Mariannes Motifs

I'm Going to Las Vegas!

My friend Melissa is going to Las Vegas for a conference in November and invited me to go along.  Her conference is during the day and then we will be able to do some fun stuff in the evenings.   I get a free hotel room (at the Cosmopolitan).

Now that I have an iPhone I can download Vacation Apps.  I found an iPhone app for Las Vegas info that looks cool called Vegas Mate that looks like it might be helpful.  These days you can do eveything on your mobile phone, from booking a hotel, booking flights, checking into flights, to finding things to do in your travel destination.  Smartphones make everything so much easier!

I am looking forward to this trip.  I haven't been on a girls weekend in a long time.  I have the best husband in the world!  I told him about the trip and asked him what he thought.  He said I should go.  What a sweetie. 

I am going to set aside a small amount of money for two things:  a spa massage, and some blackjack.  I don't expect to win anything, but it can be fun to play for awhile and see how long you can make your pre-decided budget last.  I looked up the spa at the Cosmopolitan hotel and they have some awesome sounding massages and services.  Since I am going to have the day to myself I am definately going to take advantage of that time.  Imagine the peace and quiet!

Gopher Tortoise

I am finally catching up after our Spring Break trip to St. Augustine and the Space Coast.  We stayed at two wonderful hotels, both right on the beach, and both doggy friendly. We saw a lot of gorgoeus beaches, the Castillo De San Marcos, and of course the Kennedy Space Center.  To me the highlight was the Space Center special tour where we got to go inside the Vehicle Assembly Building where they put together the rockets, and would stage the Shuttles. 

Just to whet your appetite for the pictures coming, here is a gopher tortoise that lives near the spectator grandstands on the causeway where people gather to watch launches.  The tour guide said for us to watch out for "walking army helmets."  A turtle army helmet, not too much like  scorpion helmets - so funny. 

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.