Tag: Travel

Animal Kingdom at Disney World

Post author By Laura Weers
Post date January 4, 2016
1 Comment on Animal Kingdom at Disney World

I went to Animal Kingdom at Disney World with my friend Sara, travelwithsara. I enjoyed seeing all of the various kinds of animals at Animal Kingdom.

We rode around Animal Kingdom in a Jeep, looking at the different animals. I loved looking at the lions. I especially loved looking at the male lion with his long majestic mane. He was lying next to the female lion. The lions were very contented.

I enjoyed looking at the Hippos with their heads sticking out of the water. I noticed a baby Hippo. It was adorable and was lying close to its Mother.

I was glad they had a pair of Rhinos. The Rhino is a large stately, looking animal with much authority. I never get tired of looking at Rhinos.

The day we were at Animal Kingdom, all the animals were out and about enjoying the day. The temperature was about 72 degrees when we looked at all the beautiful animals Animal Kingdom offers.

Sara and I walked around Animal Kingdom. We watched the Gorilla playing. A giant razor-back Gorilla entertained us for some time. He was playing with a plastic cooler for food. He would look it over, and then he would throw it, and then he would retrieve it again. He finally tired of us looking at him and hid behind a large tree.

All of the Animals at Animal Kingdom looked clean and very healthy. I noticed workers feeding the various animals and putting out fresh water for them to drink. All the animals have a nice large area where they can exercise, feed, and walk around freely.

I loved the jeep ride at Animal Kingdom. I felt like I was on an actual Safari ride in Africa. I applaud Disney World for their exceptional job with Animal Kingdom and how they care for their various beautiful animals. I highly recommend seeing Animal Kingdom on your next trip to Disney World.

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Disney World

Three Things That Amazed Me About Disney World

Post author By Laura Weers
Post date December 29, 2015
4 Comments on Three Things That Amazed Me About Disney World

I was surprised by the size of the Theme Parks. The Theme Parks were much larger than I thought they would be. There were many more attractions than I thought, and I thoroughly enjoyed everyone I saw. The detail of every interest was outstanding and very educational. You can learn about plants, insects, fish, and animals. I spent my vacation at Disney World with my friend Sara, of travelwithsara.

I was surprised at how to clean Disney World is. Workers washed down the walkways and the lounge chairs. I could not find any garbage lying around. The plants and shrubs were manicured perfectly. The paint on the buildings looked as if they had just been painted yesterday. The swimming pool areas were clean, and I saw workers putting fresh water in the swimming pools at 6:30 AM. The restaurants and other buildings on the Disney World grounds were spotless. They have ample workers, which is necessary to keep Disney World in great shape.

I was taken aback by the Disney Castle. I was amazed by all of the lights on the castle at night. A court is truly magical, with all the lights on it at night. I loved the fantastic and fantastic color patterns they could put on the castle. The fireworks by the court at night were the best I have ever seen. The fireworks, in conjunction with the lights on the castle, were out of this world.

I would highly recommend going to Disney World with your family. Whether young or old, everyone in your family will have a magical time. You will be amazed by all of the valuable information you can learn by attending every attraction you have time to attend during your stay at Disney World.

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Disney World

Disney’s All – Star Sport’s Resort

Post author By Laura Weers
Post date December 22, 2015
6 Comments on Disney’s All – Star Sport’s Resort

I was very impressed with Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort. I stayed at the resort with my friend Sara, of travelwithsara. We had two double size beds in our room. Everything in our room was nice and clean. I had a brand new blanket on my bed, and my pillows were suitable for a good night’s sleep.

The shower in our room had excellent water pressure, and the towels were nice and soft. The shampoo that they supplied left my hair nice and shiny. The shower-tub combination was immaculate.

I loved that I did not hear any noise at all at night. I also loved how easy it was to get into our room. I wore a wristband that I held next to the door, and the code in the wristband opened the door immediately. I don’t like hotels that use keys and cards to enter your room. I have had a lot of trouble with card readers not letting me into my hotel room.

There was a lovely swimming pool right outside our door. The pool and chairs and the entire area were utterly spotless. The room was well-lit at night. I also saw a ping pong table used by a man and his son.

I love how the outside of our resort was decorated. The building had giant basketballs and hoops on it. The facility was clean on the outside and inside. Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort is only 1.8 miles from Disney’s Animal Kingdom. I loved looking at the beautiful flowers and flowering bushes on the grounds. The groundkeepers do a fantastic job of keeping everything immaculate on the property. One benefit of staying at the All-Stars Sports Resort was that we could experience Disney’s extended park hours.

I highly recommend staying at Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort at Disney World.

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Minnestota

Albert Lea Christmas Bazaar Located in Albert Lea, Minnestota

Post author By Laura Weers
Post date December 11, 2015
2 Comments on Albert Lea Christmas Bazaar Located in Albert Lea, Minnestota

I was provided a free pass for a Sleigh Ride at the Albert Lea Christmas Bazaar in Albert Lea, Minnesota, to facilitate my review. All thoughts are 100 % honest and my own.

I enjoyed looking at all the craft items for sale at the bazaar. There were a lot of fantastic Christmas items for sale. They had painted wooden Santas for purchase which was very attractive. There were a lot of handcrafted jewelry items. I purchased a handmade cloth ball for my cats to play with. She was also selling handmade rugs and blankets.

There was a woman applying face paint to the children’s faces. The children were laughing and having a good time. The photo booth was very popular with the children and their parents. Children were eating popcorn that was freshly popped.

Santa Claus was outdoors greeting the children. The children were thrilled to see old Saint Nick. Santa was wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

The stores in Albert Lea were decorated for the Christmas Season. We stopped at a local coffee shop. She was swamped, and all of her food looked awesome. She was giving out free cookies, and they were delicious. We stopped at a local jewelry store she was very friendly and accommodating. The jewelry store had a beautifully decorated Christmas tree the moment you entered.

There was a line for the Sleigh ride, but we got on quickly. The sleigh driver was amiable and sang Christmas songs as we drove down the street. Riding in the sleigh with the driver singing and the nice blankets covering us as we went along really put one in the Christmas spirit. The sleigh and the horses were beautifully decorated for Christmas.

I would highly recommend going to Albert Lea’s Christmas Bazaar if you have holiday shopping; I suggest visiting the main street of Albert Lea.

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Ireland Irish Foods

A Taste of Ireland

I was with a tour group while I was traveling in Ireland. We had an excellent buffet breakfast every morning. There were scrambled eggs, perfect brown bread, ham, tomatoes, baked beans, sausages, fried eggs, yogurt, fresh fruit, fruit smoothies, mushrooms, and scones. We had a variety of different fruit juices to choose from. Our waitress came to our table with a choice of coffee or tea for us to drink. I tried the coffee, and it was excellent.

My friend and I stopped at an Irish Pub. I ordered their Irish Stew, and it was excellent. The Stew was made with lamb, and the lamb was cooked to perfection. Our waitress also came to our table with a big bowl of potatoes for us to eat. There were so many potatoes that we could not possibly eat all of them.

At noon my friend and I enjoyed a delicious fruit scone. We had the scone with clotted cream. We had a large pot of tea with our scones. We enjoyed a scone almost every day while vacationing in Ireland.

I ordered the hake that was on our menu. The hake was beautiful, and it tasted like cod fish. The hake was served with a vegetable medley, mashed potatoes, and more potatoes on the side. I was so impressed with the hake I ordered it twice while vacationing.

I ordered the chicken breast that was served in a wine sauce. The chicken was very tender and just melted in my mouth. The chicken was done over a bed of potatoes. Our waitress also came to our table with a big platter of vegetables and potatoes. I ordered the chicken breast again the next day of our vacation.

I was very impressed with all the food I ate while vacationing in Ireland.

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South Dakota Strawbale Winery

Strawbale Winery Located in Renner, South Dakota

Post author By Laura Weers
Post date November 24, 2015
1 Comment on Strawbale Winery Located in Renner, South Dakota

The South family established Strawbale Winery on their acreage in 2006. The building is constructed of compacted straw, straw bales, and wire covered with stucco. The building is a prairie-style wine cellar.

I enjoyed my tour of the Strawbale Winery. Their wines are produced, fermented, and blended on-site. They grow some of their fruit and buy the others from local markets. Their winery sits on a pleasant and relaxing acreage. I enjoyed patting their outdoor cats and looking at their chickens. I like that they have re-purposed items they use at their winery. They have a blackboard that they use as their countertop. Their wine is stored in giant plastic vats until it is ready to be bottled and corked. I found their winery to be very clean and efficient.

My friends and I tasted a variety of wines. Don, the winery owner, poured out the samples for us. I like white wines. I want wine that is sweet and very mild. I enjoyed their semi-sweet Plum, Apple Raspberry, and Apple Rhubarb wine. I also liked their sweet Burning Bog, a cranberry and jalapeno wines blend, and Pear wine. They have Dry, Semi-Sweet, Sweet, and Fortified ( 18% alcohol ) wines. I found their wine prices very reasonable in today’s wine market. I bought a bottle of their Strawberry Rhubarb Semi-Sweet wine.

Strawbale Winery has a lot of fun and exciting activities you can attend throughout the year. They have a Harvest Festival, Folk Off, Sangria Sundays, Strawbale Summer Porch, and Series. In December, they offer Twilight Flights. You will start with food and wine. Then a helicopter flight from the winery to downtown Sioux Falls to view the lights of the city and Falls Park Winter Wonderland. Return to the winery for desserts and dessert wines.

I truly enjoyed my visit to Strawbale Winery. The winery is a fun place to relax and unwind with a nice glass of wine.

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South Dakota Washington Pavilion

Washington Pavilion Located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Post author By Laura Weers
Post date November 17, 2015
No Comments on Washington Pavilion Located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota

The Washington Pavilion started as a school in 1879. The building has one classroom and a hallway, as it was when it was Washington High School. I loved looking at all the histories of Washington High School. There are pictures of former students and trophies, and more. Portions of the building are made from native Sioux quartzite and have stood for almost 100 years. The building has the original marble staircases within the 1922 building, which now houses the Kirby Science Center. The building is a Neoclassical Structure and is an architectural landmark listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The last class to graduate at Washington High School was the class of 1992. In 1992 the Sioux Falls City Commission established the Washington Pavilion of Arts and Science Advisory Board. In 1999 the Washington Pavilion became the first facility in America to house a visual arts center, performing arts center, and a science center in one building. The Washington Pavilion became a fantastic art and science center through grants, bonds, and volunteers.

I loved the Kirby Science Discovery Center, one of the region’s best hands-on science centers. I loved looking at their 65 million-year-old Tyrannosaurus Rex replica. They have a machine you can go into to feel the effects of a tornado. Your hair will get exceptionally wind-blown in the tornado machine. Children can learn about psychics, earthquakes, bees, hang gliding, etc. They have a NASA area where your child can put his head in a space suit. The Kirby Discovery Science Center is informative, educational, and exceptionally interesting for young children.

I was very impressed with their Performing Arts Center. Workers gutted the old auditorium, stage, and gym to make a unique new auditorium. The hall is six stories tall, 99 feet wide, and 160 feet long. The acoustics are exceptional. Sound bounces off of quartzite panels. The orchestra level seats 1000, the mezzanine seats 500 + and the balcony 250+.The total seating capacity is about 1900 people. They also have a Wells Fargo Cino Dome Theather that holds 172 people. Their Belbas Theater holds about 300 people. They host a variety of programs in the Husby Performing Arts Center, such as musical ensembles, lectures, and piano recitals.

The Visual Arts Center displayed Mark W. McGinnis’s works. He works primarily in black acrylic ink and watercolor. I was impressed with his Third World Ties art exhibit. I also liked his Designs of Faith Art. He put a lot of time and study into all of his artwork.

The Visual Arts Center is one of only three accredited by the American Association of Museums in South Dakota. The Community Learning Center allows students ages eight to 18 to excel in the performing arts through music and theater. The Washington Pavilion has action art and science. You can have hands-on learning experiences in science, skills, and performing arts.

The Washington Pavilion is a beautiful place to learn more about the arts and science. I highly recommend spending a day or an afternoon at the Washington Pavilion. You can watch a movie or a piano recital performing arts and learn more about science.

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Great Plains Zoo & Delbridge Museum of Natural History South Dakota

Great Plains Zoo & Delbridge Museum of Natural History Located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Post author By Laura Weers
Post date November 10, 2015
2 Comments on Great Plains Zoo & Delbridge Museum of Natural History Located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota

I was provided a ticket to the Great Plains Zoo & Delbridge Museum of Natural History to facilitate my review. All thoughts are 100 % honest and my own.

The Great Plains Zoo offers an up-close look at more than 1000 animals. The Zoo sits on a 45-acre park that offers up-close views of the animals not found in more prominent zoos. The Great Plains Zoo is one of only 13 zoos to have a Snow Monkey exhibit. The Zoo has a breeding program for 23 endangered species. The Zoo also has the Delbridge Museum of Natural History, which houses a rare collection of 100 mounted animals, including 38 vanishing species.

I enjoyed looking at the Giraffes. The Giraffes came up right next to the fence. I have house cats, and I also like big cats. I especially enjoyed looking at the Amur Tiger. The Amur Tiger was very playful, just like my house cats. The Cheetah was shyer, but she was such a beautiful big cat.

I used to have a pygmy goat named Zachary. The zoo’s African Pygmy goat reminded me of my beloved goat Zachary.

I enjoyed a close and personal look at the rare Rhinos of Africa. The Rhino is a fascinating and fun animal to watch and observe. The Rhinos were eating a lot of grass while I watched them.

The Snow Monkeys were adorable. I loved how they interacted with each other. The females are very protective of each other’s babies. Their Snow Monkey exhibit was awarded top honors in exhibit design.

The Great Plains Zoo is one of the cleanest and nicest zoos I have ever visited. All of their animals seemed happy and contented.

I enjoyed the Flamingos. I learned that the reason that they are a beautiful pink color is from all of the shrimp that they eat. They absorb the color of the shrimp into their body.

I recommend stopping at the Great Plains Zoo & Delbridge Museum of Natural History. The Zoo would make a perfect family outing that the whole family would love.

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Sertoma Butterfly House and Marine Cove South Dakota

Sertoma Butterfly House & Marine Cove Located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Post author By Laura Weers
Post date November 7, 2015
No Comments on Sertoma Butterfly House & Marine Cove Located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota

I was provided a ticket to the Sertoma Butterfly House and Museum in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to facilitate my review. All thoughts are 100 % honest and my own.

Their Butterfly House has over 500 free-flying butterflies from Africa, Asia, and Central & South America. I loved looking at the wide variety of butterflies that they have on display. I especially loved looking at the Julia, Emerald Peacock, and Blue Morpho butterflies. They have swamp milkweeds outside that the Monarch butterflies feed on. Everyone should plant swamp milkweed in their gardens or pasture to help save our Monarch butterflies.

Marine Cove has fresh, cold, and saltwater fish. My favorite fish was the Vlamingi Tang. He is a brilliant blue fish with blue lips. If he gets scared, he turns black. I also loved looking at the Yellow Tang, Flame Hawkfish, and Blue Hippo Tang.

The cold water Purple Urchin was interesting. If you put your finger out where he could touch it, he would touch your finger gently to see if it was food he could eat. I found the Sea Cucumber interesting because most of its body mass is water. The Bat Starfish was eating algae off of a rock. The Bat Star has a stomach that it extrudes while it is eating.

The Coral on display had brilliant and vibrant colors. The various fish would hide among the Coral.

I liked looking at the Shark and Stingray Touch Pool. The Stingrays can move very fast. The Sharks are nocturnal, so they were very content to sit in one spot while I observed them.

One of their aquariums has a glass bubble you can put your head in to get a bird’s eye view of the fish in that aquarium. It was fun to see them up close.

I noticed several children at the Sertoma Butterfly House and Marine Cove. There was one little girl that kept telling her mother over and over again to let me in the water. It was an excellent place for children and adults to interact with butterflies and marine life. They have a reading room. You can sit and unwind from a hectic day in the Butterfly House by watching the butterflies. I find watching fish swim back and forth to be very relaxing.

I highly recommend you and your family visit the Sertoma Butterfly House and Marine Cove. You and your family will learn a lot of exciting facts about Butterflies and Marine Life.

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Outdoor Campus South Dakota

Outdoor Campus Located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Post author By Laura Weers
Post date October 31, 2015
2 Comments on Outdoor Campus Located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota

The Outdoor Campus is a joint project of the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish, Parks and the City of Sioux Falls Park & Recreation Department. There Campus offers experiences with the natural landscape of South Dakota. The South Dakota Outdoor Campus has a 3000-gallon aquarium and two miles of walking trails. They have hands-on events and classes. The Outdoor Campus has a butterfly garden & great bird watching. They offer many different courses for different age groups. The Outdoor Campus teaches essential fly fishing, introduction to archery, GPS and Geocaching, outdoor cooking, habitat 101, and much more. All of their youth programs are free. Hunters and Anglers support their education efforts. You can learn about South Dakota Animals, why they make different sounds, and how they adapt to their environment.

The Outdoor Campus has programs for ages three and up. They offer beginning fishing, hunting, and archery classes. The young naturalist program teaches ages 5 to 7. They also provide a Jr. naturalist program. Family programs include canoeing, fishing, archery, and the basics of using a compass.

I was very impressed with all of their different animal displays. I enjoyed walking on their hiking trail. They have swamp milkweed planted to attract the Monarch butterflies. I met Lena, their resident rabbit. Lena was very friendly, and I held her for a while.

The Outdoor Campus is a beautiful place to teach your entire family about the great outdoors. Children of all ages can learn about fish and games and how to respect the different types of animals. Their list of outdoor activities is imposing and free of charge except for a material fee for some adult classes.

I highly recommend the Outdoor Campus in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to all my family and friends. The perfect place to learn about hunting, archery, animals, canoeing, and the great outdoors that God created for all to enjoy.

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