There are many vacation spots all around the world. In the years of our marriage, we have spent vacation in many places and there are only a few vacation spots that I would consider my favorite. The favorites are Oahu, HI, Walt Disney World, Florida, and now that we no longer live there, Northwestern, PA.

Top vacation spots

The first, Oahu, HI provided a great cultural and historical, as well as relaxing and fun vacation spot for us.  We are looking forward to returning there one day.  The island contains so much history that we were up and on the go constantly for the entire seven days we were there and still did not see everything available. Our first day on the island was a catch up day, as we had traveled across the United States and spent two fun packed days in Disneyland, California before flying on to Oahu. The time difference took quite a toll on us. That day, we visited around the hotel, went to the marketplace across the street from our hotel, drove around the entire island while attempting to plan out the remaining days we would be on Oahu.

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Our second day in Oahu, we had a very early appointment for the tour of Pearl Harbor and the Arizona Memorial, followed immediately by a privately guided tour of the Battleship Missouri. On our way back from the Missouri, we happened to come across the Bedouin Temple, which is an exact replica of a temple in Japan made completely of wood and put together with wooden dowels.  The temple is located in a cemetery that represents all religions present on the islands, each with their separate area. On the third day of our stay at this vacation spot, we spent the day at the Hawaiian cultural Center. We had booked a private guide just for the two of us for the day and found it well worth the extra cost.  The Cultural center consists of seven different areas each representing the Seven Islands making up the area known as the South Pacific.  There are shows depicting the traditions and cultures of each island, a water pageant showing the pageantry of the costume and dance of each island and the day ends with a delicious and well prepared Luau and the most beautiful Fire Show to which we were treated with front row seats.

On our fourth day on the island, we visited the Dole Pineapple Plantation and gardens and took the train tour of the orchards.  We were also treated to an informative session on the growth cycle of pineapple and the proper way to cut and core a pineapple. Our fifth day, we chose to relax and drive around the island to visit the different types of beaches and see the surf in different areas.  While driving around, we came upon the famous Matsumotos Shaved Ice and Souvenir store. We had heard about Matsumotos on the Travel Channel and had hoped to get a chance to experience the shaved ice. We made it a point after that day to experience the Hawaiian Shaved Ice daily throughout our remaining time on the island. This island had proved to be one of my favorite vacation spots.

On the sixth day of our stay, we had to vacate our room by 11:00AM, but our flight to Los Angeles was not until 10:00 PM that evening.  We spent the day touring around the island, shopping in the Alamoana Shopping Center and ate for the first time ever at a Bubba Gump’s Shrimp Company. We also had the opportunity to see a little more of the beach activity and surf for the last time. This was by far the best vacation we have ever taken and I would recommend it to anyone who can possible make it possible to go. We were unable to visit any of the other islands on this trip or to climb the volcanoes, due to health issues, but that would have been another exciting time, had we chosen or been able to participate in that activity.

My second favorite among the various vacation spots out there is Northwestern, Pennsylvania.  Erie, Pennsylvania along the Lake Erie shoreline to be exact.  I was born and raised there until I was 38 years old.  At that time, my husband’s work took us into the deep south of Georgia for the remaining time of his work.  While we do not miss the snow at all, we so enjoy the summer activities in and around Erie in the summer months.  All of our family, with the exception of my in-laws who are deceased, are still living around that area including my parents who are elderly and several of our brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews.

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North East, Pennsylvania was the name of the town we were both raised in and where our family resides today. The town is a small Victorian village just about a mile south of the Lake Erie shoreline and is alive in the summer with visitors in campers, lake cottages, family coming home to visit and lunches in the park and small festivals constantly. The largest of these festivals is the Firemen’s Cherry Festival, which is the volunteer fire companies’ only fund raising event for the entire year.  It is supported wholeheartedly by the entire township and many of us who grew up there find it a great time to come home to see our friends who also live elsewhere. The week also provides the backdrop for many class reunions at the different venues around town and in Erie, which is the large city about 12 miles away.  The city of Erie also provides for much entertainment and dining venues with festivals going on all over the city and Presque Isle Park being the beachgoers haven.  We try to make this trip at least once a year as my parents are elderly and can no longer travel.  While in North East, we take in as much of the local fun as possible and enjoy being visitors or summer tourists.

One of the best vacation spots – Walt Disney World, FL

Our third and last perfect choice for a vacation spot has always been one of our favorites. Walt Disney World in Orlando, FL.  Although we started bringing our boys there before we left Pennsylvania, when it came time to retire, here we are, ten miles away in a retirement community. We still love Disney and purchase annual passes for both of us, so that we can visit as often as possible. With the annual pass, you can go in for a couple of hours and return home, not feeling like you have wasted a lot of money for half a day.  We try to visit at least once a week, although other issues have often taken our time since retiring and we find that we are spending less and less time in the Parks each year.

Our favorite park is The Magic Kingdom because it IS Magic!  The lights, music, characters all brought to life and the smiles on everyone’s faces make the entire day worthwhile for anyone. There are three other ‘worlds’ at Walt Disney world and each is unique in itself.  Epcot is more of a science lesson type park and the back half is a true cultural experience with several countries being represented with displays, shows merchandise and restaurants specializing in their country’s cuisine. Hollywood Studios is a park about making movies and has anything to offer from the most docile children’s attraction to the Rockin Roller Coaster featuring the music of Aerosmith.

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Disney’s Animal Kingdom is not a zoo, but a sanctuary where animals from five different lands live in their own environment and each land presents informative shows and themed attractions about their countries.  The Tree of Life is a piece of artwork created to display animal life from all areas of the world and sports a cute little show underneath in an air conditioned theater called ‘It’s a Bug’s Life’. Last but certainly not least, for some relaxation and nightlife while visiting Disney World, give Downtown Disney a try.  There is transportation by boat or bus from most resorts and you can drive your car in and park for free in any of the Downtown Disney Parking Areas.  WARNING:  the parking areas fill up quickly, so take the transportation offered whenever possible.  There is shopping offered with delivery right to your hotel or property and night clubs for adults to enjoy music and their style of dancing, as well as a Cinema 24 showing all the latest releases and offering dine-in seat service dining in some theaters. Walt Disney World in Florida is definitely a place for the whole family and it will never be taken off of our list of favorite vacation spots.

Have you experienced one of those worry free vacations? The key to a worry free vacation is good planning – with lodging as the most important part of that plan. Determining where your family will sleep every night will remove most of the stress and worry from the vacation. One of the worst experiences associated with any travel is being dead-tired and not having a place to stay. Frantically calling one motel after another to only find that all the rooms are booked can be a terrible experience. Today, even a camping vacation needs adequate planning. Most camp grounds, even those in state parks or federally maintained forests, almost require a reservation during the peak summer months. The days when you could just throw your stuff in a car and head down the road belong to your father’s generation. Today, a vacation must be well organized to be worry-free and enjoyable.

Are worry free vacations overrated?

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You might think that a worry-free vacation is merely a state of mind. Just leave your worries at home and head down the road without a care in the world. But the transition is not possible for most workers. After a year of daily on-the-job stress, one cannot simply walk out the door with an entirely new mind set. One of the aspects of a job that produces stress is the unexpected challenges that blindside any worker on the typical day. Every work day, something appears out of the blue to get in the way of reaching the day’s goals or quota. The best prescription for a rejuvenating vacation is to remove all the ugly surprises by adequate planning.

Don’t forget to consider the weather when you plan your vacation. A trip to the Caribbean during hurricane season or driving through the Rocky Mountains in the dead of winter may be unwise. A northerner may be uncomfortable in the heat of the Florida or Arizona sun; while a southerner would freeze in a Chicago winter. Some sections of the country have a tornado season, while other parts have a rainy season. Reduce the stress of your trip by grounding yourself in the local weather for the areas of the country in which you plan to travel.

If traveling by automobile, mobile home, camper, or other vehicle, take the time to ensure that your transportation is in the top mechanical shape. A trip to your mechanic or some do-it-yourself maintenance can remove a great deal of worry from your trip. Have some kind of roadside-assistance available to you. Most accident policies have a towing benefit available for a very negligible charge. There are various organizations that can be joined to obtain emergency roadside assistance.

The Internet provides up-to-the-minute road conditions for almost every destination in the United States and Canada. The Department of Transportation (DOT) of the states and provinces maintain a web site, on which construction projects and other road delays are listed. Consulting these resources while planning your vacation can save a great deal of travel time and lower the stress of the trip.

If you are traveling by air, make certain you know all the regulations for the particular carrier you have chosen. Each airline has its own rules concerning checked-in and carry-on baggage, and these rules always seem to be in a state of flux. Also be aware of any changes in security measures from the TSA. For short trips, one should consider rail or bus options. Because of the security delays at airports, Amtrak may provide faster service for short distances.

Public transportation can help you navigate a big city like Chicago or New York. Use the transit’s web site to learn how to use the system in advance of your trip. Leaving your car in an outlying park-n-ride and taking rapid transit into the heart of the city may actually save time, money and frustration. A single-day or a few-day pass can be purchased ahead of time for many systems. Using public transportation is not only for the European vacation, public transportation makes sense in many American cities.

Festivals and special events along the vacation travel route must be considered. With the Internet, the upcoming events even in a small town can be determined in advance of the trip. These events can provide entertainment for both the adults and the children. However, these same events draw many tourists, which compete for the best places to stay overnight. If you plan on staying in a town while it is staging one of its annual events, be sure to make your reservations sufficiently in advance.

Worry free vacations entail planning for the unexpected

Everyone in the family, over the age of six, probably already has a cell or smart phone. Make certain that each family member has their cell phone with them each and every morning. If a phone is lost, replace it immediately. Have a relative who is not on the vacation be an emergency contact. That relative’s cell number should be in each vacation phone’s address book.

Bad weather is the most likely unexpected event to ruin a vacation. Foul weather can strand a person in an airport or on the road. Always allow at least a couple of extra days to get home. Don’t vacation until the very last minute. Always carry a small amount of cash. Natural disasters often knock out electricity making it impossible to use either cash machines or credit cards at merchants. Carry at least fifty dollars, and possibly a hundred dollars, in cash. This amount should be split among the various family members.

If you are going to be traveling for an extended amount of time, have a trusted neighbor watch your house. You can have the Postal Service hold your mail. If you’re still having a newspaper delivered, have it held during your vacation. In some regions of the country, the police will check your house while you are away.

Every city or region has its tourist attractions. However, some of the most enjoyable and relaxing locations are out-of-the-way places. Find historical and cultural locations to visit on your vacation. Museums, small and large, can be an unexpected delight. A seldom used trail or ghost town can become an adventure.

Your vacation can be worry-free. All it takes is a little planning and preparation. Make yourself aware of the weather and travel conditions. It is helpful to plan for minor emergencies. Know where you are going to sleep every night. Come home from your vacation a day early.

So, how about you? What are your thoughts on worry free vacations?

Of all the cities in the United States, it is possible that New York City is the greatest. The five boroughs, boasting roughly ten million inhabitants spans a vast array of cultures and history. New York City is one of my favorite cities in the world because wherever you turn, there is infinite variety of activities, language, culture and cuisine. Visiting New York for a day is like traveling to Paris for the day, but it’s worth the time to see what the city has to offer.

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New York Travel Tips: Think about using the subway system to get around. Taxis are great, but they can add up. While figuring out, the New York subway is kind of like trying to decode a map written in Hindi in the dark, it’s possible to figure it out, and as long as you’re clear about where you need to go, many New Yorkers will be happy to answer a quick question. Metro Cards work for either the subway or the bus system, and it’s definitely less expensive than a taxi. However, if your destinations are relatively close together, I would suggest walking, particularly if you’re in Manhattan, which has very interesting and beautiful buildings and unique stores.

Works of Art: I love the museums. One of my first stops would be the Museum of Modern Art, located on 53rd Street, between Fifth and Sixth streets. The Museum of Modern Art may very well house the greatest collection of modern art in the world, covering every variety of media. The MOMA also houses paintings by Van Gogh, Picasso, Cezanne, Matisse, Monet, Dali, Mondrian and Warhol, in addition to many, many others. The Metropolitan Museum of Art is another must-see, featuring exhibitions of fashion, textiles, paintings and art from every era and culture. The exquisite collection is well worth the price of admission. The Met is on Fifth Avenue. It’s not impossible to get there on foot from the MOMA, but it is a bit of a walk. However, the Whitney Museum of American Art is in between the two, providing a nice pause.

Be Amazed: The American Museum of Natural History, located on 79th Street, Central Park West is a great stop for anyone of any age, although kids are often thrilled by the exhibits. The museum has a large exhibit of dinosaur bones and a number of really cool exhibits on human history, human biology and the universe. While you’re seeking out the natural world in New York, consider visiting the Central Park Zoo, located across Central Park from the Museum of Natural History. The Zoo has a red panda, polar bears, sea lions, monkeys, and snow leopards – and that’s just in the mammal section. It also offers movie entertainment. Taking a break between the museum and the Zoo to enjoy Central Park is another great idea. Enjoying a picnic in one of the most famous parks in the world is a great way to spend your lunch time.

Consider visiting Chinatown and Little Italy. To start with, they’re quite near each other, making it an easy trip. Not only that, you’re in for some of the greatest Italian or Chinese food of your life. The shopping in Chinatown is intriguing, giving you opportunities to buy unique jewelry, clothing, bags and snacks, while experiencing the closest thing to Beijing you can get in the United States. Little Italy has phenomenal restaurants and great architecture. Not only that, you’re also near SoHo, NoLita and the Bowery, three unique districts of Manhattan, each with their own flavors, styles and cultures. For anyone who enjoys wandering, this is the area of New York for you.

The Classics: There are some places in New York that are iconic and classic. The Empire State Building, located on 5th Avenue, is one of them. From the moment King Kong climbed it up, it has represented New York. It’s also near the New York Public Library, which is a great place to take your favorite book-lover, although you might not get them to leave. The other original New York must-sees are the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, located in the bay. You can take a ferry from the tip of Manhattan to both islands. Ellis Island is an interesting stop for anyone curious about their heritage and the Statue of Liberty is the other classic symbol of New York City. If you’re doing the classics, I would suggest a trip through Central Park and a stop in Times Square to enjoy the lights.

The Theater: New York has got some of the greatest theater in the world. Enjoy it. Getting really great tickets to some of the hottest shows may be difficult, but worth it if you are planning your trip in advance. I would recommend Avenue Q, Rent, Wicked and The Lion King as safe bets for entertainment, but keep an eye out for a show that looks like it might hit the spot. Carnegie Hall, located on 56th and Seventh, near Central Park is a great stop as well. There are countless off-Broadway theaters in New York, so your chances of seeing a great production on your trip are very high. Be adventurous.

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Shopping, shopping and more: New York’s other reputation? Fashion. Take a trip down to Century 21, located near Ground Zero on Cortland Street. There, you can find a huge selection of marked-down designer pieces or unique purchases. Heading back towards the heart of Manhattan, stop in the Garment District. Macy’s and Herald Square are located on 34th street and you can do some shopping in the iconic department store before moving on to 38th street and the center of the Garment District. In that area, you will find some of the most interesting and unique clothing stores in the city, as well as a huge selection of fabric stores (many of which are used by well-known fashion designers.) It’s a pricey plan for the day, but if you’ve been saving, NYC is the place to splurge.

There is more to do in New York than is possible to list. Restaurants, walking tours…I didn’t even get into the other 4 boroughs. Whatever you choose to do, make New York your own. Enjoy the moments you spend on the streets, trying to capture the unique flavor and rhythm of one of the most unique cities in the world.

The perfect winter trip for me would consist of flying to Florida and roasting on the beach for a week. You can post pictures of the ocean while friends back home are posting pictures of their car covered in snow. This is just the way my mind is programmed. I mean, I have lived in the mid-west for over 20 years now and the winters are truly brutal. I remember one day in college, I was walking through campus on one of the coldest days of the year and I just started crying, but it was like I almost couldn’t cry because my face was so frozen!

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But enough of my sob story and how I am a baby when it comes to cold weather. Even someone like me has to admit that there are some great winter trips you can take that really do incorporate the winter season. Two of my all-time favorite trips growing up were in the winter. The first was New York City. If you have never been there, by all means, go! The ideal time, of course, is during Christmas or New Year’s Eve! Goodness, it is so pretty. Times Square is all lit up and they have the big ball there that drops at midnight on New Year’s Eve.

My other favorite thing about New York City is Rockefeller Center. They have a huge Christmas tree there that is decorated with ornaments and lights. It is gorgeous, indeed. Also, the Rockefeller ice skating rink is outside! It is so much fun to get bundled up and go skating there while the cool breeze hits your face. There is no other feeling than being in New York City for Christmas. I’m not even kidding!

My other favorite winter trip was going to Colorado. We went to visit a relative that builds log cabins there. He took us on a tour of all the log cabins he has built, and it was amazing! People actually live in log cabins there. And we also visited Colorado Springs which is a totally fun experience. But the most fun of all was my first snow skiing adventure. It was so scary but so much fun. The whole time I kept having ‘Dumb and Dumber’ flashbacks. I was tempted to stick my tongue to the pole on the ski lift…but no worries, I held myself back.

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But really, those are two of my favorite trips. So when the winter comes, the first thing you want to do is pack your bags and head south (believe me, I get the urge every winter). But if you have that mentality, you really will miss out on some great aspects of the winter season. It is so pretty outside, just go drive around and look at your neighbor’s Christmas lights, or if you have more money and time then plan one of the trips I just told you about.

For the young, the old, the young at heart, or just someone looking for a good old fashioned get away from the everyday norm, Disneyland is for you. Disneyland is for everyone! If you have never been to Disneyland before, there is no better time than the present; however, there are some little tips that you might be interested in, just to make your trip a little more enjoyable.

First off, make sure you are spending enough time there. So many people think they can just breeze in and breeze out of Disneyland in a day or two. To really enjoy the full experience of Disneyland, you should take at least five days there. A week is better; but if you are not a really big Disney fan, five days is enough. Without the proper amount of time spent in the parks, you may not be able to ride all the rides you want to, see all the shows you would like to see, or even just really fully experience the essence of Disneyland.

Time is also essential when it comes to getting onto rides. One thing that everyone should know about is the Fast Pass. These little tickets mean that you don’t have to stand in ridiculously long lines just to enjoy their rides. All you have to do is go up to the kiosks, scan your park entrance ticket and another ticket will come out with a time on it for when you will need to come back and enjoy the ride. Each ride has a separate line for everyone with a time stamped ticket. This line moves quickly because you get to skip the real line and get right on the ride of your choice. At times, you can make a circle around the park collecting tickets and then circle back around the park getting on and off rides.  It makes getting to all the rides of your choice really easy and a much more enjoyable time for all.

Another thing to take into consideration is that there are now two parks at the Disneyland in Anaheim, California.  There is the original park with ‘It’s a Small World’ in it and now its new neighbor park, also a part of Disney, Disney California.  Disney California is themed entirely on all the best parts of California and it adds in all of our favorite Disney characters.  Everyone should experience California the Disney way!  You can take a walk behind the scenes of Hollywood, take a walk through what it would be like in A Bug’s Life, and even soar through the rest of California in a 3-D experience. Their biggest roller coaster, California Screamin’, is right on their own pier.  They even have boardwalk games and some of the best food around.  There’s more than one way to enjoy California and everyone should try as many ways as possible here!

Speaking of food – one more way to make things easier on you, to enjoy some of the best food you’ve ever had and even save some money is to purchase a meal plan while you’re there. Disneyland has some of the world’s finest culinary artists and they want to share their love for food with you.  They also have some of the best places to have fun while you’re eating. One of the best places for this is at a character breakfast.  It’s done buffet style and they have all kinds of Disney characters coming through the restaurant while you enjoy. They even have a fun little musical show.  In addition to the great food and all the fun, they even offer you the chance to get your picture taken with the characters.  The meal plans they offer range from three square meals a day to meals and snacks and unlimited beverages.  Using this plan will allow you to also eat at one of their most famous restaurants, the Blue Bayou.  It’s right off of the Pirates of Caribbean.  You can even order a dessert that has a pirate ship made out of chocolate.  Super nice and everyone should enjoy all the delicious delicacies Disneyland has to offer.

One more way to save time, while getting to the fun stuff earlier, is to stay at one of the amazing Disney hotels. Their resorts are located right in the parks.  By staying at one of their beautiful resorts, you are also given special privileges. You can enter the parks earlier, take trams directly from your hotel to the park entrances, and from some of the hotels, you can actually walk right from the entrance straight into the park.  Their hotels also have play areas for the kids, Disney movie time, and some of the most amazing pools anyone has ever seen.  The best part of them is that these hotels really set the theme for you and put you in the Disney mood! With everything decorated in a Disney theme, you just can’t help but feel the wonderful elation of being young again. You don’t have to pay for parking, you don’t have to wait in line to take the tram to the park gates, and you don’t even have to carry your packages around with you.  As a hotel guest, anything you purchase can either be sent directly to your room or even shipped to your home.  It’s just another one of the many perks of staying at a Disney hotel.  One of the best things someone can do is stay at one of their hotels.

With so much to see and do, it’s never a bad idea to take some suggestions on how to enjoy your trip to Disneyland.  There are many ways to enjoy Disneyland, so many options, and so many choices to make.  Everyone should make the choices that are right for them, but one more suggestion is to look up as many suggestions as you can so that you will know all of your options.  Choose carefully and you will have the best time of your life making memories that will last the rest of your life!