Top Ten of 2011

I can’t believe that we’ve come to the end of 2011 already. What a year it’s been! I thought I’d take a minute to share my most popular posts from 2011. You never know, they may just inspire you to plan something fun for 2012 and hopefully give you a few tips to save a bit of money along the way! 

1. Tips for a Smoother Traveling with Kids Experience

We’ve always traveled, from the time our kids were tiny. This post shares some of the tips I’ve implemented over the years to train my children to be good travelers.

2. Fun and Inexpensive Staycation Ideas for Mansfield, Ohio

At first glance, Mansfield may look like there isn’t much to offer but if you know where to look you’ve discover it’s the perfect spot for an inexpensive staycation.

3. Harmony Park Safari; a Hidden Gem in Huntsville, Alabama

We had spent two years traveling back and forth to Huntsville and lived there for a year before we found this amazing gem.   

4. Get More Bang for your Buck: Hotel Savings

Let’s fact it, it can be super expensive to travel so why would you want to blow your travel budget on lodging? This post gives you plenty of tips to save money on hotel costs.   

5. Ten Ways to Save on Prom Expenses

Last year was the first time we dealt with the expense of prom and we didn’t have one child attending- we had three! I wrote this post to show others some of the ways that we saved money and made prom a very affordable event.

6. Getting Started with Twitter

I love Twitter but have to admit that it was incredibly confusing when I first logged on. This post is my attempt to explain and simplify Twitter.     

7.  Ten Reasons You’ll Love Callaway Gardens

When my family was invited to Callaway Gardens, I had no idea what we were in for. I still imagine returning for a week long, family friendly adventure. Callaway Gardens is really some place special!

8. Samuel Boardman State Scenic Corridor

This may be my Top Ten list, but I didn’t write this post. Nope. This post was written by Barb from the ever-popular, if- you- haven’t- seen- it, you- must- visit- site, The Handbook of Nature Study. I have to say that after reading her guest post I certainly can’t wait to plan a trip to Oregon.   

9. Fort Wilderness Campground: Is It Really an Affordable and Enjoyable Alternative to Disney Resort Hotels? 

Our stay at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Campground certainly was memorable, but not in a good way. Thankfully, Disney stepped up and saved the night and it turned out not so bad after all.

10. Hiking Trails Near Huntsville, Alabama: Devil’s Racetrack near Wade Mountain  

One of the reasons we loved living in Alabama was that we were able to hike nearly anytime of the year. That allowed us to visit quite a few hiking trails. This is written from our experience to Devil’s Racetrack.

Thanks for reading The Traveling Praters! I hope you all have a very Happy New Year and can’t wait to see what 2012 has in store!

Why I Would Love to Attend the 2:1 Conference

Designed with the homeschooling blogger in mind, the 2:1 Conference will be held April 27th– 29th, 2012 in Sterling, Virginia, a short distance from Washington DC.  

1. I would love to attend the 2:1 Conference because my friends are going.

How’s that for a logical reason? I tell my teens that they shouldn’t want to do everything their friends are doing and here I am, announcing to all cyberspace, that I want to go because “it’s the thing to do.”

Well, that’s not exactly true. I want to go because I would love to meet my online friends. I want to meet the amazing godly women that I talk to online, tweet with,  and am encouraged by on a  daily basis.

2. I would love to attend the 2:1 Conference because I haven’t attended a blogging conference in two years.

If you are a serious blogger, or want to be, than I think it’s important to be continually learning.

The breakout sessions sound amazing and I’m particularly interested in Blogging and PR: Connecting with Brands you Love, Monetizing Your Site and Business Blogging: Healthy Habits for Success.

3. I would love to attend the 2:1 Conference because I haven’t been to a homeschooling convention for three years.

I’ve homeschooled for 13 years. This year, my husband and I will graduate our first child with our two other children graduating one after the other.  At this point, I don’t need the encouragement to stay the course, after all, ours is almost ending. But I do need to be encouraged so I can encourage others- online and offline.  

Raising the Daniel Generation and Where is the JOY? are two sessions that especially appeal to me. 

4. I would love to attend the 2:1 Conference because I haven’t been to Washington DC in nearly 10 years.

My hope would be that my family would be able to accompany me to the 2:1 Conference in April. With its close proximity to DC, and so many free area attractions, it will make a perfect homeschool field trip!

Are you interested in attending the 2:1 Conference? Now is the perfect time to buy your ticket, which is on sale for only $199 until December 31st! 

5 Family Friendly Attractions to Visit in Cincinnati

Cincinnati has no shortage of attractions to visit. From Kings Island and the Great Wolf Lodge, to IKEA, to catching a Reds game at the Great American Ballpark, there is something for everyone. Today I’d like to share some of the attractions that my family has enjoyed over the years while visiting Cincinnati.

1. Jungle Jim’s International Market

Jungle Jim’s International Market

5440 Dixie Highway
Fairfield, OH 45014-4108
(513) 674-6000

If you think grocery stores are a place you visit only to stock your frig, you haven’t been to Jungle Jim’s! It’s apparent from the Outdoor Jungle scene that you are not entering an ordinary grocery store. Inside you’ll find a Singing Elvis Lion, the Big Cheese, a Live Fish Harvest, and foods from over 70 different countries. What began as a small roadside stand has grown into the largest grocery store in the Cincinnati area!

Food sampling is offered everyday before 4:30 p.m., but I’ve been told that the best time to sample the offerings is on the weekend. Tours of the store are available Monday thru Friday, if you make your reservation prior to your arrival.

Make sure you stop by the award winning restrooms on your visit; all things are not as they appear!

FREE to visit & shop; small fee charged for tour.

2. William Howard Taft Birthplace National Historic Site

William Howard Taft National Historic Site
2038 Auburn Ave.
Cincinnati, Ohio 45219

A visit to the boyhood home of William Howard Taft, the Ohio born, 27th President and 10th Chief Justice of the United States includes the Taft Education Center and a guided tour of the home.

The Taft Education Center offers brochures, interactive displays and a small gift shop. The home is adjacent to the center and houses memorabilia from President Taft’s boyhood as well as highlighting his accomplishments in his political career.

A Jr. Ranger program for children between the ages of 6-12 is also available.

Free.

3. Krohn Conservatory

Krohn Conservatory
1501 Eden Park Dr. Cincinnati, Ohio 45202

(513) 421-4086

Located minutes from the Taft National Historic Site, Krohn Conservatory is a great place to relax! This attraction is beautiful inside and out. If you have an eye for architectural structures, you’ll appreciate that the building was built during the Art Deco era.

Inside you can step into the desert and rainforest- complete with a chocolate tree. Don’t leave without posing for a photo in front of the 20 foot waterfall.

Free, although there is a charge for special exhibits.

4. Newport Aquarium

Newport Aquarium One Newport Way Newport, Kentucky 41071 859-261-7444

This award winning, million gallon tank aquarium is home to thousands of animals from around the world. It is also the only facility to breed shark rays in the world. Fish feedings, touch tanks, sharks, otters, penguins, and live shows are just some of the things you’ll see and experience at Newport Aquarium- all on the banks of the Ohio River.

Cost: $22 for adults, $15 for children ages 2 through 12. Children under the age of 2 are free.

5. Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal

Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal 1301 Western Avenue
Cincinnati, OH 45203 513-287-7000 800-733-2077

Although Union Terminal no longer bustles with railway passengers, this landmark still serves the city of Cincinnati as home to the Cincinnati History Museum, Duke Energy Children’s Museum, Museum of Natural History and Science and the Omnimax Theater.

Even if you decide not to go to any of the museums, I would still recommend that you step into the Union Terminal just to view the unique architecture and stunning murals that make this building one of a kind.

The individual museums charge various admission prices.

You may also consider visiting The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, Loveland Castle, and The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden.

Have you spent time in Cincinnati? What attractions would you suggest adding to this list?

Tips for Visiting the Creation Museum

Planning a trip to the Creation Museum in Kentucky? Here are a few tips to keep in mind before your visit.

1. Arrive early.

There is so much to see at the museum and you won’t want to miss a thing.  I’ve read that you can see everything in 3-4 hours but I can’t disagree more.

My motto is, “It’s better to have more time, than not enough time.” So, why not plan on spending a complete day or two (yes, it could take that long depending on how interested you are), if you don’t need that much time, you won’t have any problems finding something else to do in nearby Cincinnati.

2. Be prepared to read. A lot.

There is a ton of reading and by the end of our visit, our heads were spinning. Audio tours may not be offered (but would certainly be a welcome addition), however, if you plan ahead, you can reserve a spot on a Closer Look tour.

Led by AiG scientists and speakers, the Closer Look tours offer guests a guided tour through the museum. You can visit the events page to see if a tour will be offered during your visit and to reserve your space.

3. Plan ahead.

There is much to see and you won’t want to miss anything. Prior to your visit, you can visit the Creation Museums website and find out what workshops and special programming will be offered during your visit so you can plan your day before your arrival.

In addition to the museum displays, there are several movies that are shown at various times throughout the day, special programs, children’s activities, a petting zoo, botanical garden (with a free cell phone audio tour) and Stargazers Planetarium (for an additional cost, but HIGHLY recommended).

4. Visit during the week for less crowds.

We visited during Christmas break and it was very crowded. If you want to avoid the crowds, visit during the week if at all possible. If that doesn’t work for you, be patient, once you get through the admission lines you’ll discover that the museum is a pretty big place.

I do suggest that you buy your tickets to the planetarium as soon as you arrive and make sure that you arrive early for all movies and special programming to assure that you’ll have a seat.

5. Consider purchasing an annual pass.

Depending on the size of your family, or ages of your children, it may cost less or just a bit more to purchase an annual membership than one day pass. Family memberships start at $178.95 and allow your family free admission during the duration of your membership, invitations to members-only events, and allow you to support the AiG ministry.

6. Save money by visiting on a free or discounted day.

The Creation Museum offers several free days and special pricing to various groups at select times of the year, such as the 2012 Winter Homeschool Days. 

Free Days for 2012 include: 

Mothers: May 13 (Mother’s Day)

Fathers: June 17 (Father’s Day)

Veterans: May 28 (Memorial Day),  July 4 (Fourth of July), November 11 (Veterans Day)

All guests: December 24, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM (Christmas Eve)

Children under five years old: Always free

Find out about special promotions by following the Creation Museum blog, and/or on  Twitter, and Facebook.

Have you visited the Creation Museum? What helpful tips would you add?

2012 Winter Homeschool Days at the Creation Museum

It’s nearly time for the Winter 2012 Homeschool Days at the Creation Museum! This is a perfect opportunity for homeschool families to save money while supplementing their homeschool curriculum with a fun field trip!

Just look at what the Creation Museum has in store for you: 

The Creation Museum presents a unique and unparalleled experience, a walk through time portraying significant, life-altering events from the past, illuminating the effects of biblical history on our present and future world. Be prepared to experience history in a completely unprecedented way. Our state-of-the-art exhibits, Stargazer's planetarium, life-sized dinosaur animatronics and beautiful outdoor gardens with paved walking trails and petting zoo make this an exciting addition to every homeschool curriculum.

Weekdays, from January 2 until February 29, 2012, the Creation Museum will offer discounted admission to homeschool families. Prices are as follows:

Adults, age 13 and up- $12                                                                                                       Children, ages 5 to 12- $8                                                                                                  Planetarium- $5

If you’d like to take advantage of the savings offered by visiting the Winter Homeschool Days at the Creation Museum, please print and present this PDF when purchasing your tickets at the ticket counter. The pricing is ONLY offered with this coupon!

As an added bonus, homeschooling families may present their admission tickets in Noah’s Cafe or the Dragon Hall Bookstore to receive a 5% discount on all purchases.

If you have any questions, regarding the 2012 Winter Homeschool Days, please contact Eddie Lutz at 859-240-6642 or by email at elutz@creationmuseum.org.  The Creation Museum is located at 2800 Bullittsburg Church Rd. Petersburg, KY, just outside of Cincinnati.

Though we haven’t attended a homeschool day, my family did have the opportunity to visit the museum. You may enjoy reading about our visit at The Creation Museum: Field Trip Friday. 

Coming up, later this week, I’ll be sharing tips for visiting the Creation Museum,  my family’s favorite creation resources and links, and other places to visit in nearby Cincinnati. I hope you’ll stop back!

Have you been to the Creation Museum or do you plan to visit during the 2012 Winter Homeschool Days?   

Teaching Life Skills at The Homeschool Classroom

 

Oops! I almost forgot! Today I’m sharing 15 Life Skills Essential to My Children at the Homeschool Classroom. My kids are approaching adulthood at an incredible pace and I find myself trying to teach them everything I can think of.  I hope you’ll stop by and share what you are or have worked on with your own children.

Our Trip to The Legendary Lights of Clifton Mill

If we still lived in Huntsville, we would have jumped in the car, zipped across town and enjoyed viewing the Galaxy of Lights, as we have the past two years. Now that we’re back in Ohio, I thought it would be a great time to begin a new light viewing tradition. Originally, my thoughts were that it would be really fun to seek out the best light displays in Ohio and visit one each weekend until Christmas.

It sounded great in my head anyway. I quickly changed my mind once I voiced my idea.

My daughter and I. No, it’s not just the Santa hat. She really is taller than me.

Some of the family was up for it, but not everyone was on board with the idea. So with much grumbling, we jumped in the car, picked up my mother-in-law and drove nearly two hours  to view the Legendary Lights at Clifton Mill.

I was wagering that once we arrived and my kids saw the lights, they’d forget about the drive and enjoy the display.  Or so I hoped. 

Our visit would coincide with the opening weekend and take place on a Saturday, so I was prepared for crowds. We arrived early, easily found the free parking lot and followed the already gathering bystanders towards the gate.

Personally, I enjoyed walking around and viewing the mill without the lights. Arriving early allowed us time see some of the displays before it got really busy.

  

We saw the nativity- every Christmas display should have one.

The amazing animated miniature village features dozens of tiny scenes, including a miniature Clifton mill and village, a moving train, and an OSU stadium- after all, this is the Buckeye State!

 

The Toy Shop displays dozens of vintage games, toys and sleds from the 1940’s, 1950’s, 60’s and 70’s. I saw many items that I recognized from my own childhood.

They also had this light from the Christmas Story on display.

Santa’s Workshop adjoins the Toy Shop where you can peek inside the windows and see Santa hard at work.

We also made our way through the Santa display which includes over 3,000 Santa Clauses and claims to be the largest Santa display in the US!  

 

At exactly 6 p.m. the mill goes from hushed darkness to a brilliant display of color.

The best place to view the amazing transformation is on the deck outside the seating area of the mill’s restaurant or somewhere along the fence between the covered bridge and the water wheel.

Across the bank you can see the beautiful rippling waterfall of lights. It takes over 3.6 million lights to put on a display of this magnitude.   

 

Every hour on the hour guests gather around the covered bridge to watch an unbelievable mind-blowing light show synchronized to dramatic Christmas music that I haven’t been able to get out of my head since that night.  Da da da da….

 

Just as the show ended at the covered bridge, we saw Santa pop out of the chimney of his workshop. If you miss him, don’t worry. He reappears every 20 minutes and between his appearances, you can peek through the windows of his workshop and spy on him as he tinkers around.  

 

Don’t forget to take another peek at the miniature display once the lights are turned on. I loved the miniature Clifton Mill. 

   

Before you head home make sure you stop in the Country Store gift shop for some of the Mill’s special pancake mix. Doesn’t Apple Cinnamon or Blueberry pancakes sound especially yummy?  

 

Details for visiting:

Clifton Mill is located in the charming town of Clifton, about 30 miles east of Dayton or 40 miles south west of Columbus, just outside Springfield. You’ll find the mill at  75 Water St. Clifton, OH 45316.

Hours of operation are 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. every night. I highly suggest that you arrive before the lights come on at 6 p.m. for the most memorable experience.  The gates close an hour early on Christmas Eve, Christmas and New Year’s Eve. 

In the event of severe weather or rain, Clifton Mill will not be open. If you are in doubt or you’ll be driving quite a distance,  call ahead to confirm their hours at 937-767-5501.

Admission is $10 per person for everyone age 7 and older, younger children are free.

You can find out about the history of the mill and additional information on the Clifton Mill website. 

Don’t let the price (or a bit of a drive) scare you, I think it was worth every penny and if you’re curious, my wager paid off. My teenagers did enjoy the outing.

If you missed it you can read my post 5 Christmas Light Displays worth the Drive. What Christmas light displays have you enjoyed?

Join the 5 Days of Christmas series- It’s Your Turn!

Thanks for stopping by and joining me for the 5 Days of Christmas series this week! It’s been fun to share some of my ideas and tips and to read all of the wonderful posts from the other bloggers that also participated in the series.

Now it’s your turn to share. You can link up your best Christmas post with a tip, craft idea or recipe for the 5 Days of Christmas. You can write a post specifically for the 5 Days of Christmas series, or you can link up a post that you’ve written in the past. It’s up to you. I can’t wait to read your posts!

A Slob Comes Clean – Getting Your Home Company Ready
Feels Like Home – Christmas Traditions
Somewhat Crunchy – Christmas with Dairy Allergies
Spell Outloud – Children’s Books
Mama’s Learning Corner – Children’s Crafts
Many Little Blessings – Edible Gifts
Sunflower Schoolhouse – Decorations
An Oregon Cottage – Christmas Cookies
Catholic Icing – Wishing Jesus Happy Birthday                                                                     Mama's Laundry Talk - Laundry Gifts                                                                                            The Homeschool Classroom – Gifts Kids Can Make

5 Gifts Ideas for Your Traveling Canine

This week for the 5 Days of Christmas Traveling, I’ve shared:

• 5 Christmas Light Displays Worth the Drive
• 5 Tips to Help Keep You Sane While Traveling
• 5 Gift Ideas for the Traveler in Your Life
• 5 Gift Ideas for the Traveling Teen

You can also read one of my posts at The Homeschool Classroom:

• Creating a One-of-a-Kind Bible in Nine Easy Steps 

For my final post in the series, I had planned to share some of the unique places that we’ve shopped for Christmas gifts or Home Tours around the Country that you shouldn’t miss. Instead, I decided to share a few gift ideas for some of the other special members of your family, your faithful, four legged traveling canines. 

In three years, we’ve barely gone anywhere without ours. Let me tell you, our dog has really logged some miles! And he’s a great traveler.

1. Our dog may love to travel with us, but he also likes to see where we’re going. When he was smaller, he often sat on someone’s lap. Now that he is bigger he demands a seat of his own, but he’s not quite big enough to see out the window. Which is why a booster/car seat is #1 on my list of gift ideas for the traveling canine.

2. I don’t like giving up my comfy bed when we’re traveling and either does Vincent. This  travel bed is perfect for the dog on the go!

3. Vincent knows it’s time for a trip when I begin to pack necessities in his travel bag. Every dog should have one and this one is great because it comes with portable food and water containers that match the bag. I’m a sucker for matching pieces!

4. You do realize that responsible dog owners clean up after their pets, right? I love these handy waste disposal bags that can clip right on Vincent’s travel bag so I know just where they are when I need them.

5. I’m a fan of practical ideas, but your four-legged- fur- baby wants something fun for Christmas, too. Every year, I pick up one of these ducks to go along with other  stocking stuffers. Not only does Vincent love to open them, these toys keep him occupied for hours on the road!

  Don’t forget to visit the other bloggers that are participating in the 5 Days of Christmas series! 

A Slob Comes Clean - Getting Your Home Company Ready

Feels Like Home - Christmas Traditions

Somewhat Crunchy - Christmas with Dairy Allergies

Spell Outloud - Children's Books

Mama's Learning Corner - Children's Crafts

Many Little Blessings - Edible Gifts

Sunflower Schoolhouse – Decorations

An Oregon Cottage - Christmas Cookies

Catholic Icing - Wishing Jesus Happy Birthday

The Homeschool Classroom - Gifts Kids Can Make

Mama's Laundry Talk - Laundry Gifts

Successful Homeschooling – Serving

*This post contains affiliate links.

5 Gift Ideas for the Traveler in Your Life

Yesterday I shared 5 Gift Ideas for Traveling Teens, but what about the adult traveler in your life? Today I’ll offer 5 Gift Ideas for the Traveler in Your Life, all of which are items that I own or would love to have!

1. These luggage tags are too cute and at only $10 for the set, won’t break the bank.

2. It wasn’t until our last cruise that I decided I really needed a jewelry organizer. I don’t often wear or travel with expensive jewelry, but I do love costume jewelry and packing my pieces on our last vacation to Alaska was a mess. I just tossed it all into my suitcase and had to untangle each piece before I could wear it. I’ll certainly buy a jewelry organizer before I travel again!

3.  A travel size noise machine is probably the best gift I’ve ever purchased my husband. Now, whether he’s at home or on the road he can drift off to sleep each night to the same calming sounds of crashing waves or the chirping of crickets on a summer night.   4. Every traveler needs an iPhone, iPad or my favorite, the very portable iPod Touch. They are small, portable, and invaluable. Are you trying to plan a trip, find free wi-fi, figure out what to pack for Caribbean vacation, or in need of a public restroom in NYC? There’s an app for that!   

5. When all else fails, remember that gift cards are always appreciated, especially for the traveler who can use them to pay for meals, gas, lodging and entertainment while on the road.

What ideas would you add to the list?

Don’t forget to stop by and visit the other bloggers participating in the 5 Days of Christmas series!

A Slob Comes Clean - Getting Your Home Company Ready

Feels Like Home - Christmas Traditions

Somewhat Crunchy - Christmas with Dairy Allergies

Spell Outloud - Children's Books

Mama's Learning Corner - Children's Crafts

Many Little Blessings - Edible Gifts

Sunflower Schoolhouse – Decorations

An Oregon Cottage - Christmas Cookies

Catholic Icing - Wishing Jesus Happy Birthday

The Homeschool Classroom - Gifts Kids Can Make

Mama's Laundry Talk - Laundry Gifts

Successful Homeschooling – Serving

*This post does include affiliate links.