Tuesday, August 11, 2009
The Last FREE Weekend at National Parks This Summer
Looking for something family and budget-friendly to do this weekend? National Parks across the nation are once again offering FREE admission on August 15 and 16. This is your last chance to take advantage of the fee-free weekend program this summer.
“The entrance fees being waived at the 147 sites that usually charge for admission range from $3 to $25.( The 244 other parks do not charge entrance fees.) The waiver does not include other fees collected in advance or by contractors—such as fees charged for camping, reservations, tours and use of concessions.”
For full story click HERE.
Look for a park HERE. If you drill down on this page, you can find specials that save even more money at some of the parks.
Amtrak makes the point that some of the parks ( in NYC, D.C., Philadelphia, Baltimore, Boston, Arlington, VA) are even accessible by train. Click here for a list of the parks you can reach via train.
Morristown National Park
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
So…What’s on Your Bucket List?
You know … that list of things you want to do before you “kick the bucket”?
It helps to take them out of the closet first.
Okay… I’ll start, but then let’s hear from you lurkers out there on this one… share some of the top items on YOUR bucket list. ( You know who you are!)
Here goes:
(I note a common thread of travel through these, which does not surprise me in the least.)
1. Visit the towns my father walked through as an infantryman during World War II- they would be France, Germany, Luxembourg and Czechoslovakia. ( Happy Birthday, Dad. He would have been 85 today!)
2. Meet all my great grandchildren.
3. Go to each of the 18 states I’ve not been to…yet. (I could cheat and make the list shorter, but just an airport doesn’t count.) Michigan, North Carolina, Colorado, Tennessee, Iowa, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, Oregon, Oklahoma ,Utah, Nebraska, North and South Dakota and Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas and Mississippi.
4. Own, and know how to competently use, a kayak. ( NOTE: This does NOT imply there will be any white water rafting. This means quiet water kayaking.)
5. Research the rest of my family tree.
6. Knit just one sweater that really looks great on me…. and that I LOVE to wear.
7. See the Northern Lights.
8. Master watercolors. Ok, maybe master is a bit strong, but at least use them occasionally? And taking them out of the closet is a good first step, don’t you think?
Okay lurkers … your turn. It’s simple… Just click on the word “comment” below.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
No Trip to Italy in The Budget This Year?
Arugula
If you can’t scrape up the discretionary funds to travel to Italy this summer, don’t despair. You can use that garden we discussed in the last post to plant Italian vegetable seeds instead.
Grow Italian, an online seed catalog, features seeds for dozens of Italian vegetable varieties, including cultivated dandelion, arugula, basil, garlic, endive, chicory and tomatoes. ( They’re offering a special too – order 11 packs and the 12th is free!)
If Japan is more your dream destination –but you won’t be going there either– try the Asian veggie seeds at Kitazawa Seed company. (Though they claim arugula as a native too!)
None of the greens or herbs require much room. And according to the sustainable gardeners at retrovore you can grow many of these veggies in small spaces like a sunny terrace or windowsill.
Just a row or two?
What are your thoughts? Participate in my poll, below.
