Karens Road

If you are looking for an exciting location for a fun, family vacation, check out the Wildwood vacations website.

We visited Wildwood and the New Jersey waterparks when my daughter graduated from Coast Guard training 5 years ago. If you have ever watched an old movie that was set on the beach and showed the boardwalks, it was probably near Wildwood. Morey’s Piers is a classic, family owned resort area that includes fun amusement rides, waterparks and outstanding accommodations.

Morey’s Piers is hosting the Radio Disney Summer Concert Series that includes many of your favorite top Radio Disney artists. The concerts are free so make your teen happy with this fabulous addition to your vacation plans.

Check out the Morey’s Piers website for directions, hours and lodging information. This will be a vacation spot that will become a favorite for your family.

Do you have a GPS unit? We visited with friends this evening and got a kick out of hearing stories of how their GPS units took them on wild and crazy adventures. Have you had a funny experience from relying on your GPS unit?

I have another question. Do you rely on a service like MapQuest to get you to a destination? Have you had good luck with MapQuest? I only ask because I put in addresses to find the best route to our son’s reception and got some crazy directions! I hope none of our guests rely totally on MapQuest. Yahoo Directions website was more reliable in this instance.

If you have ever tried to get detailed information on travel you have probably become frustrated by the lack of said information. The Internet is a wonderful source for finding out about so many things but if you want accurate information about a vacation spot, you are taking your chances. That is until FatPassport appeared on the scene.

Unlike any other travel site, FatPassport provides personlized information on your trip. That means you can put in the variables pertinent to your particular situation and FatPassport can find the best travel destination, price, and other amenities that suit your specific needs. No more money wasted on trips that aren’t exactly your cup of tea! We have all felt the sting on our wallets when we arrive at a destination and find it isn’t at all what we expected. I remember arriving at a rental in Myrtle Beach that had me gagging. The smell of cat pee was so bad that we demanded a different rental. FatPassport can avoid those types of things from happening.

At FatPassport you can talk to other travelers to see how they like a place you are considering. You will be able to see activities happening in your destination area of which you are not aware. I especially enjoyed the pictures submitted by other travelers.

FatPassport makes it easy to book hotels and flights. I am ready to go!

The city of Paducah, named in honor of the Padouca Indians, boasts more historic markers per capita than any other city in Kentucky. Paducah is rich with museums and landmarks that honor its heritage, but you can be a witness as history comes to life in Paducah this February.

Lincoln Bicentennial
Visit the National Quilt Museum’s Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial exhibit opening February 6. This contest exhibit, sponsored by the American Quilter’s Society, illustrates the diverse appreciation for Lincoln’s legacy demonstrated through fiber arts.

Black History Month
Celebrate Black History Month with the Paducah Symphony Orchestra’s presentation of In a Metropolitan Mood, featuring vocalist Abby Burke. Burke performs music of African-American entertainers including Duke Ellington, B.B. King and other legends, who stayed at the Hotel Metropolitan during segregation. The performance takes place on February 21 at the beautiful Carson Center, Paducah’s state-of-the-art venue for performing arts.

Paducah is the perfect place for couples to sneak away for a romantic weekend. Distinct dining options and innovative cuisine offer something for every appetite and budget. Fans of the performing arts can choose from Paducah’s engaging selection of cultural offerings.

Paducah’s lodging and dining choices are also as diverse and eclectic as the city itself. Enjoy a memorable stay at a beautifully restored inn located in the heard of historic Downtown, a LowerTown artist’s guest room, or cozy bed and breakfast just minutes away from town. If familiarity is more your style, Paducah has nearly 30 well-known hotels/motels just waiting to serve you.

I live 3 hours from Chicago yet never have I visited during The Taste of Chicago Festival. Each day of the Taste, there is live music on both the Taste stage and in the Petrillo Music Shell. This year, On Opening Day of the Taste, Emeril Lagasse will make a special appearance. He will be hold a cooking demonstration!

Besides the festivals, which are fabulous, there are so many things to do in Chicago. I haven’t been to the Shedd Aquarium since our kids were in grade school, over 20 years ago. Yikes! I am sure they have new exhibits by now. Your kids will love the chance to get up close and personal with Harry Potter artifacts at the Museum of Science and Industry!

The testaments of those who have experienced the relaxing spa treatments that soothe the senses or a medical facial Chicago style have said they would not go anywhere else for medical treatment.

Experience gorgeous art and fill your senses with the cultural experiences of the city’s art and literature fairs. Sure, Chicago has some of the best libraries and art museums in the world but the one-of-a-kind fairs are a lot more fun with the beautiful Chicago skyline in the background.

You already missed the Chicago Blues Festival held earlier this month. Plan to visit Chicago soon!

Have you ever traveled on a cruise? If not, you should. While it is not my favorite way to travel, I know, I am in the minority, it is something you should do at least once in your lifetime. Cruises allow one to be pampered to extreme. The food is abundant and a treat just to look at because of how it is prepared. The chefs on a cruise take pride in how they display their foods, making radishes into flowers etc. I have never seen so many beautiful displays.

The ice sculptures are another sight to behold. I was lucky enough to watch as an ice carver made a beautiful swan. I don’t know how they know where to start and stop. I am sure I would have a blob of ice if it were me making the sculpture.

The rooms are anything from simple to luxurious depending on the amount of money you want to spend. Even the least expensive rooms are still fun when your host makes monkeys out of your towels. Each day is a treat.

There are many theme cruises. From Elvis to Gospel quartets, join up with like minded enthusiasts. I have been reading as a quilting cruise is being planned. That would be my dream!

I know that I have mentioned this before but I don’t want anyone to miss any information about a wonderful place to vacation. I have been pondering a vacation to Branson for our family. My mom has always wanted to go to Branson and now that her grandson, my son Greg, will be living near St. Louis, it will only be a few hours drive to Branson from his house.

Branson is the premier when it comes to quality entertainment. Many well known entertainers have theaters in Branson and reside there as well. I think they want to get away from the Hollywood lifestyle and Branson is more laid back. The scenery in Branson is amazing.

There are many things to do in Branson for the young and old alike. Shopping is out of this world with all the outlet stores and specialty shops. There are championship golf courses, lakes, museums, and theme parks all within easy driving distances. If you are trying to think of something special as a way to celebrate Father’s Day, check out the exciting Father’s Day Salute. Do you like clowns? They intimidate me a little but maybe I should get to know the people behind the makeup at the the 10th Annual Clown Jam.

Lodging at the Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing and the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel is simply the best way to be pampered and know what is going on in all of Branson. Different packages offered make your stay in Branson affordable. Remember Branson when planning your next getaway!

While in Paducah, Kentucky last week, I noticed the beautiful artwork along the flood wall that protects the city from the Ohio river. This artwork is amazing and I wondered how it came to be that we were lucky enough to look at beautiful scenes instead of just cement. I did some research.

In case you are wondering where in the world Paducah is, Paducah is about halfway between St. Louis, Missouri and Nashville, Tennessee.

The “Wall to Wall” murals are by muralist Robert Dafford. The murals have been painted over 11 years by Robert Dafford and a team of artists who work with him. Robert Dafford is a current resident of Lafayette, Louisiana. Dafford has painted over 300 murals across the United States, Canada, France, Belgium, and England. He has been painting murals, signs and fine art paintings for 35 years. In the past fifteen years, Dafford has concentrated on working along the Ohio River, painting over two hundred large historical images of cities on their floodwalls, using trompe l’œil, advanced perspective, and realist technique. Many riverboat tours make stops along the Ohio River specifically to see his murals. Dafford is best known for his murals in Paducah, Kentucky; Portsmouth, Ohio; Covington, Kentucky; and his giant ‘Clarinet’ in New Orleans.

The 60+ consecutive Portsmouth murals stretch over 2,000 feet (610 m) and cover 44,000 sq. ft. Dafford’s murals are created with the purpose of boosting downtown development in small communities.

The murals in Paducah span several blocks and depict the history of Western Kentucky. It’s worth a visit just to see these beautiful murals, but Paducah has much more. It is also the home of the Museum of the American Quilter’s Society, the Paducah Railroad Museum, the River Heritage Museum and much more. I love Paducah!

Sources: Roaming Times Travel

If you ever want to visit a place that has something for everyone, Paducah, Kentucky is that place. We lucked out with beautiful weather while attending the American Quilters Society quilt show. Spring can be rainy there but we only used an umbrella one time.


The city of Paducah, named in honor of the Padouca Indians, boasts more historic markers per capita than any other city in Kentucky. Paducah is rich with museums and landmarks that honor its heritage. We visited the Quilt Museum which was very nice except they needed to turn on the air conditioning. It was exceptionally warm this past week!

Statues outside the Quilt Museum


We enjoyed the antics of Eleanor Burns at the beautiful Carson Center, Paducah’s state-of-the-art venue for performing arts. You can read more about Eleanor Burns on my Winding Threads blog.


The food was awesome with something for everyone. Distinct dining options and innovative cuisine offer something for every appetite and budget. We ate Mexican food where our waitress treated us like we were the only diners in the house. That was impressive because the restaurant was packed and had a 45 minute waiting time.


Paducah’s lodging and dining choices are also as diverse and eclectic as the city itself. Enjoy a memorable stay at a beautifully restored inn located in the heart of historic Downtown, a LowerTown artist’s guest room, or cozy bed and breakfast just minutes away from town. If familiarity is more your style, Paducah has nearly 30 well-known hotels/motels just waiting to serve you. I recommend waiting to stay at the Executive Inn that is attached to the convention center. It has been left to run down by the owner. It is in the process of being sold and will hopefully be restored to it’s former glory.


My photos display the beautiful artwork of individual murals along the flood wall in Paducah.

The most relaxing vacation I ever had was the time my husband and I traveled to Hawaii. If you enjoy being pampered, you need to go to the Maui Resort of Ka’anapali. The food is out of this world. The accommodations are peaceful yet full of excitement. You won’t want for a thing!

The resort is a wonderful place to plan your next family outing. Enjoying a family reunion or experiencing one of those Maui Weddings we have dreamed of would be awesome! The Ka’anapali Resort has activities that everyone, young and old, will enjoy. There are even kids’ programs that allow the adults to have a little time to themselves and know that their kids are having a wonderful time too.

The beauty of Hawaii is something everyone should take in at least once in their lifetime. The flowers are beautiful and the smells of the island fill your senses. There is no other place as beautiful as Hawaii. The Ka’anapali Resort is located on eleven lush acres that allow you to enjoy entertainment such as fashion shows, hula dances and much more. Readers of the Conde Nast Traveler Magazine have voted the resort as one of the best places to stay and as the #1 Best Value Hotel in Hawaii. Wow! I am ready to go! Aren’t you?