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December Daily: Days 1 – 5

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And so it starts

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When deciding at which time of the year to go to Italy it may be worth scheduling around a couple of festivals as they are invariably spectacular occasions.

Here is a shortlist of the best on offer:
Festa dei Ceri, Umbria in May
Il Palio, Siena in July and August
Carnevale, Venice in February
Festa di San Gennaro, Naples in December
I Candelieri, Sardinia in August
Palio delle Quattro Antiche Repubbliche Marinare, Venice / Pisa / Amalfe / Genoa in May / June
Processione dei Serpari, Abruzzo in May
Sa Sartiglia, Sardinia in February
Umbria Jazz, Perugia in July

In August prices tend to skyrocket across the country along with the weather, so is best avoided. However, that is not true of the whole of the country. In a country such as Italy the weather is incredibly diverse, ranging from stifling heat in the low-lands of Florence to the snow-capped chills of the Alps and the Dolomites.

Overall you can expect long hot summers the further south you are, with Sicily and Sardinia enjoying the best of all, where sea swimming is possible right into mid October.

Italy is a fairly expensive country with accommodation being the single most costly aspect of a trip. You may find cheaper accommodation out of the city centres and in surrounding satellite towns. Expect to pay around 12 to 20 euros for a youth hostel, 25 to 45 euros for a basic pensione or small hotel, and around 70 to 120 euros for a mid-range hotel.

Eating out is an incredible experience throughout Italy. As any Italian will tell you, there really is no such thing as Italian food, as each region tends to be known for its particular specialities. Budget for around 20 to 35 euros for a great full-course meal with a house wine on average.

The delectable Cucina Italiana is never far away in Italy. If youre a bit of a gastronomic connoiseur then id recommend touring around the Tuscany, Emilia-Romagna and Umbria regions for the quintessential food tour.

Shop for Italian delights to take home in the Mercato delle Erbe in Bologna, then head off to nearby Modena for a bottle of perhaps the worlds finest balsamic vinegar.

Next pick up a delicious antipasto in the most well-known food town of Parma – see Parma ham and Parmesan cheese.

For you first dish perhaps Umbria for some umbricelli (pasta served with shaved truffles). If you can try to get your hands on the ever-elusive tartufo nero or black truffle from Norcia.

For the next course perhaps a taste of the infamous bistecca alla fiorentina from Florence or head to Perugia for a porchetta, an Umbrian speciality of suckling pig stuffed with its own liver plus a handful of wild fennel and rosemary.

What to drink with these delights? Head to the Chianti region for a rocking red, or Orvieto for a succulent and sharp white.

Round off this tour with dessert in Siena in the form of a slice of panforte, a hard flatcake of candied fruits and nuts, or perhaps cantucci e vin santo (yes you guessed it – a biscuit doused in sweet white wine), a Tuscan speciality.

Getting around Italy is relatively easy and cheap, although car hire prices are on the rise. If you decide to take a train the regionale (local stopping trains) are much cheaper than the diretto (fast intercity and eurostar trains) and in my opinion are far more rewarding as you get to see more and take photos along the way.

It youre in search of good reading to help in capturing the spirit of Italy then id recommend picking up a copy of Il Gattopardo by GT di Lampedusa, The Aeneid by Virgil, La Storia by Elsa Morate or perhaps Grazia Deledda’s Canne al Vento.

Have fun!

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Within a day’s drive from any of the borders of California is the South Fork of the American River, a beautiful 21-mile stretch of class III whitewater. It is here that gold was discovered and the great migration west found its home. Groups from 1 to 200 or more can gather for one, two, or three days of adventure, gourmet dining, and a relaxing evening around a campfire.

Trips range from all inclusive 3-day 2-night sleepovers where you raft two different rivers with all the meals and bussing from Southern California included to one day trips where you hop on the river and raft for a few hours.

Most trips include incredible deli style gourmet lunches, all the equipment necessary to be safe on the river (PFDs – personal floatation devices, Helmets, Paddles, Rafts and Guides), and the shuttle to the put-in and from the take-out. If you’re on an overnight trip, you can expect a world class dinner often prepared and served in camp by your day’s guide. Evening fireside chats and tent-style camping under the clear skies of the Sierra Nevada Foothills is to be expected. In the morning, breakfast will greet you, again prepared for you by your staff and, as with all the meals, vegetarians and meat lovers alike will find plenty of choices at the impressive morning buffet.

After breakfast you’ll follow the instructions of your trip leader and head out for another exciting day of whitewater rafting. The rafter can expect to float past historical artifacts, see local flora and fauna, and sometimes glimpse rare wildlife such as the river otter. Participation is required in most cases, but one needn’t be an athlete; the crew is taught to paddle in unison and, coupled with the expertise of the guide, provide the power needed to navigate the river.

The American River South Fork has some of the most famous rapids in the world, such as the Meat Grinder, Trouble Maker, and Satan’s Cesspool & Hospital Bar to name a few. The “big” rapids are powerful and fun, requiring no maneuvering while in the rapid and thus folks can hang on. If the three day adventure is chosen, the third day visits the Middle Fork of the American where there are class IV rapids that require paddling in the bigger rapids.

Once your trip is through, you’ll be shuttled back to base camp where you’ll be sure to hop on over to the photo shops to check out the action photos of you pounding through the rapids while conquering the river. It is here at the end that emails are exchanged, hugs are given, and promises to return are expressed as you’ve just experienced one of the most affordable, accessible, and exciting getaways available in all the world.

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Over time, and after many family vacations to Washington DC, we have found that the best amount of time spent in Washington DC with children is three days. There is just so much to see and do there, you will absolutely wear yourself out if you try to so it all at once.

The Smithsonian Museums
You and your family can literally spend days in each of the Smithsonian Museums without seeing all that there is to see in each museum. The Smithsonian consists of 17 museums and the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., and 2 museums in New York City

Of the museums in Washington DC, our favorites are The National Air and Space Museum, the National Museum of American History, the National Museum of Natural History, and the National Zoo.

The National Air and Space Museum has a great number of kid friendly activities throughout the museum. Our favorite was the paper airplane contest – The contest consisted of constructing a paper airplane, and then flying is through a loop held by one of the attendants.

The National Museum of American History is a complete study in the culture and history of America and the American people. We really enjoy walking through all of the exhibits and being reminded of how far the American People have come in the arena of transportation through the years.

The National Museum of Natural History is dedicated to understanding the natural world, and our place in it. The animal exhibits are amazing. The dinosaur exhibit is a family favorite of ours. Be sure to see the Hope Diamond on display there.

The National Zoo is a fantastic place to walk and enjoy your family vacation time together. The apes were personal favorites at the National Zoo.

There is no charge to visit any of the Smithsonian Museums. The Museums open at 10:00 AM daily.

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing
This tour is absolutely awesome. The tour was about 45 minutes long, and very informative. The tour guides were very open to answering any questions that the visitors might have. The tour is throughout the actual working Bureau. There is actual currency printing going on during the tour. The kids loved it, and the gift shop at the end of the tour was a real treat.
The Bureau is located on 14th & C Sts. SW in Washington DC. If you are visiting in March – August, you will need a free ticket for the tour. The ticket booth, which is located on 15th Street, is open at 8:00 AM – get there early, the tickets are usually gone by 9:00 AM.

Fords Theater
The Fords Theater is a live, working theater in downtown Washington DC as well as a memorial serving as a living tribute to President Lincoln’s love of the performing arts. The Theater is in excellent condition, and the tour allows you to spend as much time as you would like in the theater.
The tour was simple and very interesting, and we were able to take photos inside the theater. The tour guides were very informative and willing to spend as much time with us as we wanted to spend in the theater. This tour is definitely a “must see” on any of your family vacations.

Spy Museum
The Spy Museum has many interactive exhibits making this a fun stop on a kid friendly family vacations itinerary. We added this stop to our list of family vacations fun stops because we were curious about it, and since we are all interested in espionage and spying. The visit turned out to be a great choice. The exhibits included a history of spying, school for spies, an introduction to espionage, the war of spies, and on into the 21st century of spying. There is a great deal of history rolled up in that one museum.

Washington DC offers many kid friendly vacation options. These are just a few of our favorites.

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Mention the Great Smoky Mountain National Park and visions of majestic mountains come to mind. These mountains are filled with incredible color, crystal clear waterfalls, and mountain peaks that seem to reach the sky. Simply put, there’s more beauty than you can possibly imagine. So how does a bird’s eye view of those magnificent mountains sound? Believe it or not it’s possible, and you don’t even have to strap on a jet pack! Just grab your camera and head to Gatlinburg’s Space Needle for a view you’ll never forget.

Up, Up and Away

The Space Needle in Gatlinburg is a family owned and operated business that’s been entertaining visitors since 1970. When you travel in its glass elevator you’ll make your way 407 feet above the city of Gatlinburg to the observation deck. The deck is large enough for 250 people to get a 360-degree, breathtaking view of Gatlinburg and the Great Smoky Mountains. This is an awesome sight you won’t want to forget, so bring your camera. You may even want to make two trips… one to see everything by daylight, and one to enjoy the spectacular lights by night.

Loads of Fun

The fun doesn’t stop after your trip to the top. When you come back down to earth make your way to Arcadia, the mega arcade and redemption center. This fun-filled area is the largest in downtown Gatlinburg with two levels and 25,000 square feet of the latest in video games. If video games aren’t your style then try your skills at skeeball, basketball, and foozball. Punching bags, pool tables, air hockey, and the age-old pinball machines are available as well. Remember to save your tickets in order to trade them in for one of the great prizes available at the redemption center.

Old Favorites Take a Modern Turn

The arcade offers several other forms of entertainment, including laser tag. Colorful laser beams transform the classic game of tag into a space-age battle between good and evil. Whether you’re young or young at heart, you’re sure to enjoy this new twist on an old favorite.

Space Travel

By way of virtual reality you can find yourself on a space asteroid riding the MaxFlight Roller Coaster. On this awesome ride you’ll soar through the air experiencing thrilling twists and turns, as well as incredible G-forces. When it’s all over you’ll find it hard to believe you never left the ground.

Go West, Young Man

While you can’t actually visit the old west, with Old Tyme Photos you can at least look the part. Choose from a cowboy, saloon girl, bank robber, hillbilly or one of several other characters. Then dress up, smile for the camera and you’ll walk away with a unique souvenir.

Before you leave, check out A Slice of Heaven, the Italian kitchen located at the Space Needle. Whether you want a light snack or you’ve worked up a hardy appetite, you’ll find plenty to satisfy your stomach.

The Space Needle in Gatlinburg offers a day of fun and adventure the whole family can enjoy. Make sure to include it in your plans the next time you visit the Smokies.

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The Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh is a place that dedicates seven entire floors to the works of Mr. Warhol. Andy Warhol is a native of Pittsburgh and is perhaps one of the greatest artists of recent times. The museum is located inside what once was an old warehouse which has been transformed into the museum. Housed within its walls are thousands of different works of art. The art is in the form of a number of different media including paintings, drawings, photographs, film, sculpture and even video. When you tour it you will be able to view Andy Warhol’s work and you will also get to learn a little about the man. You can do this by looking at photos, magazine articles and more about his art making process, his friends and his associates. By the end of your tour you will know much more about Warhol than you ever thought possible. It is an experience that any art lover will cherish and talk about for years.

If you would like to visit the Andy Warhol Museum while you are in Pittsburgh you can find it at 117 Sandusky Street. Ticket prices are currently very reasonable at just $8 and the museum is open every day but Monday. For information on current hours, special events and current ticket prices you can call the information line at 412-237-8300. Have fun and enjoy the museum.

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It is comparable to the steep cliff walls in which African tribes built their cave-like dwellings. The wavy facade, with its large pores, is reminder of an undulating beach of fine sand formed by a receding dune. The honeycombs made by industrious bees might also spring to the mind of the viewer while viewing the snake-like ups-and-downs that run through the whole building. In this last secular building which he constructed before devoting all his energies to the Sagrada Familia, Gaudi created a contradiction in terms – an artificial but natural building which was concurrently a summary of all the forms that he had since become famous for. The roof sports an imitation of the bench from Guell Park as well as an ever more impressive series of bizarre chimney stacks.

The building breaks with traditional architecture by using not a single straight line. It does not use load-bearing walls, but rest on pillars and arches. Together with the use of steel this allowed the architect to create completely irregular floor plans. Even the height of the pillars and ceilings differ from one to another. So as to allow light in all the rooms, the apartments are set around two central courtyards, one circular and the other oval shaped.

The top floor, attic and the extraordinary roof are open to visitors. The top of the apartment gives an idea of how the interior must have looked at the beginning of the 20th century. Just like on the outside, the interior has virtually no straight lines. The attractive rooms have a lot of character, with a mixture of expressionist and Art Nouveau styles. The attic houses an exposition of Gaudi’s works, with photos and scale models of his buildings. The roof is probably the most extraordinary of the building. It features a number of surrealistic colorful chimneys. Many of them look like warriors in a science fiction movie, while a few of them look frivolous. The roof also features a bench similar to the one in Park Guell. From the top of Casa Milà, one has a nice view over the Eixample district.

Casa Milà Barcelona is an apartment building with a fanciful impression. Wavy walls made of rough-chipped stone imply fossilized ocean waves, while doors and windows look like as if dug out of sand. A comical array of chimney stacks dances across the roof. This unique building is widely but unofficially known as La Pedrera or the Quarry. In 1984, UNESCO declared Casa Milà as a World Heritage site, and it is today used for cultural expositions.

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A wedding aboard a yacht has a surrealistic classic feel that is refreshing and a departure from the ordinary.

You and your guests will have a memorable experience sailing on the water. A good wedding yacht will be powered by sails rather then a powerboat where you hear the big diesel engine noise and smell the burning fuel exhaust.

Bruno Schwarz, owner of Aolani Cat Cruises of San Diego, CA, has helped hundreds of couples get married at sea.

“It’s a once in a lifetime unforgettable event.” Says Bruno. “People tell us that this was the best wedding they have ever been to.”

Many people find it to be so much nicer to be out in the fresh air out on the water rather then being stuck in some hotel room.

Bruno’s yacht can accommodate up to 49 guests. More can stand on the dock if you want to be married in front of the Sheraton Harbor Island Hotel and Marina, which is a very nice backdrop.

His boat lets you be outside or go inside a big salon with 360-degree views to escape the “elements” if it’s rainy, cold, windy or foggy where you find seating for 30 guests. On many regular sailboats everything takes place above deck with a small room below and only small portholes

The yacht has a flat TV Screen and BOSE surround system in and around the outside of the boat. People can bring their own ipod and his systems can support the audio or video.

You can get some nice wedding party photos of the yacht from a photographer in the dingy approximately 100 or 200 ft away from the boat. These can be taken with different beautiful backdrops like a beach cove or an old lighthouse or in front of a historic sailboat.

During his many wedding cruises, Bruno and his guests have seen dolphins and whales during ceremonies. Whales are generally seen in the winter, dolphins and sea lions may be seen all year.

Many people like to have their wedding at Sunset, which is usually a great time to perform the ceremony. If desired, the captain of the ship can perform the ceremony.

People can supply their own catering and music or it can be supplied by Bruno. The yacht can also be decorated with fresh cut flowers.

Bruno says that no bride has ever fallen in the water.

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