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Pontin’s Vacation Packages Review

kthomas — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 17:49:05 +0000

If you live in Great Britain, you are probably familiar with Pontin’s, a vacation package provider that has been in business since the late 1940’s. This company is very popular with middle class families that want to take a vacation without having to worry about organizing and planning a week or so’s worth of accomodations and activities.
Pontin’s Holiday parks are at several locations throughout the UK and are perfect for families who want to enjoy a refreshing break at the seaside before they get back to their busy lives. The half board parks actually provide two meals a day as well as the other benefits of the vacation package, which means more time for play and less time in the kitchen.
For Easter Breaks, there are special vacation packages that include Easter activities like egg hunts and parades. Be sure to check for sales – some of the Easter packages offer discounts of up to fifty percent.
These local resorts really sound like a neat idea – a modification of the American timeshare deals that allows a week’s rental instead of being stuck going back to the same place over and over again.

This review is sponsored by Pontin’s.

Fort Carroll Outside of Anne Arundel County

kthomas — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 23:32:13 +0000

I’ve always wondered about the old fort on the tiny island right outside of Pasadena. So, I asked around and some of the local people told me it is called Fort Carroll. It has been around since the 1800’s, but has rarely been used. I think it would be so cool to have it restored and hold class trips to it, but the last developer who planned to do something with it never did and that was back in 2000. Anyway, you can’t actually visit Fort Carroll, but you can stare at it as you cross the bridge to visit Pasadena, Maryland.

Pasadena Maryland – Beauty of the Chesapeake

kthomas — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 00:55:09 +0000

The Chesapeake Bay is absolutely gorgeous. A visit to Pasadena, Maryland can be a really relaxing vacation, filled with fishing, crabbing and just plain sitting and drinking in the view. I’ve seen swans, blue herons, ducks, geese, gulls, swallows and a smallish bird I can’t identify. It seems very similar to the green heron. If you recognize it, I’d love to know the name!

Unidentified Sea Bird

Blue Heron

Visiting Pasadena Maryland – Hancock’s Resolution

kthomas — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 14:08:39 +0000

Pasadena, Maryland is a little waterfront town in Anne Arundel County. One of the biggest attractions in the area is the Hancock House, which looks very close to the way it looked several hundred years ago. If you are a history buff, this little gem of a place is a must see. Besides, it is really fun to let your kids look in a house without electricity or other modern conveniences and then casually mention that people lived in the house right up through the 1950s without them!

I really enjoyed wandering through the house and grounds the other day. I got to see gooseberry pie, which was really interesting, since I always wanted to know what gooseberries looked like. The upcoming events include a butter churning demonstration.

New York Has a Softer Side

kthomas — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 12:55:00 +0000

When you think of visiting New York, I’m sure the first thing you imagine is the hustle and bustle of the big city. However, what I love is the charming contrast of smaller neighborhoods right next door. Westbury could be any town in the USA, but is right next to all that excitement and color. And upstate New York? Downright rural! There are also a lot of lovely beach areas right on Long Island. In fact, Robert Moses State Park is only 48 miles from Manhattan.

The reason I know all of this? I went to New York for a few days and didn’t even make it into the city! Of course, that didn’t stop me from getting a few shots of it…With something that big and impressive, you don’t have to get close to take some photos.

Pictures from John Smith 400 at Port Deposit

kthomas — Sun, 22 Jul 2007 17:37:05 +0000

If you are still not sure how fun a historic vacation can be, here are some shots from our day at the John Smith 400 celebration in Port Deposit, Maryland. Everyone was really enjoying the day and there were a ton of kids’ activities going on that I didn’t take shots of, just because I wouldn’t want people snapping pictures of my kids. So, just imagine sword fights with a pirate using plastic swords, face painting and more.
The ship to shore battle was fantastic and actors in costume wandered through the crowd, mingling with visitors. Genealogy displays and Native American artifacts were in separate buildings in case of rain and I didn’t even get in to see them. It’s a shame we didn’t have a two day event.

John Smith 400 Historic Vacation Idea

kthomas — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 19:04:49 +0000

The Re-enactment of John Smith’s voyage up the Susquehanna is a major event this summer. It just landed a day early in Port Deposit and I just happened to be on hand to get some shots of the arrival. If you are in Cecil County, Maryland on Saturday, July 21st, you really can’t miss the fantastic event Port Deposit has planned. There are over 60 vendors in period costume from the 1600’s to the 1940’s and all kinds of great activities going on throughout the day from 10-5. The shallop departs Port Deposit for a trip back down the Susquehanna at noon and will stop off in Perryville for evening festivities. Sunday, July 22nd, it will dock in Havre de Grace, which is across the river in Harford County, Maryland.

If you are on the East Coast of the United States and are looking for a budget friendly vacation idea this summer, I think that going to one of the locations the shallop is docking at for a few days and watching it land is a fantastic idea. National Geographic shows up, too, so there is plenty of history, even if the town you visit isn’t putting on a big event at the same time, like Port Deposit is. Historic vacations are a great way to relax, create fantastic family memories and learn something new, all without spending a ton of money.

It’s So Hot Blog Carnival

kthomas — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 21:03:09 +0000

We’re having a heat wave here and are spending a lot of time vegging in the air conditioning or splashing in the pool. The news channel had a few people finish the phrase “It’s so hot that…” and they were pretty funny. So, why not celebrate the scorching days of summer with your own “It’s so hot” post. Let me know you’re participating and I’ll add a link to your entry right here in this post.

It’s so hot that the stripes ran right off my cat. So, how hot is it where you are?
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Win an Ipod for Summer Travel

kthomas — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 13:47:12 +0000

As you’re cruisin’ down the road, the person at the wheel usually gets to control the radio. That doesn’t sound too bad in theory, but 5 hours of hard rock when you’re a country gal can be hard to take. The solution? Win an Ipod as the fantastic new music channel at b5media celebrates its grand opening. Then, you can rock out country style while your misguided pilot is jamming to his or her favorite tunes. What do you have to do?

Step One:
1) Check one or more of our new Music blogs and choose one topic that appeals to you. Create a 3-song playlist relating to that topic. For example, if you like the Crooners, pick your Top 3 Crooners songs and share it on your blog.
OR
2) Blog about one (or more) of our new Music blogs in your own blog. Do a review. Give suggestions. Write about the topic with tips, lists, etc. Or simply offer a welcome.

Step Two:
Submit the permanent link to your blog entry through the comments section of this blog entry or email them to shai@b5media.com with the subject line: MUSIC CONTEST ENTRY. You will receive a confirmation of your email entry. If you don’t receive a confirmation email, please feel free to resend your submission.

Step Three:
Watch out for the list of eligible entries in the next few days. If your entry is eligible, then you will see your entry in one of our highlight posts.

Step Four:
b5media will hold a raffle draw. Prizes will be assigned randomly to those who get picked during the raffle. Winners will be announced on the b5media blog and each one will be notified accordingly.

Make sure you visit b5media to get all the rules and regulations before you start blogging!

Summer Safety – Lyme’s Disease

kthomas — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 02:44:17 +0000

Summer is for fun and games and most of that play happens outside. Unfortunately, the weather on the East Coast this year has provided us with a bumper crop of my least favorite creature – the tick. Please, please be safe as you play. Talk to your doctor about ways to avoid ticks and which sprays work best to repel them.

The reason I’m posting this warning? I’ve been feeling really tired and sore and had headaches and nausea for the past few weeks. I thought it was just heat and allergies, but yesterday, I had a nasty looking welt with a ring around it on my side-one of the biggest symptoms of this tick borne disease. Lyme’s Disease takes the fun out of summer. I didn’t even see the tick that bit me, which is common for people who contract Lyme’s Disease. Deer ticks are small and good at hiding.

One other thing-don’t forget your pets. Dogs and cats need tick preventatives every year, but this year is especially important.

For information on Lyme’s Disease, check out the Lyme Disease Foundation’s website.