Mariannes Motifs

On the Boardwalk

For me wintertime is time to dream about going to the beach.  We would like to plan a summer beach vacation this year.  There is nothing better to me than staying on the beach, strolling down the boardwalk, and dipping my toes into the water.   Well maybe watching the kids tire themselves out splashing at a water park.

A resort town like Wildwood, New Jersey, has a lot of benefits to offer.  The funky Do-Wop archetecture of the classic 50's style motels, the water parks and amusements of Morey's Pier, and the close proximity to New York city, make the Ocean City are a great pick for a summer vacation.

I have discovered that Morey's Pier is currently having their annual holiday sale.  The sale runs until January 9, but by planning ahead you can saved nearly 40% on a Season Pass to both of the companies water parks.  Wow - for people looking at a Jersey Shore beach vacation, or living in the area, that is a fantastic deal.  The Morey's Pier season pass gets you access to two huge waterparks, countless events, and lots of special goodies as well.  Here is the page for more info on the sale on season passes.

I personally love classic amusement parks, and Morey's pier is one of America's classic parks, with the "Great White" old wooden roller coaster, and other great Wildwood attractions and roller coasters.  The DoWop style of Wildwood brings up memories of Cadillacs with fins, lollipop colored neon signs, and 50's Art Deco beach style architecture.  Its a great slice of Americana, and the town has preserved that feel and is very proud of its unique style.

Shangri La Botanical Gardens in Orange Texas

I just learned about the most amazing newly opened botanical gardens in Orange Texas called Shangri La Gardens and Nature Center.  Below  is some information from Wikipedia, but what they DO NOT tell you is that this botanical gardens and nature center in Orange, Texas was awarded the U.S. Green Building Council's Platinum certification for LEED®-NC, which verifies that design and construction reached the highest green building and performance measures.

Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center (252 acres) are private botanical gardens and a nature preserve located in the center of Orange, Texas.

H. J. Lutcher Stark began work on Shangri La in 1942. His Azalea gardens first opened to the public in 1946, but in the mid 1950s they were destroyed by very cold weather. The area was subsequently closed to the public and maintained on a very limited scale. It was then bequeathed by Nelda C. Stark to the Nelda C. and H. J. Lutcher Stark Foundation (established 1961), which has been working to restore the botanical gardens and create a nature center. As of January 2006, the Stark Foundation plans to reopen the gardens in Spring 2008.

Shangri La contains a mixed deciduous forest, cypress tupelo swamp, wetlands, and a large lake. Many of its trees were heavily damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Rita in September 2005.

Here are some beautiful pictures provided by the management of the nature center:

   

Their website is really gorgeous.  I am really excited to have the opportunity to help get the word out about such a worthwhile endevor.  With a bird blind where you can observe nesting herons, educational series for kids, various outdoor "rooms" of plant specimens, and cypress forest and unique ecosystems, this sounds like a super place to visit if you are ANYWHERE near Orange, Texas!

Big Foot X-Ing - Pike's Peak

Here are some more Pike's Peak pictures.  I love the "Big Foot X-ing" picture - how funny.

During his trip to Colorado Jin saw the home opener game of the Colorado Rockies baseball, drove to Pike's Peak, and then saw a Colorado Avalanche hockey game.  I think I got the better end of the bargain with my "girls getaway" weekend which was a cruise to the Bahamas, but whatever floats your boat, right?

Next year I want to have all four of us go on the cruise to the Bahamas.  The kids will be old enough to have fun in the Camp Carnival.  We've been waiting to get all out of diapers and pullups before we face the prospect of shlepping on a long family trip with the kids.

Photo Post of Pike's Peak, Colorado

Jin is home!  Here is one of the gorgeous photos he took of Pike's Peak.  And in other news, for those who have been keeping up with the fridge drama, we finally got the cabinet adjusted so the refrigerator is no longer in the middle of the kitchen.  Yay for "Andy on Call."  Thanks, Dennis!

Pike's Peak
Click on the picture to get a bigger look.