TwinCitiesGal — The Vacation Gals

Jolly Green Giant Statue

July 28, 2010 | Author: TwinCitiesGal

As you may have guessed, visiting roadside attractions is one of my family’s favorite vacation pastimes. These quick stops are a great way to break up the monotony of hours in the car or a fun little daytrip escape. Oftentimes, the background of these quirky attractions reveals regional history or have local significance.

This past weekend my family took a two hour drive south on U.S. Route 169 (Interstate 35 is a quicker option) to the town of Blue Earth, Minnesota. We drove through “The Valley of the Jolly Green Giant” which is actually the Minnesota River valley near the town of La Sueur. We were surprised by the drive’s lush surroundings which seemed to come out of nowhere after miles of cornfields and farmland. A “Welcome to the Valley” billboard was propped on the side of a hill letting us know we had arrived. My kids thought that was “it” (the giant) and pronounced the attraction lame. Little did they know…

Blue Earth is named for the river by the same name that surrounds the town but it’s the 55-foot Green Giant that has put Blue Earth on the map. The Jolly Green Giant has been Giant Food’s mascot since 1920′s but this massive statue has only been around since 1978 which was right on cue for the opening of Interstate 90. History fun fact: this section is where the I-90 east and west road crews met and the highway was considered complete.

Naturally, my kids were enthralled by the idea of seeing a “giant” and while they were no doubt impressed by its size, my daughter thought it was hilarious he was wearing a “dress.” Also, while you’re there look for the two dimensional Sprout by the red barn.

How to get to the Jolly Green Giant Statue: Take 35 south from Twin Cities or north from Des Moines. Drive west on I-90 and exit 119. Turn south onto US 169. Drive about a half-mile and make a right onto CR-104/Fairgrounds Road. Turn left onto Giant Drive and look for the little parking lot.

Admission: Free

Tip: Bring a picnic lunch to this roadside attraction or visit the nearby Dairy Queen for a treat.

Posted in: Family Travel | 1 comment

Winning Wednesday: Stretch Island Fruit Company Giveaway

July 28, 2010 | Author: TwinCitiesGal

Today is the day we announce the winners of our Stretch Island Fruit Company giveaway. We asked our readers to tell us what flavors sounded tasty to them out of Autumn Apple, Abundant Apricot, Harvest Grape, Mango Sunrise, Orchard Cherry, Ripened Raspberry and Summer Strawberry.

Our 1st Winner is Tammy #9 who says she’d love to try the Summer Strawberry and the @2nd winner is Ilene #64 who thinks the Orchard Cherry sounds tasty.

Don’t forget to keep an eye out for samples on Continental Airlines this summer. You may be one of the lucky 250,000 to passengers to get a taste of these treats. Tammy and Ilene, we hope you enjoy your 5 free boxes. A big thank you to Stretch Island Fruit Company for the opportunity to giveaway such fun prizes. Stayed tuned for more giveaways.

Posted in: Travel News | 1 comment

Stretch Island Fruit Company Giveaway

July 19, 2010 | Author: TwinCitiesGal

Every time my family travels we visit the store beforehand in search of kid-friendly travel snacks. When Stretch Island Fruit Company recently approached me about their current promotion and giveaway my interest was piqued and I asked for more information. I was sent a handful of samples and, much to surprise, I realized I was already familiar with the product. My kids love these snacks! We purchased these at the health food store we used to frequent in Arizona and we have even used them on our travels!

While I don’t believe any product can substitute for a real piece of fresh fruit, I let my children enjoy these snacks, especially when we are on the road or in the sky, because they have all-natural ingredients, with 99 percent real fruit and are the equivalent to 1/2 a fruit serving – but mostly because they don’t bruise in my carry-on bag. Compare them to other similar products and you will see there is no comparison – there’s no corn syrup in these babies!

Flavors include Autumn Apple, Abundant Apricot, Harvest Grape, Mango Sunrise, Orchard Cherry, Ripened Raspberry, and Summer Strawberry.

If you’re flying on Continental Airlines this summer you may get the opportunity to try them as the company is passing 250,000 to passengers. If you’re missing out on this inflight promotion, here’s another way to try the these tasty treats for free: Stretch Island Fruit Company is offering a prize to two of our readers the chance to win 5 free boxes (via coupons)!

Interested in winning some Stretch Island Fruit? To enter this giveaway, simply leave a comment below telling us what flavor Stretch Island Fruit you’d like to try. Winner will be selected via a random number generator. You may increase your chances of winning by entering once daily. This giveaway is open to US residents only (for shipping cost purposes) and The Vacation Gals family members can not win. This contest runs until July 27, 6:00PM CST. Winner will be announced on July 28, 2010. Good luck!

Posted in: Travel Tips | 68 comments

Alaska ATV Tour Excursion

July 16, 2010 | Author: TwinCitiesGal

One of the most difficult decisions during the planning of our Princess Cruises Alaska Cruisetour was deciding on our land and shore excursions. I wanted to see Alaska in its various forms, and that’s exactly what we ended up doing. Looking back, it was the right choice. Off the ship, my mom and I experienced Alaska by train, motorcoach, helicopter, plane, (small) boat, dogsled, zipline, and one of the more surprisingly cool excursions, a three hour all-terrain-vehicle tour with Black Bear ATV Adventures in Talkeetna.

Black Bear is a professionally run outfit with savvy and friendly guides. They provided helmets, gloves, eye protection, rainboots and raingear. After gearing up we were briefed on our Yamaha Grizzly, which were extremely user friendly, and after a couple of practice turns we were lead by our guide along a narrow fern-lined trail. Part of the thrill was that I had never been ATVing, but what really bewildered me was the beauty of Alaska’s backwoods. I became entranced with the green landscape and fascinated with the largest dandelions I’ve ever seen. We even sampled the edible pink Alaska Rose flower. There is something magical about being out in nature in a new setting and this was it.

We saw some fresh moose tracks on our ride, but don’t expect to see much wildlife on an ATV tour, as the loud engines send the animals scurrying in fear for their lives (though we did spy some jumping fish in the river). Our ride through the wooded trail was pretty mellow since there were bumps, dips and puddles every few yards which can make for a good tumble if you’re going too fast. We did encounter some light rain, which added to the ambiance, but my mom and I were particularly glad we opted for the waterproof protection since we splashed through some nice sized mud puddles and rivers. The beach was another story. About halfway through the ride we came to the flat river bank and at that point we were able to pick up some speed and really feel like we were riding- at least for first-timers. ATVing in Alaska was really was a great way to spend the afternoon and see a part of Alaska we would otherwise not experience.

Thank you to Princess Cruises for hosting us and allowing us to see Alaska and its various settings.

Posted in: Cruises | 3 comments

Alaska Scenic Cruising

July 9, 2010 | Author: TwinCitiesGal

My recent Alaska cruise with Princess Cruises had many, many highlights. From helicopter glacier landings to ziplining but one of my most spectacular memories didn’t take any effort on my part except for perhaps pointing and shooting the camera. The event was scenic cruising. Glacier Bay National Park is the most beautiful and serene places I have ever witnessed in person. The wildlife wasn’t too bad either. We saw bears skimming the water’s edge, bald eagles perched on rocks, pods of humpbacked whales and sea otters swimming near our ship. Alaska is one destination best recalled by photos and that’s what this post is about today. I’d like to share some of the photos from my recent cruise. These were all taken during our scenic cruise from the ship.

When you go on your Alaska cruise, bring your camera, chargers and extra memory cards and you won’t be sorry.

Posted in: Cruises, Family Travel | 3 comments

Orlando Pirates Dinner Adventure

July 8, 2010 | Author: TwinCitiesGal

This winter when my family explored Orlando one of our dinner experiences included the Orlando Pirates Dinner Adventure. As we turned into the parking lot we couldn’t believe our eyes, people were standing in the longest line we had seen since being in Orlando. We joined the line and waited. Honestly, with two little ones the wait, about 30-45 minutes, seemed like a long time. What was helpful was when the “pirates” came out to heckle each other and jest with the crowd.

Eventually we made it to the front of a line. We were asked if we would like to upgrade for an additional fee (the dollar amount escapes me – maybe $15 per ticket?). The seats looked better on the map and there were several other perks that went along with this VIP status, such as joining the Governor in the Governors VIP Lounge for drinks and snacks beforehand and the opportunity to be part of the show. Because we wanted the little ones to be able to see and these new seats looked much better than what we originally had we said yes.

As soon as we walked inside we were whisked away to pose for a family photograph (surprise!) which ended up being so cute that we bought it. In the meantime, entertainers were performing for the group as people trickled in. At first sight the inside was a bit chaotic and very crowded. We found a little stand with tropical fruit so the kids snacked on that while Jeff went and bought us some adult beverages.

In the meantime we were supposed to be in the Governors VIP Lounge, but we somehow missed that. We watched the entertainers for a while (the gymnast was impressive I must say). Before long the employees began herding the group into the show room. Everyone is color coded (we were red) so the groups filed in as their color was called. Finally, I felt some organization. It was then, as we were making our way to our table, did we see the Governors VIP Lounge and realized that was where we were supposed to be.

Once to our table we saw that there isn’t a bad seat in the house, the tables are station style, but the good new was we were very close to the front which meant the kids did have a better view. Looking around, I was impressed. In the center of the round stage, with the the six-sided show room surrounding it, sat an 18th-century Spanish galleon measuring 46 feet long, 18 feet wide with 40-foot masts. The the ship is anchored in a 300,000-gallon indoor lagoon – yes, water and all. Each “table” has its own ship and pirate to cheer for – thus the color coding. We also received our own pirate hats.

Once the show began so did the dinner service. Servers provide family style dinners. All the while the actors sang, danced and performed daring stunt while keeping a storyline going. At one point the server asked people in the VIP section if they would like to participate in the show. My husband wended up joining the crew and went to work on stage.

Overall, the experience was fun, though confusing at first. The food was good, the entertainment was fun service was great and the kids seemed to enjoy it – and for us that’s what it’s all about.

If you go to the Orlando Pirates Dinner Adventure: arrive early so you don’t have to wait in line and don’t feel like you’re missing out if you don’t upgrade unless your family wants to be part of the show.

Posted in: Family Travel | 3 comments

Alaska Yanert Glacier Landing by Helicopter

July 1, 2010 | Author: TwinCitiesGal

I’ve returned from my amazing Princess Cruises Alaska Cruisetour which consisted of four days on land and seven days aboard the Coral Princess. Besides feeling humbled by sprawling Alaska and awed by its stunning scenery and wildlife, some of the most memorable moments included the excursions Princess Cruises offers during the land portion and at the seaports. One of our (my lovely mother was my guest) most spectacular adventures occured when we were staying at Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge. We opted for a helicopter landing on Yanert Glacier in Denali National Park.

One thing you should know if you’re planning on booking a glacier landing by plane or helicopter is that the flights can and do get canceled for weather. In fact, I was hoping to experience two glacier landings, one by plane and one by helicopter, but the plane excursion was canceled due to poor visibility. While my mom and I were disappointed we ended up taking a Summit Flight Tour of Mt McKinley and as it ends up, the experience was fantastic. But we did feel ever so lucky to get the opportunity to experience the glacier.

Below is a video of my helicopter landing on Yanert Glacier. Be mindful of your volume because the sound is a little temperamental due to the loud helicopter and the fact that I wasn’t wearing mic. Nevertheless, the scenery is what I wish to share with you, so hopefully you will get at least a tiny understanding of what an amazing experience this is – and I really do recommend this helicopter excursion to anyone visiting Alaska.

The temperature was cool, but not freezing. I wore a few layers and was comfortable the entire time. Plus we were provided with boots to wear over our personal shoes. We spent about a half-hour on the glacier which was plenty of time to take photos and enjoy this rare experience. Side note: You may notice see some dark spots with tiny pools of water in some of the footage; these are caused by ice that has been melted by sun-warmed rocks below.

Posted in: Cruises, Family Travel | 5 comments

Goodbye Coral Princess

June 25, 2010 | Author: TwinCitiesGal

Today is our last day of the Princess Cruises #FollowMeAtSea trip. It’s certainly a bittersweet day knowing we must all say goodbye to each other and the wonderful Princess Cruises experience. It’s been a joy experiencing a cruise and Alaska for the first time, as well as all of the other “firsts ” of which I will go into more detail about soon.

Thank you again to Princess Cruises for hosting this fantastic journey. It has been a trip to remember.

Posted in: Cruises | 1 comment

Princess Cruises Cruisetour Land Portion

June 22, 2010 | Author: TwinCitiesGal

Greeting from Alaska and Princess Cruises Coral Princess! This gal is currently on the go on a hosted Princess Cruises Cruisetour through Alaska and it has already exceeded my expectations. We started off last week at Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge. I didn’t get to spend much time at the lodge or exploring Fairbanks, but we did have a fantastic dinner where we met the other travel bloggers and our Princess hosts. The next day we ventured several hours by the Midnight Sun Express railway (see photo on left). We dined in style aboard the train, relaxed in the glass viewing car as we sipped Blood Marys and took numerous photos of Alaska’s wilderness and beautiful landscape.

After our train adventure we spent two nights at Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge. I love this lodge! I could have easily spent a couple more days there exploring the area. Even waking up was a pleasure as we could hear the sound of the nearby river that our room overlooked, the same river we saw a mother and baby moose munching on some leaves. The on site King Salmon restaurant offers an extensive locally inspired menu with some of the favorites being halibut and salmon. My mom’s favorite is the salmon chowder and I loved the crab cakes (be prepared to eat a lot on your cruisetour, but make it up by walking the lodge’s pretty grounds).

One of the things I learned during this cruisetour was that Princess Cruises offers various packages with differing lodge stays and pricing. The premium package is the most expensive, but when you add up all of the frills and compare them to the cheaper packages, you will find the luxury choices are the best value. For one, you receive meal vouchers. You also get the premium seats on the train and are served first. These tours have a private guide who is with you every step of the way, which is ideal for some travelers. If you can afford the extra dollars, I think it’s worth it.

As for excursions available on the cruisetour, there are so many choices and depending upon your personality you may choose anything from white water rafting to mellow nature hikes to ATVing. My mom and I think we made the best choice for the Denali stop by selecting the helicopter glacier landing. It was one of the most memorable moments of our lives. Despite the number of hours I’ve spent in aircraft, I’ve never flown in a helicopter. The sensation of rising up and flying across the scenery was thrilling, but landing on the sprawling Yanert Glacier is what really took my breath away. We hiked around looking up and down in awe. The sound of crackling ice below our feet and pools of turquoise water is something best experienced.

I had heard from numerous people that many times the plane and helicopter landings don’t happened due to poor weather. So we weren’t surprised when the next day our glacier landing by plane was canceled. But we had another remarkable experience. We took a summit flight of Mt. McKinley. There is nothing like seeing this grandiose mountain “up close” but what really amazed me was seeing the 14ers camp below. It was small, but the colorful, round tents were easy to spot. The day we were in the area there were 383 climbers on Mt. McKinley!

The adventure continues, so stay tuned for more details about this memorable experience with Princess Cruises Alaska Cruisetour.

Thank you to Princess Cruises for hosting this trip.

Posted in: Cruises | 3 comments

How to Avoid Ticks

June 15, 2010 | Author: TwinCitiesGal

Apparently tick season is in full swing thanks to the warm winter we had. I’ve never had to deal with ticks or learn how to avoid them, but now that I live in Minnesota with my backyard being a forest, complete with deer, I do. Of course, besides my yard, ticks are a concern anywhere you go from lakes to camping to parks. Since my son has had his first couple of tick encounters (finding them on clothes) I’ve been on the look out for preventable measures – especially with Lyme disease on the rise. I’m not big on the idea of lathering my children in chemicals every time they wish to play outside and that’s why I was very excited to find Insect Shield Repellent Apparel.

It is exactly what it sounds like, the clothing is treated with a repellent that keeps the pesky critters away from your skin and clothing. Insect Shield Repellent Technology is offered by many brands of clothing lines including LLBean, Buggies and Outdoor Research. The treated clothing is safe for everyone including infants and pregnant moms and lasts through 70 launderings. Insect Shield Repellent Apparel has been proven to repel mosquitoes, ticks, chiggers, ants, flies, midges (no-see-ums) – sounds great idea to me, especially because I’m preparing for a trip to Alaska where there are 35 types of mosquitoes.

To increase your chances for avoiding ticks, wear long pants, shirts and socks and light clothing so you can spy the little bugs. Before entering the house do a “tick check” and look over everyone’s clothing and skin. Ticks particularly like the neckline, so be sure to check the neck and head. Insect Shield makes bandannas which are ideal for the neck. Sterilized tweezers are your best bet for tick removal (pinch and pull straight out) and don’t forget to save the tick in a jar for testing if needed.

If you live in a tick infested area, which is usually warm and humid, or are planning to travel somewhere where they are present. Be sure to check into Insect Shield Repellent, it’s a great alternative to bug spray.

Thank you to Insect Shield for the review samples – we’ve been tick free since using them!

Posted in: Travel Gear, Travel Tips | 2 comments

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