On Our Way…Now With a Place to Stay!

See that above? That is the extent of my rhyming ability! Sorry if it’s a bit corny, but Dr. Seuss I am not.

We can check off another step on our path to Disney. On Thursday, my parents and I went down to the travel agency and booked our trip! Though we were considering staying in a moderate resort, after getting estimates, we’ve decided to return to our usual stomping grounds.

That’s right—it’s back to Pop Century for us!

(Building in the 80s at Pop Century)

We are also trying the dining plan this go-round, so expect a review of that from me. Hopefully, they’ve ironed out the wrinkles and the confusion we’ve seen in the past years, when we were the annoyed customers behind the people who couldn’t figure out how to use the plan.

57 Days to Go: Grand Floridian Resort and Spa

And with this entry, my Disney Hotel series ends. The final installment is the last of the "Big Three" and considered the Disney flagship resort: the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa.

The resort is designed to model those of the Victorian era, ones the rich would've flocked to for a summer along the beach. It is known by its white walls and red roofs and can be spotted along the shores of the Seven Seas Lagoon. The lodges that hold the rooms are named after islands in the Florida Keys. The Grand Floridian also hosts the wedding chapel on the Disney property (though it costs an arm and a leg to get married there!).

In keeping with the Victorian theme, the main dining experience there is Victoria & Albert's, named after the royal couple. There is also a spa contained within the grounds.

Like the other "Big Three," the Grand Floridian is located on the monorail line. It is also a Magic Kingdom resort and considered in the "deluxe" price range.

58 Days to Go: Contemporary Resort

The second in my "Big Three" Disney Hotels here in the Hotel series: The Contemporary Resort!

I often wonder if the designer of this resort was ever bored while thinking of a "contemporary" designed and started playing around with objects on his desk. He saw a matchbook, put it upside down and thought "There's my hotel!" This is the Contemporary Tower and there are wings which house additional rooms. This is the main building and also houses the Grand Councourse. The concourse is decorated with mosaics.

The Contemporary is home to the California Grill, a restaurant dining experience that also offers exquisite views of the fireworks from the Magic Kingdom. It also has my family's favorite restaurant, Chef Mickey's, a buffet where there is always something to celebrate! My mother chose to celebrate her birthday there and enjoyed when the characters came out to bring her her birthday cupcake.

The Contemporary is linked to the monorail system, the trains run right through the Grand Concourse. It's one of the things that has given my family pause about staying there, but others who have swear you do not hear the monorail. It is a Magic Kingdom resort and considered in the "deluxe" range.

59 Days to Go: Polynesian Resort

We reach the "Big Three" as I like to call them in my Disney Hotel series. This one is the Polynesian Resort.

Sitting along side the Seven Seas Lagoon, the Polynesian Resort is designed to evoke the feel of the islands of Polynesia. The main building, the Ceremonial Lodge, is Tahitian in design. It's the closest you can come to feeling like Hawaii without leaving the mainland. This point is proven by my mother when she and my father went to Hawaii for their honeymoon. She said it felt just like the Polynesian Resort, a sentiment echoed by my sister and I twenty years later. My father snapped not to say that because he could spend less to take us to Disney World rather than Hawaii. Guest rooms are housed in eight longhouses named after Polynesian islands, much like the Caribbean Resort.

The main restaurant at the Polynesian is Ohana's (Fans of Lilo and Stitch will remember that "Ohana" means family). My family has eaten there, but I haven't. I do believe we will be making a stop there on our vacation. Besides the pool, there are several other activities for you to do if you wish to spend time enjoying the hotel. There is the Never Land Club for kids and a spa for the adults.

The Polynesian is a Magic Kingdom resort. It, along with the other "Big Three," is connected to the Magic Kingdom on the monorail line. It is also serviced by a ferry and buses. Once again, it is a deluxe hotel.

61 Days to Go: Disney's Wilderness Lodge

From one lodge to another, the next entry in my Disney Hotels series is the Wilderness Lodge (not to be confused with Fort Wilderness).

The Wilderness Lodge is designed to evoke the spirit of the American Northwest. It looks like a place one might stay while visiting Yellowstone or Yosemite National Parks. The Disney artists were also heavily influenced by the Native American tribes that roamed the Northwest and this influence is prominent in the lodge. The lodge also has a working geyser, like Old Faithful, and hot springs. Like the Animal Lodge, it also has a concierge level for those who wish to be extra pampered.

The Wilderness Lodge boasts two restaurants. The first is Artist Point, which specializes in dishes inspired by the American Northwest. For a family atmosphere, Whispering Canyon Cafe is noted for its funny wait staff and how they keep the children entertained. I once attended a character breakfast there with my family. That's when I fell in love with the hotel and swore I would stay there one day.

The Wilderness Lodge is connected to the Magic Kingdom and Fort Wilderness Resort by a ferry boat.

It is considered a deluxe hotel and part of the Magic Kingdom resorts.

62 Days to Go: Animal Kingdom Lodge

Love animals? Have a child that does? Then book yourself into the next hotel in my series, Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge. 

Designed to evoke a lodge in the African wilderness, the hotel property also houses a wildlife preserve. Guests can see various animals from their windows and while out on the property. I always joke that the vultures perch outside the guests' rooms. "Oh, you're up? Never mind then." If you're worried about coming too close to an animal, don't worry. There are little barriers to prevent this from happening. A friend of ours likes to stay on the 6th floor (the concierge floor) of this resort and loves to tell the story of giraffes coming up to fences that don't even reach their knees, but turning around because something's in their path. We visited the resort once while he was there, going swimming in their pool (and sliding down their water slide). While we were splashing each other, a giraffe poked its head out from some trees, looked around and then seemed to think "People in the watering hole again." He pulled his head back in and we rushed out of the pool due to a surprise rain storm. 

While visiting our friend, he took us to Boma: Flavors of Africa. It's a buffet of African cuisine and is absolutely delicious. Just don't ask what you're eating. No, seriously, that's what the people working the place told my family when we went. I just asked to be pointed to the poultry and figured I was safe. Please don't pop my bubble. 

As the name suggests, the Animal Kingdom Lodge is next to the Animal Kingdom. It is also considered a deluxe hotel. 

63 Days to Go: Boardwalk Inn

In the next installment of my Disney hotel series, we go across from the Beach and Yacht Club to Disney's Boardwalk Inn Resort.

Designed to evoke the feel of the 1900s, the Boardwalk was designed after the boardwalks that sprung up in Atlantic City and Ocean City, which grew in popularity as people flocked to the Jersey shore in order to escape the heat and crowds of the city. The rooms are built around the boardwalk, which over looks the lagoon that separates it from the Beach and Yacht Club as well as the back entrance to Epcot.

Even if you don't stay at the Boardwalk, I suggest a visit to it. Along the boardwalk are several restaurants, including the ESPN Club and Big River Grille and Brewing Works. My family loves to eat at the Big River Grille, which also houses its own brewery. You can dine and watch them brew the beer at the same time. The last time we went, the building was under refurbishment so Big River had been relocated to the Atlantic Dance Hall (which turns into a dance club every night). My mother and I had grilled chicken over penne covered in marinara sauce which was delicious.

The Boardwalk is listed as an Epcot resort and falls under "Deluxe" on the pricing list.

64 Days to Go: Disney's Beach and Yacht Club

Continuing with my Disney hotel series, I've finally moved on to the Deluxe level of hotels--for those who want to pay the big bucks and/or make the most of their Disney vacation. First up is the Beach and Yacht Club.

These are technically two separate hotels but share amenities and staffs. They are often combined in reference as well. The Beach Club is styled to look like a turn-of-the-century seaside resort. There is also a fifth floor concierge level for those willing to pay the price and want to be treated like VIPs. One of the main attractions of the Beach Club that I want to go to is the Beaches & Cream Soda Shop. It is a burger joint and ice cream shoppe. They have a specialty called "The Kitchen Sink Sundae" because it includes everything plus the kitchen sink (no joke, the ice cream is served in a kitchen sink). I don't have a big enough stomach to handle such a task (unless about ten people want to split one with me. Any takers?) so I'll just have a regular sundae.

The Yacht Club is designed to make guests feel like they are staying aboard a ship. The hotel comes with a fancy restaurant called the Yachtsman Steakhouse and a less-formal dining experience called the Captain's Grille. It also shares Stormalong Bay with the Beach Club, a beach along one of the lakes inside Walt Disney World.

Besides the bus to and from the parks, you can also reach the Beach and Yacht clubs by boat. A ferry runs between the hotels, the Swan, the Dolphin, the Boardwalk, Epcot and Hollywood Studios. Epcot is also a five minute walk from the hotels. Guests can access the park via the International Gate. This will lead you to an area between the France Pavilion and the United Kingdom pavilion. Because of this, the resort is labeled an "Epcot" resort.

66 Days to Go: Port Orleans Resort

In the last hotel in the moderate range, the Port Orleans Resort is the next installment in my Disney Hotel Series.

Port Orleans Resort opened in 1991 to reflect the architecture of New Orleans' French Quarter. In 2001, it was renamed Port Orleans French Quarter. It was then merged with Disney's Dixie Landings, which was renamed Port Orleans Riverside. This part of the resort was styled to represent an antebellum South, particularly along the mighty Mississippi River. It's two sections, Alligator Bayou and Magnolia Bend, were kept intact. This resort is located in the Downtown Disney section of the World.

Besides the Riverside Mill Food Court (Riverside) and Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory (French Quarter), the resort also have a sit-down service restaurant called Boatwright's Dining Hall. Each resort that comprises Port Orleans has its own music hall--Riverside has the ragtime club called River Roost while the French Quarter has a jazz club called Scat Cat's Club.

The resort also has Ol' Man Island, a recreational area that houses a pool hall, a playground, and Port Orleans' pool. It also features a fishing hole for those who wish to bond with their families while fishing.

Once again, I haven't been to this resort though my dad stayed at Riverside when it was still Dixie Landings. I had a Dixie Landings shirt for a few years until I outgrew it. I think I need to replace it with a Port Orleans' shirt.

67 Days to Go: Coronado Springs Resort

Since I finished off the value resorts, I thought I'd make entry number four in my Disney hotels series another moderate resort like the Caribbean.

Coronado Springs Resort is designed to evoke a Southwestern spa resort. It is also designed to evoke a Mexican heritage, shared in the Southwest United States. The rooms come with double queen beds, a TV, coffee makers (ooh, another Disney tip), refrigerators, and other amenities that are making me wonder if I want to stay in Pop Century.

Besides finding various food in the market place, there is also the Maya Grill. There are several pools, complete with their own snack bars. A fitness center and spa is also located on property in case you want to work away all the time spent in the parks. Believe me, they can be draining.

You know, doing these series and seeing how short some of these entries are because I haven't been to the resort have made me make a resolution: I will stay at all Disney resorts. I promise.

69 Days to Go: The All-Stars

In my third entry to my Disney hotels series, I discuss the other three value resorts: All-Stars Sports, All-Stars Music and All-Stars Movies.

Each resort is dedicated to a different theme, spelled out clearly in its title. However, the music resort focuses specifically on five different sytles: Calypso, jazz, Broadway, rock and country music. The rooms are set up the same: two double beds, tv, and a bathroom. I have never been to these resorts--not even for a visit, unlike other resorts on Disney property--so I cannot expound any more.

71 Days to Go: Caribbean Beach Resort

In entry number two for my Disney hotels series, I go to another hotel with significance to me: the Caribbean Beach Resort. My family and I stayed here for a couple years and then I stayed here with my class on our senior trip.

The Caribbean Beach Resort, like Pop Century, has rooms divided into sections. However, this time, they are named after islands in the Caribbean. Last time I stayed there, we were in Aruba. They are designed to look like hotels you would find in the islands, complete with their own man-made beaches next to a lake. There is also an island that serves as a bird sanctuary, which you most likely will have to go through to get to Old Port Royale, the market place. The market place has various food places and a gift shop. There is a pizza place in Old Port Royale which will deliver to your room.

The room contains two beds, a TV, a table and a bathroom. You can get adjoining rooms.

One of our running jokes in my family is that we no matter which island we stayed on, it was always the last one the bus went to. Of course, that changed once I was in a group of 40-something teenage girls. We'd board the bus and the driver would turn around to ask us where we were going. And Aruba was then always the first stop.

The Caribbean Beach Resort is classified as a moderate resort and an Epcot resort, meaning its close to Epcot (it's actually closer to Hollywoodland in my opinion).

73 Days to Go: Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground

Welcome to my hotel series! My family may prefer to stay at the Pop Century Resort for our own reasons, but there are plenty of other hotels. And they may prove more suitable for your trip.

Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground was our old stomping grounds and one of my favorites. The rooms are actually cabins set up in loops off the main road. Each cabin contains a kitchen (complete with refrigerator and stove), a living room with a Murphy bed, a bathroom, and a bedroom with a king and bunk beds. One can easily fit a family of about six to eight (or just a party of that many).

The resort is set in a beautiful outdoor setting, complete with a view of the lake. There are trials that you can bike along or take a golf cart as well. Guests can also rent jetskis or boats to go on the lake with. Each loop comes wth their own pools (where laundry services are also located) for a swim. My family loved to go there for a late night, post-park swim.

The Trading Post serves a store for souvenirs to a grocery. Located near the Trading Post is Trail's End, a buffet serving good old American food. My sister loves their ribs, I love their fried chicken.

Tomorow: The Hoop-de-Doo Revue, also housed in Fort Wilderness.

90 Days to Go: Hotel Accomodations

With 90 days left till I go to Disney, I'm going to start the countdown with our hotel accomodations!

Once again, we're staying in Pop Century, a hotel dedicated to everything pop culture from the last five decades and putting "Talk About Pop Music" and the theme for "Pop Up Video" on loop in my head everytime I see the bus come. We've already stayed in the 80's and the 70's while my parents have stayed in the 50's. I'm personally rooting for the 60's, mostly for the pool. If we get that decade, we'll have the Hippy Dippy Pool again. It's shaped like a flower and comes with flower shaped showers, pouring cold water into the pool. And when you're swimming in Florida during August, the pool water is like bath water. Cold water is refreshing.

This time though, I am definitely going back to the eighties with my photographer (AKA my sister) in tow. We're getting pictures with the Pacman ghosts!

Speaking of Pacman, we're going to have to hit the arcade again. Imagine an arcade filled with the best games of the past decades--you have the Pop Century arcade. My mom and I rock the Skeeball game while Kathleen flits from game to game, racking up her share of tickets. I've also been trying to convince my mom that she can play "Invisible Space Invaders" even though it won't give us tickets to no avail. I know she loves that game as much as Skeeball.

I am also looking forward to the cafeteria, particularly the desserts--delicious chocolate/chocolate cake. Yum! The pizza isn't so bad--a good hold over until we return to the superior New York pies.

The rooms themselves aren't anything special--your typical hotel room. There are two beds, a night stand, TV, table, sink and bathroom. However, it works for my family as we primarily sleep there. And the cleaning staff at Disney are a creative bunch. I remember to pack my Lambie (who still comes with me for home away from home) or else he'll end up in strange scenes (like listening to my walkman). However, we did get a very impressive toothbrush holder last time.

So, here's to you, Pop Century!

The toothbrush holder by the Disney staff!

Memories...

Last week, as we were cleaning out the basement in order to put in our new TV, we came across some old pictures. One was from almost ten years ago. It was of my family and some friends on Splash Mountain in Walt Disney World. The girls in the front (my sister and her friends) are screaming their heads off, my dad and I have our arms up in the air and our friend Jack looks like he's asleep in the back row.

I've admitted my love for Disney before but this discovery came at an interesting time--exactly one year since our last Disney trip. My family and I have been there so many times, we have everything down to a science. Allow me to share.

Hotels. There are two options: staying on property or staying off. If you want the full Disney experience, stay on property. Each resort has it's own unique theme and charm, providing a good fit for whatever suits your family. We have our favorite resorts to stay--lately, it's been Pop Century since it's an economy class. We book two rooms--one for my parents, one for my sister and I. It allows us to do that and stay for a long period of time. Each section is devoted to a decade from the last century (50's, 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's) and decorated to match. For example, when we stayed in the 80's, our staircases were inside Rubik's Cubes. Pacman and the ghosts decorated the railings as well as sayings like "Radical!" There are three pools and a main center with a gift shop and cafeteria (complete with a grocery section).

Though I wouldn't mind a return to Fort Wilderness, a cabin setting. It's easy to fit a family or party of eight in there (a queen sized bed, bunk beds, a large Murphy bed, and the couch). It also has a kitchen, so you are not confined to park eating. While I'm not much of an outdoors girl, there's just something about the setting that I love. Even if you are walking around in the dark coming back from the pool trying to find which cabin is yours, illuminating the numbers with a small flashlight.

Dining: Walt Disney World has a dining plan. My family doesn't use it and usually get annoyed at the people who do when they are holding up the line. For a better idea, go to this website. However, it does require everyone (whether on the plan or not) to make reservations if there is a sit-down restaurant you want to eat at. Some of our favorites to reserve are: Chef Mickey's (a buffet complete with characters in the Contemporary Hotel), the Liberty Tree Tavern and Trail's End. The Liberty Tree Tavern is located in Liberty Square with a preset menu: delicious biscuits, a salad, chicken, ham and roast beef, mashed potatoes and vegetables with apple cobbler for dessert. Until next year, there are also characters. Trail's End is a buffet at Fort Wilderness. My family loves it for the ribs. I love it for the fried chicken and rice.

The window service options at Disney aren't bad either--I'd suggest Geppetto's in the Magic Kingdom, the Electric Umbrella in Epcot, the Backlot in Hollywoodland and the Earl of Sandwich in Downtown Disney. Each service area has the fallback of hamburgers (or cheeseburgers without the cheese), but the menus vary. You and your party can easily find whatever you want.

Transportation. If you stay on property, Disney provides transportation around the resort. Buses run from each hotel to the parks as well as Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon. If you want to go to a different hotel for food, you'll have to either go to a park or Downtown Disney (and after the parks close, only Downtown Disney until 3 AM. I don't know if this will continue once Pleasure Island closes). You can also take the monorails to the Magic Kingdom and Epcot from the Ticket and Transportation Center. If you stay at the Polynesian Resort, the Contemporary or the Grand Floridian, a monorail runs through those hotels. There are also ferry services available as well. Of course, you can also bring a car and drive everywhere. Saves time at the end of the day when everyone rushes the buses/ferries/monorails.

The Parks. For these, each family is different. My family always goes to the Magic Kingdom first, fastpass Buzz Lightyear and go on the Wed-way People Mover. A relaxing start and allows you to scope out the wait times in Tomorrowland. If you go to Epcot, I suggest going to the World Showcase once it opens. It opens an hour after Future World, so everyone is online or waiting on fastpasses for those rides. There are no lines in the Showcase. Once you are finished going around the world in 80 minutes, everyone is heading toward the Showcase while you are going to the much shorter lines in Future World. Note though: Fastpass Soarin' immediately. It has a three-hour stand-by wait and the fastpasses are usually for 4 PM if you show up at 11 AM. Animal Kingdom is generally a half-day thing, so plan for a trip to Hollywoodland or the Magic Kingdom for the second half. Also, avoid the Magic Kingdom on the weekends. It's usually the most crowded then.

Miscellanous. My family loves a good game of mini-golf. Last year, we went to the Fantasia golf course. It's a great time and allows you to meet some nice families in the back-up for the holes. Never underestimate the importance of just relaxing and using the hotel pool. If you have a car, don't be afraid of leaving the property for dinner one night. There's a Sizzler and an Olive Garden nearby. If you are Catholic, there is a church just outside the property called the Shrine of Our Lady of the Universe. It's just tourists and masses are packed. Don't be afraid to explore.

If you have any more Disney related questions, don't be afraid to ask!

Double, Double, Toil and Trouble...

So, time to squeeze two days into one blog post while I try not to blather on!

We drove the half-hour from Boston to Salem. We checked in to the Hawthorne Hotel, a rather swanky place to lay your head. It is furnished in a classic style, evoking a late 19th/early 20th century hotel decor. The room though was small, especially since my family of four was sharing it. The bathroom was even smaller. I like historic things, but not if they make me feel claustrophobic. Those who like staying in such hotels and don't mind small rooms will love it though it is a bit pricey.

We mostly focused on Salem's maritime history on Friday, a time that's greatly overshadowed by the Witch Trials. Salem's maritime area was one of the first national historic parks, still staffed by park rangers. One took us to the Narbonne and Derby houses. The Narbonne house had been lived in until the 1960s and the rangers decided not to restore it. So you have radiators next to fireplaces or a smoke detector in a low-ceiling, 17th century room. It's a great study in contrasts and best illustrates the passage of time. The Derby House was built by one of America's first millionaire, a man who owned the ships who went to sea to get the goods. His ceilings were higher since he could afford to hit such rooms. And his family had an affinity for the color green. In the visitor's center, there was brief video on the history of Salem's maritime might. It lasted from the middle of American Revolution, when many of Salem's ships were used as privateers, to around 1807 when Jefferson ordered an embargo on American exports. Even still, America hoped that Salem's trade would come back so they built a new, shiny Customs House, which we toured next. One of the surveyors was Nathaniel Hawthorne and his job was slow, so he ended up writing The Scarlet Letter. Upstairs, we saw the original eagle that sat atop the house--a replica sits there now.

That night, after a great dinner at Victoria Station (if I were more knowledgable on food, I'd compliment but I don't think you want to read another food comment of "delicious"), we went on a haunted Salem tour. Others in Salem told us we were going on a good tour and they were right. Our guide took us around many places of Salem (the town hall, Joshua Ward house, old jail, etc) and told us the history of the place as well as the ghost story. I would definitely recommend it. It's not something where they stick you in a haunted place for some time nor is it just ghost stories, but history. For instance, we learned about the sheriff who arrested most of the people in the Salem Witch Trials, Jonathan Corwin. Of course, it is believed he still haunts where his house stood (the Joshua Ward house) and he is not a friendly ghost like Casper. We took pictures, but it was raining so we can't tell if they are ghost orbs or the rain. Paging Grant or Jason!

The next day we went to the Salem Witch Museum. We were herded into a small auditorium where they used wax figures to tell the story of 1692, mostly focusing on victims Rebecca Nurse and John Proctor (probably most well known from Arthur Miller's The Crucible). After that, we were sent into another room. We were told the history of the pagan midwife who was morphed by Christians into a witch, told by the stereotypical witch (think Margaret Hamilton as the Wicked Witch of the West in "The Wizard of Oz"). Next we were told about modern day Wiccans. Along the wall was a timeline regarding witchcraft, including the trials and Macbeth (which was written due to the Gunpowder Plot). Strangely, Harry Potter was left off. From there, we went to the Salem Witch Trial memorial, where you walk in a park next to a cemetary. Stone seats appear to line the walls, but when you get close you realize each bears the name of the 19 victims. Rebecca Nurse's stone still had candles and George Burroughs' had flowers.

We walked back to the waterfront to the famous House of Seven Gables. We toured the house, which was built by sea captain, whose grandson lost the house so it was purchased by another sea captain. This one was a relative of Nathaniel Hawthorne, who became close with the captain's daughter. It was she who told Hawthorne of the house's past (and of it's seven gables. It only had three when Hawthorne was alive) and encouraged him to write. When the house was purchased by a woman hoping to start a settlement house, she knew the draw would be for tourists to feel as if they were in the novel. She put the other four gables back on and built the secret staircase Cliff may have used. We climbed up the narrow stairway and stood in the small room. Next door, they had relocated the house Nathaniel Hawthorne had been born in so we went on a tour. It's an average 18th/19th century house, filled with stories about Hawthorne. Apparently, he didn't take criticism well and if any story received negative reviews, he burned it.

That afternoon, we saw "Cry Innocent," a re-enactment of the trial of Bridget Bishop. The show started by a fountain, where the town crier tells us that a warrant has been issued for Bishop. She appears and the constable arrests her. He drags her to town hall while she tries to resist. We follow along to be the grand jury of her trial. We sat in the town hall and various witnesses were called forth to bear witness against Bishop. She wasn't a pleasant woman and often quarreled with her neighbors, as well as been widowed twice--her second husband falling off a roof! We were able to ask questions in between two blocks of testimony before voting. We voted to free her, though in real life, it was decided there was enough to go to trial. She was later found guilty and became the first to hang. The actors were young but very good, particularly the actress who played Bridget Bishop. She conveyed while these neighbors might be afraid or hold a grudge against her. Because of how aflicted the girls were, no actress portrayed them--they were represented by chalkboards with their names written on it. The actress often stared at this wall, as if watching the girls' strange sight, pausing when addressing them and showed great talent to act to something that wasn't there. I suggest anyone who goes to Salem tries to get a ticket to see this.

And thus our vacation ended. We drove back to Salem, arriving at 11:30 PM back here Saturday night. Tomorrow I should post the pictures I toook. I'm the genius who has owned her camera for two years and finally figured out how to use flash just this past vacation.

All Aboard

So, we're in Boston! And I'm writing this post in red in honor of the Boston Red Sox (though I walked around in an FDNY shirt and a Staten Island Yankees cap). For anyone going to Boston, I would pay attention to what we did today and really consider it.

We made reservations yesterday to go on a bus tour of Boston. The bus picked us up right outside of our hotel at 9:10 AM. There is a bus that goes to different hotels located in the same area and that makes up your group. Our driver, Neil, took us into the city so he had to navigate the traffic. We started at Breed's Hill, where the Battle of Bunker Hill was fought because the American army official thought Breed's Hill would be a better choice. There is a monument there where you can climb to the top--warning, it is 294 steps and no elevator. The last time I saw a sign warning me there were 294 steps, it was the London Tube telling us the stairs were for "Emergency Use Only" and to take the lift. My family climbed to the top, my fear of heights kicked in and then our legs were like jelly for the next two hours.

We piled back into the bus after most of us climbed the monument and headed over to the Navy Yard. Docked there is the USS Constitution, built in 1793 and still in service, manned by members of the Navy. My family did the museum there, which has a 19 minute movie about what the USS Constitution means to America as well as the history of the ship. The upstairs has an exhibit dedicated to just the War of 1812. After our time in the Navy Yard was up, we continued on a bus tour around Boston. We saw where the Boston Massacre occurred, the Massachusetts State House, City Hall, Beacon Hill (also home to the location that inspired the show "Cheers"), and then, we made a quick stop at Fenway. I'm not much of a baseball fan but even I had to get off to see this legendary park.

After Fenway Park, we went on a college tour over in Cambridge. We visited MIT and Neil told us about some of the pranks seniors have played using the Dome of Knowledge, like when they turned it into R2-D2. After MIT, we drove further into Cambridge until we came into Harvard University. There were many students walking around and I couldn't tell if they were college tours or orientations. Neil told us there is a statue in Harvard with three lies written on it. It is of John Harvard, except it is actually the artist's friend pretending to be Harvard. It says he is a founder, but he just donated his money and books to the school. And the statue says it was founded in 1638, but was really opened in 1636. Harvard just died in '38 and they named the school after him due to his post-homous donation. Our last stop in Cambridge was to the Longfellow House, where Henry Wadsworth Longfellow lived.

After Cambridge, we returned to Boston to Fanueil Hall. It is a market place comprised of the original Fanueil Hall as well as three new halls: Quincy Market, South Market and North Market. Both South and North have stores as well as food places while Quincy is just all food. There are also other stores located in the market place and I saw a Wagamama's. It's a noodle place I ate at in London, which I loved. If they are expanding into North America, I am excited. It is cafeteria style dining and the food is delicious. We ate at Sam's Cafe/Cheers--a replica of the famous bar. I had a BLT sandwich with Italian dressing--very good though the bacon tasted off to me. We finished off with ice cream and returned to the bus.

Our last stop was to Copp's Hill and the Old North Church. Now, throughout the day, Neil has been telling us how Paul Revere's role was greatly exaggerated. While he did make the ride to Lexington, he was one of a few riders and he was the one who told his friend to hang two lanterns. He wasn't riding to warn the countryside moreso to warn John Hancock and Samuel Adams, who the British were coming to capture. And he didn't do that--the British got him as he entered town. Fellow rider William Dawes, Jr. got the message through. At Copp's Hill, we saw the gravestone of Robert Newman, the man who lit the lanterns and hung them in the Old North Church. Because of a curfew, the British troops came to arrest him but had to release him due to lack of evidence (thanks to that same curfew). We saw the Old North Church, but since the famous bellfry is 14 stories up and our legs are still angry at us for Breed's Hill, we just viewed the Church and listened to a quick information session.

And that was the end of our day. We returned to the hotel, relaxed our sore legs and then went across the street to Bickford's for dinner. I had one of the best grilled chicken clubs of my life followed by a hot, delicious apple crisp I shared with my mom.

As for the bus tour, I would definitely recommend it for newcomers to Boston. If you like to do things at your own pace, though, you may want to skip this. We were given time limits on how long we spent at each place--Breed's Hill was 20 minutes while the Navy Yard was about an hour, for example. But as a way to get a great tour of the city without walking or fighting traffic, it's a definite. It's also a good way to acquainted with some of the sites you may want to see while in Boston. So if you are staying a few days in the city, definitely do this first.

We're going back to do the Freedom Trail tomorrow, so I'm going to hold off the pictures until then.

I FOUND NEMO!

Or On the Road Part Two

Today we woke in our Best Western...several times. My sister set the alarm for 7 AM and then spent the next two hours hitting the snooze button. Also, we couldn't close the curtains so the sun shone brightly in the room. Our parents went down to the continental breakfast while my sister and I changed before packing up our overnight bag. After checking out, we drove the less than five minutes to Mystic Aquarium Institute for Exploration.

NOTE: The last entry noted that it was cheaper to buy tickets at the Mystic Tourist Info Booth. It is, but what they don't tell you is that you have to redeem what they give you for the actual tickets into the aquarium.

Our first stop was for...some advice on how to tackle the aquarium. The staff at the aquarium are extremely nice and knowledgeable, quickly setting us on a good path. We visited with the beluga whales, watching them swim around and play with some of the things in their tank before moving on to the penguins. My mother loves the penguins, but still remembers that the last time we visited the aquarium, they kept their backs to us. This time was no different and one penguin seemed very interested in a rock wall. These particular penguins were from South Africa, so they were more accustomed to the warmer weather of today than Arctic temps. They were also preening, preparing to dive in.

After the penguins, we walked through a marsh, trying to spot the animals. We found a frog, some tadpoles, fish, a couple turtles sunning themselves on a log and a LOT of lily pads. At the end, was Birds of the Outback. It has it's own separate admission and you can go in to feed birds who are not in cages. So if you like that thing, spring for the extra two bucks. If you're like my family, don't and watch the baby seals across the way for a bit. It's free and they're cute.

The next part was the indoor aquarium, with tanks of many different species--not just fish. We saw bats--I remember being on a church vacation and a bat got into the chapel we were using. We realized it was following the fan in the chapel, so we turned it off and started to strum the guitar by the window in hopes it would follow the sound. It did. We also saw an iguana. There was a shark tank and I jumped every time one passed by me. We saw sting rays, made the obligatory Steve Irwin joke (RIP) and then felt bad. We saw piranha, who had a glittery appearance. And my family being Disney fans, went around and identified the different species in the movie. We just couldn't find a prawn--but we did find a diver, some poor employee who had to clean a tank with a toothbrush. The fish, though, found him fascinating.

We left the indoor aquarium and decided to skip the Challenges of the Deep movie, which is also a separate admission price. From what I've seen, it's also a ride along the veins of Star Tours in Hollywoodland in Disney World and you have to be 40'' to ride. So families with small children or people who might get motion sickness are urged to skip it. You can go straight to the exhibits, which are all about Dr. Robert Ballard's work in exploring the deepest parts of the ocean and the wrecks she keeps. There is a whole section dedicated to the Titanic, whose resting place Ballard discovered in 1985. There are pictures of items on the ocean floor, the ship herself and the first image seen of the Titanic since her sinking--a blury shot of a boiler. There was also two short videos--one about Ballard's exploration of the wrecks in the Great Lakes as well as his return to the Titanic. Also, there was a section dedicated the lost island of the Minoans, an ancient Greek civilization, as well as the Phoenicians. There is an amphora pot in this section you must look into. It's a real treat!

After leaving the exhibits, we made it in time for the next showing of something I definitely recommend doing--Seal or No Seal? It's held in the marine theater, starring a trio of sea lions. It is a fun time, the kids get to answer some questions, get free prizes and learn about sea lions at the same time! The trainers also have demonstrations with the sea lions, who are easy to train. There was an adult, Coco; a teenager, Surfer; and a baby, Boomerang. Earlier, a staffer told us Boomerang's story. He had been nursed in captivity and when released, he kept coming back--he preferred human company (he probably preferred the free fish). So, now he's being trained and is part of the show. He reminds me of the young animal character in those cartoons we all watched as children--eager and energetic.

After the show, we returned to the penguins who were now in the water. They swam around, enjoying all our attention. After marveling at them, my family bid a fond adeiu to Mystic and began our journey to Massachusetts. Note about Masspike: Service areas seem hard to come by, so you might want to make sure you go before getting on or waiting until you get off, as we soon passed about two or three. We're staying in another Best Western, this time located just outside Boston in Woburn. It's a lovely hotel with a refrigerator and a microwave. We chilled in the hotel room, just relaxing before heading down to the restaurant, Spud's. And if you are in Woburn, you need to eat here! The food was delicious! I had country fried chicken, some fries, corn and an orange. I also managed to squeeze an apple crisp in there too! I'm surprised my family didn't roll me back to our room. Oh, and the bread is to die for, especially hot!

Tomorrow: We're taking a van tour of Boston. Pick-up is at 9:05 AM, so I should be turning in soon. I do hope they have a haunted Boston tour...I love a good ghost story!

Pictured: Surfer from "Seal or No Seal"

Pictured: Boomerang (L), Coco (C), and Surfer (R) with their trainer from "Seal or No Seal"

Video: The penguins swimming around during our afternoon visit.

On the Road...Part I

Well, my family and I are here in Mystic, Connecticut. It's almost midnight and my sister is asleep, so I'll try to make this as quick as possible. We're in a Best Western just off Exit 90 on I-95, about a five minute drive from the Aquarium and the Sea Port. It's a nice place, pretty quiet, much like most Best Westerns across the United States. It's also pretty full since it's tourist season, so if you travel to Mystic, I would advise either reserving a room beforehand or making sure checking in is your top priority when you arrive here in Mystic.

We left Staten Island around 11 this morning, under cloudy skies. The roads were mostly clear until the inevitable back up at the George Washington Bridge. We inched along and my mother decided to play a game--a good tip for anyone of any age stuck in traffic in a car. We kept a list of the different license plates we saw, each taking a guess at how many states we would see. I lost out pretty quickly with my guess of 12. We kept track until we stopped in Connecticut for lunch. My dad eventually won with a guess of 20--our final total was 19 states (plus 2 Canadian provinces). After a rather delicious Subway's lunch at a truck stop, we got back on the road. The traffic on I-95 wasn't as bad as it was when we were driving through the main part of Connecticut (past Stamford, Hartford, etc), so it was good we were still playing that game.

So five hours after we left Staten Island, we pulled into Mystic and had checked in. Unfortunately, most attractions here in Mystic close at 5, so we didn't have much to do. This boggled my sister's mind, but I'm pretty used to it. The attractions closed at 5 when we were in Williamsburg, VA. And while I was in Stratford-Upon-Avon, England, it seemed the entire city shut down at 5 PM! The only things that remained open were the theater and McDonald's, though the pubs did seem to reopen by 7 PM. It seems bar-crawling is the great English pasttime. Fortunately, we didn't have to do that here (especially since my sister is underaged) as old Mystic Village is opened past 5. It is a series of different stores, something for everyone. My parents went into the Grey Goose Cookery while my sister and I hit Irish Eyes. There was something for the Irish-Italians (Irish Temper and Italian Attitude--Paging Staten Island) and Irish-Germans, but nothing for us Irish-Greeks!

After I showed the store to my parents, we met up with my rather impatient sister in the Christmas shoppe. There were ornaments off all kinds--traditional, Family Guy, Simpsons, M&Ms, Hershey chocolate, etc. We hit the general store, which smelled like popcorn, and browsed for a bit. Afterwards, we got pulled into the chocolate store and showed great self-discipline by not buying anything, no matter how GOOD that fudge looked. For you shopaholics or those who love quaint specialty shops, this place is for you! TIP: Go to the Tourist Information center in the village. You can check out different hotels, look at menus from Mystic's restaurants, pick up guide books, and buy discount tickets for the aquarium and seaport. Also, you will get a piece of paper that will save you 10% on any purchases in the shops in the village. In some stores, it allows for a free gift. And who doesn't like free gifts?

After chilling for some time in the hotel room (where you do not want to watch TV with my sister. You'll never know what happens on a show because you end up watching three at once!), we went to eat dinner in the Ground Round attached to our hotel. We used to have a Ground Round by us, but it's long gone so it was a trip down memory lane that crashed. It was more of a sports bar than the family restaurant we remembered, the one that played movies and gave you popcorn. However, the food was delicious and they gave generous portions. I had chicken tenderloins, though the baked potato fell flat. The mozzarella sticks were also delicious as well. Now, I'm never a member of the clean plate club--my appetite is a third of what they give you at restaurants--but even my father and sister couldn't finish theirs!

We spent the rest of the night watching TV and chilling out in the hotel room. Tomorrow: the Aquarium and arrival in Boston! Hopefully, I'll have pictures to show! And then I'll really have to figure out how the pictures on this thing work!