Thursday, December 30, 2010
Monday, December 27, 2010
Christmas Street
For quite some time I had heard about a street in Baltimore that really did Christmas decorations Griswold Style.
After yeas of saying that I was going to visit, the Traveling Tots finaly did it. One of the local residents sponsors a website http://www.christmasstreet.com/history.html if you want information on how to get there.
I had every intention of submitting this before X-mas, but as you can imagine the season caught up with us.
The one hour drive from our home was worth it for a few reasons. The 1st being the sincerity of it all. I have grown tired of hearing politicians use the term "The Real America". 34th street in Baltimore couldn't be anymore American if they cloned George Washington and had him play Santa at the Christmas Party. The tiny block gets together every year and with there own money sponsor a Baltimore tradition that has created 62 years of cherrished memories. In a city that has seen its share of urban decay and hardships 34th street showcases something that Baltimore never lost during the drug epidemics or being robbed of a storied NFL franchise, and something never seen on an Episode of The Wire. A true sense community. You don't travel to other cities in this country and see people adorned in Ravens or Orioles gear. That is b/c the people of Baltimore stayed close to home through the hard times and for as much as I like to tease my friends from Charm City that fact is worth celebrating.
Unfortunately our timing was off and we arrived right after our 3 y.o. had awoken from his nap. And one wisp of the frosty December air hurled the poor thing into a temper tantrum that holed him up in our Honda Element for the duration of the short trip.
Having driven so far to see something I had wanted to see I refused to leave without checking it out for at least a few minutes, and a few minutes is all one needs. Visitors are encouraged to walk about the street and even walk up some to some of the front porches. The street takes maybe 20 minutes to tour, and my son enjoyed it when we drove by the lights a couple of times.
If you are going to make the drive from out of town then I suggest mixing it with other attraction such as The Inner Harbor, or Baltimore Zoo.
I know Christmas is over but plant the seed in your mind to do something a little different next year and check out Christmas Street in Baltimore.
After yeas of saying that I was going to visit, the Traveling Tots finaly did it. One of the local residents sponsors a website http://www.christmasstreet.com/history.html if you want information on how to get there.
I had every intention of submitting this before X-mas, but as you can imagine the season caught up with us.
The one hour drive from our home was worth it for a few reasons. The 1st being the sincerity of it all. I have grown tired of hearing politicians use the term "The Real America". 34th street in Baltimore couldn't be anymore American if they cloned George Washington and had him play Santa at the Christmas Party. The tiny block gets together every year and with there own money sponsor a Baltimore tradition that has created 62 years of cherrished memories. In a city that has seen its share of urban decay and hardships 34th street showcases something that Baltimore never lost during the drug epidemics or being robbed of a storied NFL franchise, and something never seen on an Episode of The Wire. A true sense community. You don't travel to other cities in this country and see people adorned in Ravens or Orioles gear. That is b/c the people of Baltimore stayed close to home through the hard times and for as much as I like to tease my friends from Charm City that fact is worth celebrating.
Unfortunately our timing was off and we arrived right after our 3 y.o. had awoken from his nap. And one wisp of the frosty December air hurled the poor thing into a temper tantrum that holed him up in our Honda Element for the duration of the short trip.
Having driven so far to see something I had wanted to see I refused to leave without checking it out for at least a few minutes, and a few minutes is all one needs. Visitors are encouraged to walk about the street and even walk up some to some of the front porches. The street takes maybe 20 minutes to tour, and my son enjoyed it when we drove by the lights a couple of times.
If you are going to make the drive from out of town then I suggest mixing it with other attraction such as The Inner Harbor, or Baltimore Zoo.
I know Christmas is over but plant the seed in your mind to do something a little different next year and check out Christmas Street in Baltimore.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
The Traveling Tots: Bizarre Foods and a Huge Reason I Travel
The Traveling Tots: Bizarre Foods and a Huge Reason I Travel: "Andrew was exploring Appalachia a place I dearly love. I lived in Elkins, West Virginia for four years and it certainly had a lot to d..."
Bizarre Foods and a Huge Reason I Travel
Andrew was exploring Appalachia a place I dearly love. I lived in Elkins, West Virginia for four years and it certainly had a lot to do with how I turned out as a person. He visited Helvetia, a community founded by German and Swiss immigrants towards the end of the Civil War. It is so isolated from the rest of the world that it didn't get it's 1st electric light bulb until 1939. Some of the towns folk even have a swiss accent if you believe it or not.
It is one of the thousands of treasures one will find when hitting the road with your family. And one I found on a few occasions on long lonely Sunday drives. There you will find the most unique places to eat in the Mid-Atlantic Region. The Hutte. If you enjoy skiing in Canaan Valley or are on a college road trip that brings your to three of the regional schools than I suggest taking the time to go there.
One destination I think parents miss often are the one's that we have been to before. Your high school, your college, a neat overlook where you had an epiphany. It doesn't need to be famous, if it is a part of you're soul than it is a part of your children's soul.
Go somewhere.
It is one of the thousands of treasures one will find when hitting the road with your family. And one I found on a few occasions on long lonely Sunday drives. There you will find the most unique places to eat in the Mid-Atlantic Region. The Hutte. If you enjoy skiing in Canaan Valley or are on a college road trip that brings your to three of the regional schools than I suggest taking the time to go there.
One destination I think parents miss often are the one's that we have been to before. Your high school, your college, a neat overlook where you had an epiphany. It doesn't need to be famous, if it is a part of you're soul than it is a part of your children's soul.
Go somewhere.
Monday, December 20, 2010
The Traveling Tots: Only a Few Days Left For Xmas Myrth.
The Traveling Tots: Only a Few Days Left For Xmas Myrth.: "Only a few days to go until Christmas Day and if you have you stuff together than you have most of your shopping done, and are making plans..."
Only a Few Days Left For Xmas Myrth.
Only a few days to go until Christmas Day and if you have you stuff together than you have most of your shopping done, and are making plans to entertain family. Heck maybe you will manage a few afternoons off if things are slow at the office. This is a great time to find those hidden treasures that are out there in the Baltimore/Washington area. I will Highlight a few that The Traveling Tots try to make annual pilgrimages to.
Today...The Festival of Light at the Mormon Temple.
Located just outside of Washington D.C. the Temple is one of the most unique sights on the capital beltway. Every year the Temple sponsors a free light display that rivals any of the drive thru pay displays. Located near my childhood home this destination was a yearly event for my family and though I live a little farther away these days I try to make it down every year.
The display is quite vibrant, yet markedly humble. No gaudy blinking Santa lights, or synchronized dancing lights broadcast from a low F.M. It is an appropriate tribute to the beauty of the season and the warmness of the temples followers. Parking is free and usually organized well. You do have to drive through a residential neighbor hood so please be respectful!!
I also recommend the visitor center which has a Christmas Tree display from LDS temples around the region. There is also a well done museum outlining the history if the LDS Church. I have never been approached by a volunteer and been solicited to join their faith, so I suggest leaving stereotypes at the door and just enjoy the spirit of the holidays.
If you get there early they have top notch choirs perform nightly as well. All is all this is one of the quintessential local D.C. experiences for family to enjoy. And it's Free!!!
Here are the directions:
And here is official website with a list of performers:
Attraction Rating: 8 out of 10
Experience Rating 9 out of 10
Saturday, December 18, 2010
The Traveling Tots: Driving on Ice to see ICE!! at the National Harbor...
The Traveling Tots: Driving on Ice to see ICE!! at the National Harbor...: " My wife Becky and I like to think of ourselves as experts on traveling with children. We have one trip to New Orle..."
Driving on Ice to see ICE!! at the National Harbor
My wife Becky and I like to think of ourselves as experts on traveling with children. We have one trip to New Orleans
Two things snuck up and chomped us right in the tooshies this week. 1.) Always check the weather in the winter before buying the tickets. 2.) NEVER!! EVER!! Let them get hungry.
This past Thursday the wife I took the Travelin Tots to see ICE!! at the Gaylord hotel in the National Harbor Washington D.C.
What was supposed to be a light dusting of winter weather quickly turned into a two inch slushy mix. Being a life long D.C. resident I quickly recognized the dilemma and sped up the preparation for our 1 P.M. entrance time. We figured a two hour head start from Frederick Maryland to the National Harbor
Fail!
Snow fall + Idiots + Construction on the VA side of the of the Beltway = a two hour trip in what was supposed to be non-rush hour traffic. Can someone tell me why the VA side of the beltway always looks like Optimus Prime and Megatron just fought it out in a lame slow motion fight sequence?
After getting to the Gaylord, well after our entrance time we rushed into the facility to find that we had made the right call by going on a weekday. 500 feet of empty serpentine ropes and foreboding signs approximating wait times cheered our effort.
As we approached the entrance we were given a bright blue Parka which, which no matter how many layers you have worn is completely necessary. For such an ordeal ICE seemed smaller than I expected. However the event was a huge hit with our 3 Y.O. Jackson
The artistry was impressive and the slides were super cool. It would have been better if the slides were closer to the end of the display b/c it wound up being very difficult entice Jackson
Upon exiting the exhibit failure#2 reared it’s ugly head. Jack had had a small breakfast b/c of the rush getting on the road, and it was now 2pm . Never ever allow such stimulation and hunger to intersect in your travel plans. The temper tantrum was a top ten episode in the life of our child. After 25 minutes of calming him down we had to do something I never wanted to do again. Eat at the Gaylord. For those of you that have not to have done this…Don’t!! Pack a lunch. Two adult meals at a small coffee shop $30.16. But it did allow us time to enjoy the fountain and the lovely view of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge
If you follow this experience up with a slow slog through rush hour traffic that put another 2 ½ hours on our “half day trip” and you get some tired cranky parents and two sleeping children upon arrival at home.
Overall Rating
Attraction: 7 out of 10 ICE at the Gaylord National Harbor
Experience: 6 out of 10
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