My Road Less Traveled By

Even though its still summer here in Chicago, I like to think about how I would love to spend our winter vacation. While its below zero here, I would love to go to a place like the French Polynesian islands. Tahiti sounds absolutely wonderful. Did you know that there are 2 volcanoes there (which I would love to go see) and that by car it takes about 6 hours to go from one end of the island to the other (and this is without stopping)?  You could easily spread out traveling the island over a week or more. There are several places to stop like their colorful market, art and history museums, botanical and flower gardens, animated nightlife, and cultural exhibitions. The picture to the left is one of the three waterfalls that can be found here too.  The resorts are spectacular.  I was not sure what I was expecting when I was checking out some of the amenities, but a lot of their resorts have high speed internet, babysitting, currency exchange, etc.  Pretty much, they have every kind of hotel that will fit your needs.  If you want fancy, they have it.  If you want one that just has a bed for you to sleep in at night, they have that too.  I can definitely see my family and me spending a few Tahiti Holidays here.  How about you?

Even though its still summer here in Chicago, I like to think about how I would love to spend our winter vacation. While its below zero here, I would love to go to a place like the French Polynesian islands. Tahiti sounds absolutely wonderful. Did you know that there are 2 volcanoes there (which I would love to go see) and that by car it takes about 6 hours to go from one end of the island to the other (and this is without stopping)?  You could easily spread out traveling the island over a week or more. There are several places to stop like their colorful market, art and history museums, botanical and flower gardens, animated nightlife, and cultural exhibitions. The picture to the left is one of the three waterfalls that can be found here too.  The resorts are spectacular.  I was not sure what I was expecting when I was checking out some of the amenities, but a lot of their resorts have high speed internet, babysitting, currency exchange, etc.  Pretty much, they have every kind of hotel that will fit your needs.  If you want fancy, they have it.  If you want one that just has a bed for you to sleep in at night, they have that too.  I can definitely see my family and me spending a few Tahiti Holidays here.  How about you?

Bill and I have been struggling this whole summer so far trying to decide where to take the kids on vacation this year.  With my kids only being 4 and 1, it is a hard call.  I do not want to be spending a ton of money on a trip they are not going to remember.  That being said and with gas prices being so high, we have decided to stay home and vacation.  We live right next to Chicago, and never have any time to enjoy it!  Being that Bill hates to drive downtown more than he has to, we are looking at staying maybe one night (maybe even two) with the kids downtown.  There is a ton of stuff to do in Chicago like Navy Pier, Children’s Museum, The Museum of Science and Industry, The Aquarium, and The Field Museum.  This is just a few things that are just a few blocks away from one another.  On top of there being a ton of things to do, there area also a ton of hotels to pick from.  I personally think we need one with a pool and continental breakfast if we have the kids with.  I love that Hotels Combined has the ability to search on the very parameters that I want.  It makes it so easy to find exactly what I want.  Our plan is to become a tourist in our very own town and visit all the places we never have time for!

Where are you going on vacation this summer?

Bill and I have been struggling this whole summer so far trying to decide where to take the kids on vacation this year.  With my kids only being 4 and 1, it is a hard call.  I do not want to be spending a ton of money on a trip they are not going to remember.  That being said and with gas prices being so high, we have decided to stay home and vacation.  We live right next to Chicago, and never have any time to enjoy it!  Being that Bill hates to drive downtown more than he has to, we are looking at staying maybe one night (maybe even two) with the kids downtown.  There is a ton of stuff to do in Chicago like Navy Pier, Children’s Museum, The Museum of Science and Industry, The Aquarium, and The Field Museum.  This is just a few things that are just a few blocks away from one another.  On top of there being a ton of things to do, there area also a ton of hotels to pick from.  I personally think we need one with a pool and continental breakfast if we have the kids with.  I love that Hotels Combined has the ability to search on the very parameters that I want.  It makes it so easy to find exactly what I want.  Our plan is to become a tourist in our very own town and visit all the places we never have time for!

Where are you going on vacation this summer?

Can you see the town in the side of the hill there? That is Jerome, AZ. Never heard of it? Neither did I till we went to Arizona. This is a town with a very interesting history.Jerome was founded in 1876 and started off as a tent town. It later grew into a mining town of 15,000 and was known as the wickedest town in the West. This site had almost a billion dollars worth of copper. Many miners died due to explosices and unsafe conditions. World War I brought prosperity and growth for Jerome which flourished until the Great Depression in the 1930s. In its heyday, there were 13 hotels, 21 bars, and 8 “red light district” houses. At its lowest, the population was about 200. In the 60s, the hippies moved in and turned the town in an artists haven for tourists. Many of the original structures still are standing in Jerome.The owners built a home on the land that the mining was done on. Now, that home is a museum that allows you to see what life was life. For example, this is an electrical transformer: Here are a few other old items:

If you are visiting Arizona, I highly recommend that you visit Jerome. Its a small little quaint town that is worth visiting.

Can you see the town in the side of the hill there? That is Jerome, AZ. Never heard of it? Neither did I till we went to Arizona. This is a town with a very interesting history.Jerome was founded in 1876 and started off as a tent town. It later grew into a mining town of 15,000 and was known as the wickedest town in the West. This site had almost a billion dollars worth of copper. Many miners died due to explosices and unsafe conditions. World War I brought prosperity and growth for Jerome which flourished until the Great Depression in the 1930s. In its heyday, there were 13 hotels, 21 bars, and 8 “red light district” houses. At its lowest, the population was about 200. In the 60s, the hippies moved in and turned the town in an artists haven for tourists. Many of the original structures still are standing in Jerome.The owners built a home on the land that the mining was done on. Now, that home is a museum that allows you to see what life was life. For example, this is an electrical transformer: Here are a few other old items:

If you are visiting Arizona, I highly recommend that you visit Jerome. Its a small little quaint town that is worth visiting.

Madison loved The Children’s Museum In Oak Lawn, Illinois.  Mom, on the other hand, not so impressed.  I found that admission price was a bit high for what we found there.  Adults are $4 and kids are $3.50.  They toys and things to do were considerably old.  There wasn’t a lot of room and the place easily got trashed.  When we went, they were busy, and you felt like you were on top of everyone else.  Currently, it is located in a very small building.  They are in the process of raising money to move the museum and get newer projects for the kids to do.  Once this happens, it will be a great place to take your kids.  However, until that happens, I would pass on going here.

Madison loved The Children’s Museum In Oak Lawn, Illinois.  Mom, on the other hand, not so impressed.  I found that admission price was a bit high for what we found there.  Adults are $4 and kids are $3.50.  They toys and things to do were considerably old.  There wasn’t a lot of room and the place easily got trashed.  When we went, they were busy, and you felt like you were on top of everyone else.  Currently, it is located in a very small building.  They are in the process of raising money to move the museum and get newer projects for the kids to do.  Once this happens, it will be a great place to take your kids.  However, until that happens, I would pass on going here.