Day 2 - Sea World / Willow Tree Cafe

We arrived at Sea World about 1/2 hour after the gates opened. The weather couldn't have been more perfect. After a few pictures quick pictures we went through the Dolphin Nursery and Shark Encounter. Then we went for The Kracken! One of two roller coasters. We had to wait a few minutes for the ride to open, but it was worth the wait. It was a lot of fun, as Donovin said "that was AWESOME!". After the Kracken we got a little wet on the Journey to Atlantis ride. We headed over to the other side of the park to wait for One Ocean, the killer whale show to start. It was a beautiful show and one not to miss. We sat in the splash zone, Donovin and I were pretty wet, but somehow the splashes missed Dominic and Bert! The virtual ride Wild Artic was next, the boys and I found that fun, Bert felt a little motion sick on that one. Next, the Sea Lion and Otter Show which is a hoot. Get there early and watch the Mime greeting everyone as they arrive, he had us all laughing! Dominic and I decided to try the Manta roller coaster. It lays you flat facing the ground as if you were a Manta Ray. We only rode it once! The G-forces were pretty extreme, and at the end you stayed laying face down until you were fully into the station, even when the ride wasn't moving. I was ready to get out of that position, it was not comfortable. Once was enough and we were satisfied that we said we went on it. Since there was no line at the Kraken, Dom and I decided to ride it again. And then again. It was getting late at this point, and we still had a dinner to get to. So we wrapped up our day, saying goodbye to the alligators and headed back to the hotel to rest up and clean up for our dinner later that night.

Dinner at the Willow Tree Cafe in Sanford, Florida. We were invited there by an old friend of Bert's who he was in the Air Force with while stationed in Germany. Rusty, along with his wife Martha and their friend Wayne recommended this place as it served authentic German food and beer, which was the beer they drank when they were stationed in Germany. Let me say this was a WONDERFUL time. We all loved it, including Dominic and Donovin! Dominic ordered wienerschnitzel, just so he could say he did but he ended up liking it. I did try his and it was very good. All the food that we had was fabulous, I just don't remember what it all was! But really, beside the great company we had, the entertainment was what topped the night. I recommend anyone visiting the area go to the Willow Tree Cafe, Thur - Sun, if just for the entertainment. There was a "two-man-band" and they sang German songs and played a variety of instruments the entire time we were there (about 4 hours). This was such a wonderful night, and made it to the top of our enjoyment list. The photos and videos don't do the night justice, but again, if your in the area you should really try to make it to the Willow Tree Cafe!

DAY 1 - Florida Vacation May 21-29, 2011

Day 1: After months of planning the day finally arrived. Our flight from Portland to Orland was nonstop on AirTran, which arrived 30 minutes early! Unfortunately we used that extra time going back and forth trying to get our rental car. Apparently you have to stop at the counter inside the terminal before going to the rental car area, although all signs pointed out to the car area. Not a big deal, and at least we did that during "extra" time and not on "vacation" time! So on to the Nickelodeon Hotel.



Not a bad hotel, very clean and the staff was great. But we felt that we were not there enough to enjoy it, so we probably would not stay there again. If you have young children who need down time, it would be great. We forced ourselves to use the pool because we paid to stay there. That night we ventured out to Walmart to buy snacks and such. To put that trip in one word, NIGHTMARE! It was the craziest Walmart I have ever been in. Throw in the fact that I had been up early, traveled all day and was now in 90 degree heat after leaving 50 degrees and rain for weeks. It had to be done, but I couldn't wait to get out of that store.

Niagara Falls 2010

It was a hard decision as to where to stay in Niagara. I did a lot of research for this trip, and went back and forth as to which side to stay on. Most research led me to the Canadian side. It had more to do, better view, etc. I decided to split the trip, a few days on the American side (I also wanted to help our economy in my own small way) and a few days on the Canadian side, and I have to say it worked out perfectly. I LOVED the American side and when/if we go again, I would spend more time there. There wasn't a lot of nightlife or gimmik shops, it was more of a park setting, which is what Niagara Falls is, a state park. The grounds were beautiful, and you got closer to the falls then on the Canadian side. On the Canadian side, there was a lot more people, crowds, noise, lights, shops and it was a lot more expensive! We were surprised as the cost of food/beverages, which was about double, then on the American side. If we were not staying at the Great Wolf Lodge, I would have been miserable. It was a little ways out from the falls, which also meant it was away from all the distractions. And all those distractions took away from the beauty of the falls. My two cents, the American side, hands down, the best side for visiting Niagara Falls. We traveled by car from Portland to Niagara Falls, staying about half way at Howe Caverns, NY. Where we visited, of course, Howe Caverns. Here are just a few pics, the first one are the boys outside of the entrance of Howe Caverns, the Howe Caverns motocycle built for them by Orange County Choppers. OCC actually made two of them for the owner of Howe Caverns, one on display and one that he rides. Then the boys down in the cavern. It was really a neat place to visit, there was a small river that ran underground and we actually took a boat ride through part of the cavern.

This is the view outside of our hotel room on the American side of Niagara Falls. We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express, and I would stay there again. Wonderful staff, walking distance to everything, indoor pool. It had everything we needed.

American side Niagara Falls Park

The Aquarium......can you tell my guys have a thing with sharks!

Cave of the winds, this was a blast (no pun intended)! Maid of the Mist, awesome fun!

We met this band at the Hard Rock Cafe, they were the winners of a local radio contest, which sent them over to London to open for Paul McCartney. I can't remember the bands name, I'll have to ask my kids?

Onto the Canadian side, we stayed at the Great Wolf Lodge in Ontario. I absolutely love Great Wolf Lodge. We have only stayed at two, here and Williamsburg, VA, and loved them both. Very clean all over, rooms are nice, staff is very friendly. And the water park is quite large, you don't feel too crowded.

Canadian side of the falls....

These pictures were taken from a stop on our way to the Canadian side.

The family portrait.

Oh yeah, my new camera!

Well, I've actually spent some money this weekend and ordered a new camera! And as hard as it was to buy it (I HATE spending money on something just for me) and going a little over budget (ok, it was a lot over budget, but don't tell my hubby! I'll make up the difference using grocery coupons so send some my way!) I am very excited to get it! I've been tracking it and right now it is somewhere in Ohio. It is a Nikon, my favorite brand. I received a Nikon from my parents when we got married. It was a point and shoot, and took film. I took the most wonderful memories with that camera. Most of my childrens pics, my favorite pics, were with that camera. I was devistated when it couldn't be fixed for the last time. After the Nikon, I've had other point and shoot digital cameras like Canon and Kodak, but I never felt as good about those pictures as I ever did over that Nikon. Although the Canon did me well on the Road Trip from Vegas to Colorado a few years back. But this time I went all out and bought a Nikon D3100 digital SLR camera! And I will be determened to use it to it's full potential and might even take a class or two. I can't wait, so be prepared to see some pictures soon. The tracking says it should be here by Friday!

Fish Extender

I am still working on our Disney Fish Extenders (FE). This will be our first time joining in. A Fish Extender is a "mailbox" type item that you hang outside of your stateroom. They are usually homemade and are called Fish Extenders because that is what they are hung on, a fish. (Well, a fish on the Magic and Wonder, I think a seahorse on the Dream). On the Disboard, you join in on the FE with fellow cruisers that are on the same cruise as you. I've heard that on some FE's you get the list of all that are joined in and you can give to whoever you want to how many you want. There could be quite a few on this list. On our cruise, a wonderful person has offered to provide us all with a spread sheet of the names/ages/sex of those joined, and a date we exchange and it is with only one other cabin, so you don't have to bring a lot of FE items. They can be big or small, store bought or home made, whatever you feel you want to do. I plan on trying to do something homemade and go to a local candy shop and by chocolate from Maine. Who doesn't like chocolate?! I will post pics of the FE when I get it done. Our trip feels so far away, but it will come up quick!

Orlando/Disney Cruise Trip

Our next trip will be this May down to Orlando, FL. First stop, the Nickelodeon Hotel. The home of green slim. My hubby has already warned me that at no time will he be slimed. Which only means that he will be. I have never stayed at the Nick and I don't know personally anyone who has so this will be our first experience there. I assume it will be a lot like Great Wolf Lodge, which we have stayed at and HIGHLY recommend you do visit one. We have been to the Williamsburg, VA and Niagara Falls, Canada GWL. Loved them both, I'll talk more about those trips in another blog. As for this trip....after the Nick for 3 nights, down to Cape Canaveral for two nights. I saw on the Disney DIS board that you can write to your Representative and request tickets to NASA, which I have done. I heard back and they needed more info, how many in our party and our ages. Still have not heard if its confirmed, but it would be really nice and save us almost $200! After Cape Canaveral.....DISNEY CRUISE! This will be our third Disney Cruise. While planning our second cruise, we said that would be it. The kids would be older and we would have been tired of it, boy were we wrong! They treat you so great and it is such a wonderful experience that we booked this "last" trip. We are telling ourselves it is our last, but the more I get into it, the more I feel like it wont be. All three cruises have been the three night cruise to Nassau, Bahamas and Castaway Cay, Disneys private island, so when the time is right, I'll bring up the longer cruise to my hubby. The kids are already on board with me! I have some planning and crafting to do for the Disney Cruise, but I'll explain more on that next blog. Until then, happy travels!

More past travels.....

Washington, DC and surrounding areas.....

I try to take Double Trouble to historic areas when visiting family in Maryland. In DC, they have visited the National Mall, Lincoln Memorial, National Monument, National Gallery of Art, National Archives, Air and Space, Natural History and American History, Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Just to name a few....

National's Baseball Game, Mount Vernon, toured Camden Yards and the house Babe Ruth grew up in.....

National Habor and The Awakening.....

Southern Md/Va - Point Lookout, G. Washington's childhood home, and the spot where John Wilkes Booth was killed....

and I just had to take them to a spot that my parents always too us as children.... Moll Dyers rock. Funny how small it seemed to me as an adult, and how weird Double Trouble thought it was that I took them to see a big rock. For those who don't know the story....

Moll Dyer is a legendary 17th-century resident of southern Maryland who was accused of witchcraft. She was chased out of her home by the locals in the dead of the coldest winter night of the year. The townspeople blamed her for the misfortunes in the town and suspected her of cursing the town. After an epidemic killed many locals, a group of townsfold decided they should kill her and set her cottage on fire. Moll Dyer fled into the woods and exhausted and freezing she knelt down on a large rock where she froze to death. Her body was found days later, and when it was removed her hand and knee left permanent impressions in the rock. It is said that this rock is haunted and on the coldest night of the year it is said you can hear her crying.

The rock has been moved from it's original spot in the woods, to the courthouse. You can see it in the pic on the left, left corner of the building behind the bench.

Now just to make traveling a little more interesting, I choose to go by different methods of transportation. Last trip down to Md, we took Concord Bus from Portland to Boston, Mega Bus from Boston to Philly (we did a pitstop in Philly to visit family). Mega Bus was SO cheap, and luckly we were in line first on got on the top deck, front row. A little scarey at first, but Double Trouble loved it. They described it as being in a roller coaster. When we were on the George Washington Bridge in NY, my son looked down and with the big windows, it was straight down. "WOW" was pretty much all he could say!

Amtrak on the way home, I LOVE the train! My oldest got free drinks, which he considered pretty cool!