If you are staying at a Disney Resort hotel, take advantage of the Transportation System and visit one of the other hotels:

• Check out the unique decor of each hotel, you’ll be thoroughly impressed with Wilderness Lodge’s fireplace!
• Do a little shopping, you can always have the packages delivered back to your hotel
• Grab a snack or beverage at one of the many notable resort restaurants
• Do a little observing and search for Hidden Mickey’s here too

Head to Downtown Disney, as the buses will also provide transportation here:

• Shop for souvenirs at the World of Disney among many other stores
• Design your own T-shirt or Mickey Ears Hat
• Catch a movie at the AMC 24
• Eat, Eat and Eat some more with so many options for dining and snacks

Head back to your Resort hotel and enjoy all that your hotel has to offer:

• Get in a workout at the exercise room
• Write a few postcards, you can mail them later from Town Hall
• Spend some time in the lobby, reading a good book or chatting with friends
• Go for a swim — a little extra water won’t hurt
• Relax – is there anything better than taking a nap on a rainy day?  Besides when the rain stops you have a lot of catching up to do!

With so many options and adventures to fill your time, you may even wish upon a star for a rainy day!

Photo Selection: WDW News

Think close to home: Even if you don’t live in a “green city” you likely still have local attractions, or at least in-state attractions that your family would enjoy. Start at your local city, then state travel / tourist websites to check out what’s available near you. By sticking close to home you’ll save money and save travel emissions created by cars or planes.

Think outside entertainment: Hiking, camping, even river rafting are all lower cost vacations that swooping into a new far off city. Your family will get a taste of nature appreciation and your wallet won’t suffer.

Think trains: Trains offer economical travel with a lower carbon footprint than a plane or car. PLUS kids + trains equal instant fun. When you travel somewhere by train the ride is part of the fun.

Think little green bus: The Green Tortoise offers total adventure eco-vacations – cool nature destinations, low carbon transport, organic meals, and they’re family friendly.

Think small: Green travel is sometimes thought of as a grand event – oh, I’m off to the greenest city or I’m headed to this killer eco-hut adventure tour. However, those sorts of green travel ideals can be costly. Incorporating green actions into your traveling plan – i.e. reusable water bottles, recycling, supporting local organic restaurants, reusing your towel at the hotel, buying less junky plastic souvenirs, or cleaning up your campsite before you leave it are all ways that a typical vacation becomes greener. Most of these choices naturally save you money too.

Do you have some budget friendly – earth-friendly travel ideas? Share in the comments…

[image via stock.xchng]

The winner will become a Gekko “Spotter” and will be able to take a companion for four meals worth up to £150 each, in local restaurants, subject to approval by and bookable through Gekko. The four meals are to be taken during the period 10 August – 31 October 2009. The winner will be required to write a review of each of the four restaurants with photos to be published on the Gekko site and blog.

So if you’d like to enjoy some fine dining for free and the opportunity to showcase your writing prowess, start writing that review to add to Gekko now.

photo by aprillynn77

The Brewers Fayre restaurant near Stirling, called the the Pirnhall Inn is a couple of minutes drive from the services roundabout at Stirling, following the signs for Bannockburn. So if you need to stop in the Stirling area, you’ll get a much better ambience and value for money at Brewers Fayre than at the services restaurant. The Pirnhall has a kids outdoor play area.

This offer is available from 12.00 – 18.30 Monday to Friday. There are fourteen main courses on the offer menu. We ordered the Steak Pie and Chicken Tikka Masala. At Brewers Fayre you order and pay at the cash desk and your order is brought to your table.

Our meals arived within ten minutes. The servings were generous and the food was pretty good. The Steak Pie was made with shortcrust pastry, I prefer puff pastry but I imagine shortcrust stores and heats up better. There was no gristle or fat in the beef.  However the meal was served with a tiny portion of peas, I’d have liked more peas or preferably two veg. The Tikka Masala was served with a small nan bread and two poppadoms.

Unfortunately I only thought that I should write a blog post about the offer once we’d eaten our food, so I’m using a Brewers Fayre photo in this post. Sometimes I just act like a “normal person” and eat my food when it arrives without thinking about taking photos and writing blog posts.

I asked Brewers Fayre how long the offer is scheduled to run and was informed “for the forseeable future”, so it’s probably a good idea to contact the restaurant before you visit to check that the 2 for £9 offer is still available.

Overall I say the 2 main meals for £9 is good value if you want a cheap meal in pleasant surroundings. Brewers Fayre have restaurants all over the UK.

“One of the best family destinations in Europe is Dublin, Ireland. Anyone looking for family vacation ideas should strongly consider a trip to Dublin. The city of Dublin is rich in culture and offers a delightful experience for travelers at every age. There is something to do for everyone!

Temple Bar, Dublin by Australia photos

Temple Bar:
Temple Bar is the cultural hub of Dublin. This is where the hustle and bustle of the city occurs. There are many restaurants and activities to choose from in this area. Take the family and stroll through the area to get a good feel of what the locals love in Dublin.

Ghost Bus Tour:
Interested in getting spooked? Dublin is a haunted city. The Irish are known for being incredibly superstitious and they believe strongly in the influence of the afterlife on the world. Purchasing tickets and going on the Ghost Bus Tour will give you an insight to haunted Dublin. You will travel to the school and home where Bram Stoker, the author of Dracula, conjured up the story of a murderous vampire. You will visit a graveyard and learn about grave robbings in the medieval times as well as see the untouched sites where witches were burned at the cross. Taking the Ghost Bus Tour might be a little spooky for young children, but teenagers will certainly enjoy the ride.

Take a Day Tour:
There are a few tours to take during the day that will give a great overall impression of what Dublin is all about. One of the most recommended tours to take is the Wild Wicklow Tour. For a reasonable price, their full-day tours will take you on a short city tour, a gorgeous costal drive, a visit to Glenalough (an older Irish city), a view of mountain lakes and an opportunity to eat lunch in a traditional pub and shop in a nearby craft market. Taking a day tour is the perfect opportunity to discover the overall feel of Ireland.

Dublin Castle by infomatique

Visit a Castle:
Go back in time and visit an old, Irish castle. You can start with the Dublin Castle, which is located in the heart of Dublin. See the interior of the castle, but be sure to spend time in the beautiful gardens that resemble a maze. If you and your family enjoyed the visit to the castle, know that there are hundreds of other castles to visit in Ireland. It is possible to spend an entire trip to Ireland just visiting the beautiful, historical castles the country has to offer.

Visit a Pub:
A night out for the adults should consist of pub hopping. Dublin offers some of the most impressive pubs in the whole world. Try different brews that have been created all over Ireland. It will be especially fun if you are a connoisseur of beer!

Howth by infomatique

Take a Ride to Howth:
Howth, Ireland is a gorgeous costal city that really gives visitors a different feel of Ireland. Walk the Irish cliffs and view the blue water. Each fresh fish and chips and be sure to order the “catch of the day.” Explore the marina area where there are old fishing boats. The locals in this city are kind-hearted and love to help visitors find their way around.”

Based in Georgia, this restaurant chain has locations in 25 states, most of them in the South and Southeast although there are some outliers in the Midwest, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico and as far north as Pennsylvania.

It is known as a sit-down place with food that is served quickly, and all of the restaurants are open 24 hours, 365 days.

Until recently it was cash-only, but now many accept credit cards.  Since a meal there is pretty inexpensive, this isn’t too much of a hassle. They serve a wide variety of food, rather like a Denny’s, including standard dishes like Bert’s Chili.

As far as I’m concerned, the only other place (besides my husband and Mom’s kitchens) that makes better pecan waffles is the Homemade Cafe in Berkeley, California.

It’s good to go to Waffle House occasionally with kids because:

1)  The food comes very quickly; always a blessing with itchy children.

2)  The price is right. This is a budget joint but the portions are generous.

3)  It’s noisy enough that children’s racket is usually drowned out by other ambient noise.

Be forewarned – their busiest day is usually Sunday and you may have to wait for a table if the post-church crowd is big.

I wish they’d put their menu and nutritional information online; it’s not what you’d call a health food place but if you try not to use up every butter pat they provide, you can somewhat lessen the cholesterol damage.

If you consider yourself a “Waffle House Regular” then you can follow them on Twitter at @WHRegulars, become a fan on Facebook or you can visit the Waffle House Museum to learn all of their short-order cooking historical nuggets.

Just shove your leftover pecan waffles in my direction, would you?

Eat!

You’ll find the same delicious Czech cuisine here as you do in Prague, with the same rustic-style restaurants but far less busy. And less expensive! Some of my favourite Czech dishes are roast pork and cabbage with Knedlíky (dumplings), potato pancakes (called Bramboráky), or any of the fried cheeses. Follow it up with a hot wafer from one of the roadside stands.

Drink!

The two drinks that are most well-known with Karlovy Vary are the spa waters – which taste disgusting, I think, but are renowned for their healing properties. You buy little porcelain mugs from any of the tourist shops and then you can fill up from the many fountains – for free. It is quite hot so the handle serves as a straw, which cools off the drink as you sip.

The other major known drink is Becherovka, a strong herbal liquer. Some swear by it – it’s quite strong but I find it a very nice digestive.

Walk!

Karlovy Vary is essentially a valley in a mountainous woods. Or I should say hills – somewhat steep but nothing too strenuous. You can ask your hotel or accommodation for a map – take any street out of town and you’ll find yourself on a leafy wooded path, pretty much. There is a funicular that you can take to quickly get up into the hills, then just wander your way back into town.

Have you been to Karlovy Vary?
What was your favourite thing to do?

Photo courtesy of Chiara Marra

“It can be difficult to travel to Europe on a modest budget. With the weakness of the Dollar against the Euro, some travelers are hesitant to take any trips in this economy. Berlin is a relatively inexpensive city to travel to – especially in comparison to Paris and London. The purpose of this review is to provide peace of mind to future travelers and to inform readers about the many free and low-cost opportunities that exist in Berlin.

Brandenburg Gate

Be sure to eat a heavy, traditional, German meal during your stay in Berlin, but remember that the best and most authentic German eats are ones that are cheap. Eat your daily breakfast at bakeries. Every morning bakers arise early and make all sorts of breads, pastries and croissants for Berliners to purchase on their way to work. An authentic, fresh breakfast could cost you one Euro – total. For lunch or dinner, consider the Turkish döner. While this does not sound like a taste of Germany, it is actually one of the best ways to enjoy Berlin as a true Berliner. The döner is a cheap, Berliner favorite for a quick bite to eat. The price of döners range anywhere between one to three Euros a piece. Döners can be purchased at many different street vendor locations and consist of pita bread, shaved meat (chicken or pork), lettuce, garlic sauce, onions and other vegetables you want to add. It is cheap, delicious and you can eat it on the go!

Most of the greatest sights to see in Berlin happen to be free. No visit to Berlin would be complete without walking under the famous Brandenburg Gate. The gate stands today as a symbol of freedom to Berliners and is a constant reminder of a painful past of separation and war. Visit the gate and think about the time when the gate was a separation between East and West Berlin. If you get the opportunity, ask locals about their feelings regarding the gate and the history of Germany.

Just around the corner stands a thought-provoking monument that should be visited by any tourist visiting Berlin. The Monument to the Murdered Jews of Europe consists of an entire street block filled with slabs of concrete – some two feet high and others 10 feet high. The purpose of the monument is to create a feeling of confusion and distortion, much like the feelings the Jews experienced as they were lead off to concentration camps all over Europe. It is perfectly acceptable to sit on one of the concrete slabs and to ponder the meaning of the monument. Many Berliners go to the monument to think, some go there to eat lunch and others go with flowers to remember their loved ones lost during the war. Many other monuments and museums about the Holocaust are scattered throughout the city and are free to individuals who want to see them.

Monument to the murdered Jews of Europe

Another free option is to visit the impressive Potsdamer Platz. This area consists of high rise buildings, a movie theatre, trendy cafes and interesting architecture. The buildings in the area are built mainly with glass in order to symbolize the transparency of Germany and the German government. Potsdamer Platz was a bustling area during the 1930s with shops, theatre, restaurants and social activities. After the war and the separation of Germany, the area was destroyed and became a barren area known as “No Man’s Land.” The death of this bustling area was troubling for many Berliners as it had once symbolized the growth and prosperity of the city. Within the last 10 years, Potsdamer Platz has been reconstructed and has given the city of Berlin a new confidence of prosperity, wealth and happiness.

Potsdamer Platz

After World War II, most of the beautiful buildings and churches in Berlin had been completely destroyed. One of the few buildings that were left standing majestically was Berlin Cathedral. This Baroque and even Neoclassical cathedral is free to visitors who want to admire both the outside and the inside of the historical building. Inside the cathedral, visitors will hear the music play from the pipe organ on the top deck. Some visitors find the peaceful nature of the church as a great place to write in their travel journals or ponder other matters. In front of the cathedral there is a giant lawn where many Berliners flock to during good weather. On warm days there are literally hundreds of people laying on the lawn and eating their lunches. Potsdamer Platz and Berlin Cathedral specifically, are places that locals love to spend their time on holidays and weekends. These are great opportunities to mingle with the locals and experience Berlin the way Berliners do.

Berlin Cathedral

Berliners are also incredibly dedicated to the arts, film and theatre. There are many opportunities to experience the arts in Berlin. See a show at one of the many opera and theatre houses in the city. You can also discover some of the city’s best museums in the Museum Island. There may be too many museums for you to see in one short visit. Pin point your interests to discover which museums are best for your visit. Are you interested in Greek artifacts? Would you like to see the Pergamon gate? Do you prefer Romanticism art such as pieces created by Caspar David Friedrich? All of these are options you can enjoy in one of Berlin’s many, impressive museums.

Unlike many other cities in Europe, Berlin is a city that can be visited on a moderate budget. The main costs that tend to arise come from food and accommodations. Other than that, many attractions and non-touristy opportunities are free to visitors or come at a low cost. Be sure that you mingle with the locals and ask them for their opinions about what you should enjoy during your stay in Berlin. Most Berliners speak excellent English and are more than willing to help you with any questions you might have.”

In 1833 Brunel was appointed chief engineer of the Great Western Railway running from London to Bristol and he also carried out many improvements on the Bristol Docks, then a thriving hub of industrial Bristol, now a pleasant harbourside area for leisure and relaxation. If you arrive by train, you’ll pass through Temple Mead Station which he designed.

The most famous of Brunel’s Bristol creations is the Clifton Suspension bridge, which spans the Avon Gorge. Brunel won a competition to design the bridge and it was his first major commission, and has become Bristol’s major and most photographed landmark. The bridge was designed for horses and carriages but thousands of cars still cross it every day. However, when festivals are held on Ashton Court park on the far side of the bridge, it is closed for fear of the stress of too many people at one time. On one side of the suspension bridge you’ll find picturesque Clifton Village, with elegant Georgian terraces, restaurants and boutiques. On the other side there are woods to walk in and the Ashton Court Park where the Balloon fiesta is held every August.

The other major Bristol landmark designed by Brunel is the SS Great Brittain, moored in the Harbourside. When it launched in 1843 it was the largest ship of it’s kind with a steel hull and steam powered propellor. After many voyages to New York and Australia it ended up rusting away in the Faulkland Islands, before being salvaged and returned to Bristol. Since then an ongoing restoration programme has made it an award winning visitor attraction.

If you’d like to see more of Bristol, following the work of Isambard Kingdom Brunel, you can download a free audio guide to the Brunel Mile and City Docks from the Visit Bristol Website.

Even if you’re not coming to Bristol, why not try this approach to find interesting things in other cities through the work of famous people who lived and worked there.

Photos by Heatheronhertravels and dizz on Flickr

“A trip to Lithuania is sure to include a visit to Vilnius, Lithuania’s capital and largest city. During my first trip to this country, I remember exiting the plane after an exhausting trip, wandering down Gedimino prospektas (Gediminas Avenue) struggling to keep my eyes open, and drinking a Švyturys beer and eating kepta duona (fried bread) under Gediminas castle. Six years and five extended visits later, these things are all still great and an absolute must-do, but they are also easily found and researched on any travel or personal website. For this post, I’m going to take you somewhere that is slightly off the beaten path, yet still popular with locals and tourists alike.

About 10 kilometers north of Šiauliai, the 4th largest city in Lithuania, there is a tree-lined road with a sign pointing to the Hill of Crosses. No one can directly pin point when the first cross was placed on this small hill, but it is thought to have started after an 1831 uprising. The hill took on special meaning during the era of Soviet occupation. Lithuanians continued to leave crosses on the hill to signify their religion and heritage. It became a spot of peaceful resistance to the Soviet regime. Soviets diligently removed or bulldozed the crosses, but new ones continued to replace them. After the fall of the Soviet Union, the Hill of Crosses continued to grow and was visited and blessed by Pope John Paul II in 1993.

I first visited the Hill of Crosses during my second trip to Lithuania. I returned for the first time in four years yesterday. During that time, the hill has sprouted more crosses and the facilities (parking, souvenir stands, etc.) have been modernized with funds from the European Union, but the focal point still remains the same. Upon entering the hill, the first thing you notice is, of course, crosses. Not only single crosses, but crosses adorning crosses. The smaller crosses hanging on the crosses are decorated with even smaller crosses. After three generations of crosses, the youngest and smallest are topped with rosaries. The inscriptions on the crosses range from permanent marker to ornate plaques professionally adhered to beautifully carved works of art. The reasons for the crosses vary from company donations to a child hoping that his daddy is okay with Jesus. There are pictures of young lovers, separated too soon, stapled to crosses, while others are adorned with messages of thanksgiving or a simple, “We were here.”

The brochure I picked up at a souvenir stand says that the Hill is everyone’s, that is transcends boundaries, and it does. Inscriptions are written in many different languages, and among the crosses, you can find Stars of David. The largest Star of David is now adorned and decorated just like the crosses it stands between. The Hill of Crosses is much more than a religious symbol. It brings people together and is a sign of hope. No matter the language or the religion, it shows that others are also dealing with loss and wishing for a better future.

Beyond the symbology, the visual aspect of the hill is powerful. It is truly an ornate monument and sculpture created by the hands of thousands of visitors over more than a century. I tried to find the cross I placed on the hill four years ago for my lost loved ones, but time has weathered the permanent marker and crosses marking newer losses and celebrations have slowly crowded the walkways. It is there, though, amongst the masses, celebrating what was and looking forward to what will be.

If you ever get the chance to visit, do it. It is slightly inconvenient to Vilnius if you don’t have a car and don’t care for buses, but the hill is powerful and there are some great roadside restaurants along the way.”