleanliness and perfect condition this old plantation is in. Afterward, you may visit the Hermitage, which dates back to 1837. This building has its original wallpaper, old furniture and many of the materials that belonged to Andrew Jackson.
San Antonio Saddles up for the Annual Stock Show and Rodeo!
The annual San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo is full of great music artists and exciting rodeo events everyday from February 3 – 20. Look for your favorite artists performing live, including Clay Walker, Gary Allan, Miranda Lambert and Josh Turner. This enormous indoor rodeo event incorporates music along with exciting cattle auctions, horse shows, bull riding and calf roping. The rodeo is bigger and better than any other in the region, so you won’t want to miss this chance to attend! Reserve your San Antonio lodging early.
In between your rodeo and music entertainment, you’ll want to take the opportunity to come down to the Enchanted Springs Ranch, which provides a rustic, country atmosphere for both kids and adults. View this enormous 86 acre ranch and head across the dirt roads in your wagon transportation driven by an old tractor. You’ll be able to see many of the western animals that make this area their home, such as buffalo, Texas Longhorn and beautiful horses.
In addition to your fun tour of the ranch, you can also participate in the Old West Summer Chuck Wagon Ride and Dinner Show, incorporating a fun ride across the prairie as well as an old fashioned, home-cooked cowboy meal! You’ll enjoy everything the ranchers ate as they drove cattle across miles of wilderness, including smoked barbecue of brisket, sizzling sausage, and delicious coleslaw. If you’d like to participate in both of these events, you can combine them for one great price.
Visit Historical Sights in Mount Rushmore For 2011!
Don’t miss out on the displays and antiques that surround the Mount Rushmore area this January. Mount Rushmore is known for its history with both manmade and natural relics, and you can see it all by starting your first vacation in 2011. Bring along a camera to snap pictures of incredible sights, whether you’re looking at the sculpted rock of Mount Rushmore or a metallic automobile from the early 1900′s. Check out some of the following attractions while you’re here.
Pioneer Auto Show and Antique Town – Murdo, SD
View 250 incredible old cars, motorcycles and farm equipment vehicles. This reconstructed area holds vehicles that the rich and famous have driven, including Elvis Presley’s Harley Davidson. You and your family will be able to stroll through an old town that is filled with great places to go, including an old general store that has everything from ancient fossil collections to antique toys for the kids. While you’re here, don’t forget to visit some of the other exhibits such as 1909 Ford and 1956 Bel Air Chevrolet.
The Journey Museum – Rapid City
This museum is great for adults and kids alike, featuring a wide range of exhibits and attractions that all can enjoy. Check out the most ancient collections, such as the Museum of Geology, which provides information and theories on how the Black Hills were originally formed billions of year ago. Also, if you’re into the history of culture and tribes, the museum has several collections that provide information on pioneers, the Sioux Indians and miners.
Mammoth Site of Hot Springs – Hot Springs, SD
Before you leave, don’t forget to receive your last dose of history at the Mammoth Site, featuring displays of ancient mammoths and information on how the mammoths lived. The research facility provides a 30 minute guided tour and video presentation along with the exhibits, and if you want to see it all, you’ll want to visit each exhibit consecutively to make sure you have time for views of the working paleontological site. This site gives displays and shows Ice Age fossils that were originally found there.
Las Vegas Celebrates Festive Chinese New Year!
The Lunar New Year will be in conjunction with the Las Vegas Chinese New Year, and you’re welcome to celebrate this festival with the rest of the crowds on February third. The main festivities surrounding this event will be inside Chinatown Plaza, where you can take your pick of delicious Asian cuisine, with many great concessions and diners open to provide you a full meal. You’ll want to explore the area as there will be several demonstrations of martial arts, as well as traditional folk dancing and the legendary dragon dance. If you want to experience the New Year’s festivities all over again through this event, make sure you book a room in your Las Vegas lodging.
Don’t forget about other fun adventures while you’re in Las Vegas as well. If you want to discover some of the city’s top landmarks and highlights in a short amount of time, the Las Vegas Explorer Pass is the perfect option. You can choose two attractions from a large list of great places to dine and visit, including the Liberace Museum, Hoover Dam Tour, Madame Tussauds, the Springs Preserve or the Vegas Mob Tour. If you purchase a VIP ticket, you’ll also receive savings on Dream Car Rentals, the Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters tour and Miracle Mile Shops.
Your fun is just beginning in this incredible city, and if you’re not sure which restaurants to choose while you’re out, you can pick up a Las Vegas Meal Ticket to cover some of your meals for one day up to five days. The restaurants are some of the highest rated in the city, and you won’t be disappointed, no matter where you choose to eat. The restaurant may offer complimentary breakfast, lunch, dinner, or a combination of all three.
Grab Your Camera for the Nashville Antiques and Garden Show!
January 13, 2011 by admin
Filed under Nashville TN
More than 150 antique-selling booths and lush gardens await you during your trip to Nashville on February 11-13 in accordance with the Antiques and Garden Show of Nashville. The show blends gardens and antiques, two decorative elements that add that perfect touch to your home. Garden and antique enthusiasts from all over the nation come to attend this great show, and you’ll want to be part of it. The show includes lectures from well-known experts in the horticulture field as well as landscaped gardens with some of the most intricate and imaginative designs possible. If you would like to attend this event, you can reserve your Nashville hotel early.
In addition to the artistic decorative antiques you’ll view, you can also find additional historic sights at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, featuring the memorabilia of legendary country musicians – many that made their start in the Nashville area. Start off your museum tour with a look at the original exterior of the museum, with an overarching peak stretching into the sky. The museum has many exhibits and records that capture the songs of your favorite artists.
After touring Nashville’s most famous museum, you’ll be in the mood to see the legendary Ryman which has housed many famous music artists’ concerts over the years. Take the Ryman Self-Guided Tour and receive a full dose of the building’s history, starting with an informative film presentation by Trisha Yearwood. Once you’ve watched the film, you’ll head over to the stage to get your picture taken under the lights and up to the balcony to discover pictures and other memorabilia housed in the area.
DC Celebrates Artistic Sugarloaf Crafts Festival in January!
Right outside of Washington DC in Chantilly, Virginia, over 250 craftsmen and artists will be promoting a vast variety of their works in the Sugarloaf Crafts Festival. Receiving national acclaim, the festival will take place on January 28 – 30 and give spectators a chance to browse through colorful pottery, intricate sculptures, shining glass and all kinds of home decoration. Along with admiring the artisanship at each booth, visitors who attend will also receive the chance to participate in interactive demonstrations of wheel pottery, metal spinning and wood turning. To attend this artistic event, you’ll want to make sure you book your DC hotel early on for reservations.
There are several other opportunities you’ll want to try out while you’re in Washington DC as well, including Tyson’s Corner Shopping Tours, which provide four shopping options for city visitors to choose from. The shopping center is one of the largest in the DC metro area, and it boasts many great stores, including the Modern Day Spa, Shaw Jewelers, Apple, Build-a-Bear Workshop and Banana Republic. The mall has several restaurants and diners, so you’re welcome to grab a bite to eat in between your shopping tour.
For a full and complete education experience of the Washington DC area, visitors can travel along the city streets on the DC in a Day Tour, which covers all of the major DC landmarks. You’ll have several stops on your tour including the White House Visitor’s Center, U.S. Capitol and the World War II Memorial. Many other famous landmarks will be seen directly from your window, so you’ll want to bring your camera to capture each one. Learn all about the city’s history in the length of the tour, nine hours.
San Antonio Boat and RV Show Attracts Families!
Marine enthusiasts will be happy to discover an enormous array of all kinds of boats, motor homes and travel trailers at the 2011 San Antonio Boat and RV Show, taking place at the end of January, from the 27 – 30. Exhibitors and audiences will gather in San Antonio’s enormous Alamodome, one of the only places big enough to contain the array of boats. On January 29, visitors will get the chance to sign up for a Boater Education Course which provides information on the many classes of ships, from bay to wakeboard to center console fishing boats. Come to San Antonio with your family for this fun event, and book a hotel for all three nights to experience it from the first day to the finale.
For another water-oriented attraction, you’re welcome to participate in Thompson’s Fishing Guide Service to explore several lakes and learn the true art of fishing from an expert. Thompson has fished for years, and he knows these Central Texas lakes like the back of his hand. Cruise along in his 17-foot boat and find out where to cast for the biggest and baddest fish. Your tour will include all of the standard fishing equipment such as lures and rods, and you’ll also be given a few snacks like soda and peanuts.
After a few days of attractions, you can sit back with a leisurely time at the Imax Theatre San Antonio and watch one of the incredible shows that Imax puts on each year. The theater is set up with six enormous screens that include a full surround sound and clear, crisp contrast from the projector system. Your view won’t be blocked, either, as each theater is equipped with comfortable stadium style seating.
Museum Extends Invitation for Branson Vietnam Peace Accord Ceremony
January 6, 2011 by admin
Filed under Branson MO
On January 28 at the Branson Veteran Memorial Museum, many will be in attendance to view the Vietnam Peace Accord Candlelight Ceremony to commemorate their Vietnam veteran comrades who served in war. The museum is easily accessible just off of Branson’s Highway 76, and the event will highlight parts of the Vietnam War along with pictures and historical information for attendees to read and learn. The event marks the day after the war officially ended. Those who are planning on attending or who will be in Branson toward the end of January are welcome to book one of Branson’s hotels.
If you’d like to see more of America’s past, you’re welcome to check out more of Branson’s great museums, including Titanic – The Legend Continues, which puts you in the role of a passenger entering one of America’s most famous ships. You’ll walk through many of the recreated exhibits onboard this half-scale replica of the Titanic, including the Memorial Room and the Grand Staircase. The museum is loaded with more than 400 artifacts from the passengers who originally boarded the ship in 1912.
For visitors who are taking the whole family to Branson, they’ll want to bring the kids to the World’s Largest Toy Museum, housing every kind of toy imaginable dating from the present time back to the 1800′s. View all kinds of toy trains, bicycles, plans and small wind-ups. Some of the toys may even remind you of your childhood, and you’ll be able to tell your children or grandchildren all about some of the toys you see.
Last Chance for Branson Shows in 2010
December 23, 2010 by admin
Filed under Branson MO
If you’ve been looking forward to a Branson vacation filled with all of Branson’s hottest shows, your last chance for 2010 is quickly approaching. Many of the shows have finished for the season and only a select few will continue to be available until the end of December. After December, you won’t have a chance to see many of these shows again until March in 2011. Check out the following shows.
The Showboat Branson Belle is not only going to be unavailable after December 30th, but it will also not be putting on the same show next year with the Showstoppers! and Todd Oliver. In 2011, the performances and dining experience will be entirely different, so if you’ve loved the Showstoppers! in the past and want to see them one last time, you need to do it soon. Make sure that you don’t miss your chance to say farewell to these phenomenal performers and their traditional show!
Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede Dinner and Show
Another show you won’t want to miss for 2010 is Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede Dinner and Show. This outstanding dinner and show combination has enchanted children and adults for years and is considered one of Branson’s top shows. The friendly rivalry between the two sides of the theater, the singing and dancing, and a Southern-style meal are the perfect way to spend an evening in Branson.
Of course, you won’t want to miss the Jim Stafford Show either. Jim Stafford’s comedic antics always have his audience laughing and entertained, so his final shows for 2010 aren’t to be missed. He even provides a unique, 3-D virtual thrill ride right in his theater, so guests will be enjoying an experience they won’t get anywhere else. His show is one that everyone who visits should see this year!
First Night of Alexandria Event Celebrates 2011 in Washington DC!
If you can’t make it to Washington DC for Christmas, don’t worry, the city is still packed with celebrations for New Year’s Eve. Take the family to DC this year to see all the festivities on December 31, including the exciting First Night Alexandria, celebrating New Year’s Eve in the Washington DC Metropolitan area. The event packs in fireworks, kids’ activities and delicious cuisine from all kinds of vendors. Dress warm and watch the fireworks as the nation’s capital rings in 2011! Before planning all your activities, be sure to reserve your Washington DC hotel, so that you’ll have a room waiting for you when you get there.
In addition to this stupendous New Year’s event, you can dive into the history of DC with a historic tour of Mount Vernon and Old Alexandria. As you’re traveling along with your motorcoach, you’ll be able to stop at historical places like the Mount Vernon House and the Christ Church. You’ll even be able to tour the inside of the Christ Church as long as a service is not in session. You’ll see other extraordinary pieces of architecture as well from your coach, including Old Town Alexandria, Fort Washington and the Pentagon.
Sign up for another exciting educational journey with the Monticello – Thomas Jefferson Country Tour, which takes you to many of the places where our third president resided. You’ll see sights such as the splendid University of Virginia, Michie Tavern, and Monticello, a house that sits in a scenic area of the mountains. Learn the many skills and talents that former president Thomas Jefferson had, such as architecture, artistry, craftsmanship, music and eloquent writing.
