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Affordable Summer Things To Do In Washington, DC

If you are looking for affordable summer things to do with your family, you will be more than happy to find out what Washington, DC has in store for you. Head off to the nation's capital and experience fun and excitement without breaking the bank.

Start your family summer vacation in Washington, DC by joining one of the numerous tours and cruises that the city offers. Discovering the city by land or by sea both seem very inviting. The DC Ducks Tour offer both land and water tour in one trip, without even having to change vehicles. Plus, the amphibious vehicle will definitely be a huge hit to your kids. The tour begins at the Union Station and takes the route past the monuments and museums of the National Mall while the captain narrates stories and historical facts. A few turns here and there later, the vehicle turns into a watercraft and splashes into the Potomac River for the water part of the tour.

Because children never get tired of animals, take the family to the National Zoological Park. The animals in the entire zoo live in very large and open enclosures, giving them the atmosphere of their natural habitat and, at the same time, making it possible for visitors to easily spot them. There are two trails in the zoo that you can follow: Olmsted Walk and Valley Trail. The Kid's Farm is perfect for families with very young kids as they observed different farm animals such as ducks, cows, chickens, goats, miniature donkeys and more. The Asia Trail, on the other hand, features sloth bears, fishing cats, Japanese salamanders and giant pandas.

Parents always want to take their children to places where they can have fun and at the same time, learn new things. Washington, DC's National Museum of Natural History has the Butterfly and Plants exhibit that illustrates the evolution of the butterflies. It is also a great place to somewhat cool off from the summer heat as the room temperature is far cooler than it is outside for the butterflies.

A trip to Washington, DC automatically means a visit to those famous landmarks – the Jefferson and Lincoln memorials. The majestic monuments of these two former US Presidents are constant fixtures in photo sessions of people visiting the city. There are also other monuments that you can go to with your family this summer: the Korean War Veterans Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the National World War II Memorial. It is best to visit these attractions early in the morning to beat the crowd and avoid the heat of the summer sun.

Get on a water adventure with your family for this summer vacation in Washington, DC. Head off to the Thompson Boat Center and rent out kayaks or canoes. Life jackets are provided by the boat center free of charge. It is a great way to experience the water at your own pace as you paddle around the Theodore Roosevelt Island and under the Francis Scott Key Bridge.

All the paddling will definitely have your family work up an appetite. Grab a bite at the very well-established Ben's Chili Bowl. Enjoy a great meal with your spouse and kids while you observe the photos of celebrities hanging on the wall.

Fun never ends at sunset. On the west front of the US Capitol, free entertainment awaits both Washington, DC locals and visitors on summer evenings. The military bands – US Navy Band, US Marine Band, US Air Force Band and US Army Band – provide spectacular musical performances for the whole family. Bring a lawn chair and a picnic basket as it is a great place to just relax with your family while listening to jazz and classical music. Occasionally, the bands perform well-known songs, Broadway show tunes and original movie soundtracks.

There are really so many things to do in Washington, DC. There is always something great to explore in every  corner you turn. The best thing about these attractions and activities is that they come at a very low cost or, even better, free – exactly how you would want your summer things to do with your family to be!

5 Amazing Summer Things To Do In Arizona

The numerous summer things to do in Arizona give you amazing ways to make the most of the season.  Several cities in Arizona offer more than just a handful attractions and activities to keep you busy under the sun. The wide array of entertainment options include water parks, wildlife encounter, ancient structures and, of course, the majestic Grand Canyon – all ready to give you a fantastic time in the state. Below are some of the best destinations in Arizona that promise an amazing summer vacation:

1- The Oasis at Pointe South Mountain Resort – The Pointe South Mountain Resort is conveniently just fifteen minutes away from the Phoenix airport and sits right next to a massive park that you can also go to for hiking trips.  The Oasis water park feature is mainly what draws travelers with children of varying ages to the resort.  It has a wave pool, a kiddie pool, a river float and waterslides. Parents with older kids can savor their time lounging under a cabana, for there are plenty of lifeguards on duty throughout the water park. Other things you can do in the resort is have a golf game, a rejuvenating body massage at the spa and a fun time at the kid’s club.

2- Pointe Hilton Resorts – There are two Pointe Hilton Resorts that you can go to for a family vacation this summer: the Topatio Cliffs Resort and the Squaw Peak Resort.  Topatio Cliffs and Squaw Peak resorts have the Falls Water Village and Hole-in-the-Wall River Ranch features respectively, and several pools where you can soak yourselves up the whole day.

3- Phoenix Zoo – Children are always eager to learn about and interact with wild animals.  Phoenix Zoo currently has an exhibit of over one thousand animals from all over the world.  Explore the zoo’s four different trails – Africa, Tropics Trail, Arizona and Discovery. 

4- Montezuma Castle – Experience the legacy of the Sinagua culture by visiting this cliff dwelling that dates back to the 12th century. The structure has five stories and twenty rooms that all tell an interesting and inspiring story of ingenuity and survival in the harsh desert.

5- Grand Canyon – This great wonder is an amazing place for families.  It offers a lot of activities to children that they will surely remember. Start your Grand Canyon adventure with a special train trip from Williams. The mule trip is particularly popular to kids, as they go around the Bright Angel Trail. There is a Junior Ranger Program that your children can join to maximize their Grand Canyon experience.

There are so many more things to do in Arizona that you can be certain would be a huge hit to your family. Plus, the wide selection of dining and accommodation options make it even more inviting to plan a trip to the state to experience one of the best summer vacations ever!

Summer Vacation In New Orleans

There is an inexplicable thing about New Orleans that makes it able to draw thousands of people.  As you wander around, you meet the friendly faces of the city'€™s residents and those who are called the never lefts.  The never lefts are those who were once visitors of New Orleans - people who came to attend the Mardi Gras, the Jazz Fest, or just came.   The beauty of New Orleans instantly mesmerized them, making them unable to leave. When you go to the city for a summer vacation, you will find that they all have a perfectly good reason why.

New Orleans' wide variety of attractions and activities are just endless.  One might even find it difficult to decide on where to begin.  If that is the case, then it is best to join the New Orleans Super City tour which will allow you to absorb centuries of the city's rich history and culture.  The insightful tour takes you to the French Quarter, the Garden District and the Central Business District.  It will surely give you a glimpse of the city'€™s different flavors.

The magnificent St. Louis Cathedral attracts millions of people visiting New Orleans. Whether you are religious, interested in architecture and/or photography, or just plain curious, you are sure to be drawn to this 1720 parish. The structure and all its content are simply amazing.

One of the most visited New Orleans attractions, the Museum of the American Cocktail, is reopening this July 2008. Join the very popular curator, Ted Haigh, the locals and other holidaymakers at its new location in Riverwalk Marketplace on July 21st for the ribbon cutting ceremony. The very unique exhibit showcases two hundred years of cocktail history -€“ from vintage cocktail shakers, literature, music, tools used in the bar and an interesting memorabilia of the museum's founders and friends.

There are other unique and interesting museums in New Orleans that you will most definitely find too intriguing to pass.  Among those museums is the New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum. Guided informative walking tours are offered in this peculiar museum that shows you some of the things you would want to learn about this spiritual practice. As you walk around, you will see a collection of artifacts and other sacred objects related to the term "voodoo".  At the gift shop, you will find a voodoo doll, a love potion and, of course, the regular souvenir items like t-shirts, mugs and magnets.

Come nightfall, there are tours that you can join for some thrilling adventure. New Orleans'€™ colorful history includes strange entities such as ghosts, vampires and the witchcraft.  Explore these entities by joining the guided New Orleans Ghost Tour. The tour lasts for two hours that will give you juicy information about the haunted happenings in the Big City, and lets you explore the grim and ghastly deeds of the old French Quarter.

Wherever you turn in New Orleans, you will find something that will interest you. In addition to that, the New Orleans Meal Ticket and New Orleans Shoppers Ticket, that gives you access to incredible New Orleans restaurants and shops respectively, make it more enticing to go around the city.  New Orleans offers all this and more for a very memorable and extraordinary summer vacation.

Ensenada and Oaxaca: Summer Things To Do In Mexico

If you are looking for summer things to do outside the United States, Mexico is just there waiting for you. Mexico is a very lively country with a multi-ethnic society of Spanish, Native American and American traditions. This ethnic diversity is very much reflected on the country's culture and food, and here are two places in Mexico that greatly illustrates the fact:

Ensenada

Ensanada is located in the Mexican state of Baja California and is just 84 miles south of San Diego. From San Diego, you can join an Ensenada Day Tour, which is a great way to start your summer vacation. The tour gives an amazing introduction to the things to do in Ensenada and its Spanish atmosphere with its alluring shops, authentic restaurants and more. Learn more about the people's culture and heritage at the Cultural Center of Ensenada and find out how they are greatly influenced by the Spaniards.

Join Ensenada locals and other visitors at the Ensenada Summer Wine Festival for some wine tasting. The festival is an annual international event that is taking place on the first ten days of August this year! Aside from the regular wine tasting event, the festival also holds a paella cooking contest, a gala dinner and a sunset musical performance. If you wish to experience the wine in Ensenada with a relatively smaller crowd, you can also go to Bodegas De Santo Tomas. It is Baja California's oldest winery, and still conducts demonstrations of wine-making traditions. Bodega De Santo Tomas also offers samples of wines from their vineyard as well as samples of their bread and cheese.

A visit to a new place always includes shopping for souvenirs or memorabilia that you would want to bring home to remember the summer vacation by. Avenida Lopez Mateos is Ensenada's main shopping street  lined with retail stores selling everything that shouts a genuine Mexican identity, such as straw hats and wood carvings. If you are looking for something more refined, Avenida Ruiz is the place to go. It is the stretch where you will find the more polished shops and cafes.

There are so many dining options to choose from in Ensenada. One of the most popular ones is the oldest cantina in Baja California, Hussong's Cantina. Dating back to the late 1800's, Hussong's Cantina was the hang out of some of the world's literary geniuses and is said to have been the place where Margaritas originated.

Oaxaca

The province of Oaxaca is located in the southern part of Mexico and is named after its largest city. The best thing to do to get to know the city is to visit Plaza de la Constitucion de Oaxaca, more popularly known as Zocalo. The plaza has been the heart of Oaxaca for over 500 years. Surrounded by stores, the dominating feature of Zocalo is the very grand old Cathedral that dates back to the 18th century.

Seasons Of My Heart offers an extraordinary Culinary Cultural Travels , and Mexican Cuisine Events and Oaxacan Food Holidays. This is great for those who love to cook, want to learn how to cook or those who simply enjoy authentic Mexican cuisine. They have tours available almost the entire year, with recipes and menus appropriate for each season.

Visit the world-renowned archaeological site of Milta, combining both Zapotec and Mixtec structures, the San Pablo Villa de Milta. It is among the constant in every visitor's things to do in Mexico list. The ancient ruins are just so inviting.

Looking for accommodations in Oaxaca is a walk in the park as there are very many lodging options to choose from. The hostels, such as the Casa de Don Pablo Hostel, have very affordable nightly rates, making you enjoy more of the numerous summer things to do in Mexico.

Family Summer Things To Do In Atlanta

Atlanta is the state of Georgia's largest city and is filled with fun summer things to do for this season's holidaymakers. People with children of different ages will find themselves with their hands full of all the family-oriented attractions and activities that the city has to offer.

Before you start your summer vacation and wander around with your family, get yourselves the Atlanta CityPass that will give you instant admissions to the most popular attractions in the city. The Atlanta CityPass not only gives you great savings on cash, but also helps you save on time as you no longer need to fall in line for tickets for every attraction. The Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola, High Museum of Art, Atlanta Botanical Gardens, Zoo Atlanta, Atlanta History Center and Fernbank Museum of Natural History are just some of the places you can go to with the Atlanta CityPass.

Note: The High Museum of Art currently features the works of professional photographer, Sheila Pree Bright, entitled Young Americans. The exhibit shows photographs of young American adults with captions that state their opinions and sentiments about American culture and society. This display will run until August 10th 2008.

If you have children ages 2 to 8, the Imagine It! Children's Museum of Atlanta is highly recommended. Your kids will be encouraged and excited to learn new things with the museum's colorful hands-on exhibits. There are so many things to see, listen to, touch and explore in this 30,000 square-foot establishment, even older kids and parents are going to find themselves enjoying the place!

The Fabulous Fox Theater presents the Coca-Cola Summer Film Festival. The Fox, as it is more popularly called, has the biggest screen in Atlanta and features blockbuster hits of the past and present. This August, The Fox adds a few more movies that will definitely draw dozens of moviegoers including Iron Man, Kung Fu Panda and Indiana Jones – Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

If you wish to spice your family summer vacation up with a little adventure, then Georgia's Stone Mountain State Park is right for you. Sixteen miles east of Atlanta stands the 3,200 acre-park that centers the world's largest exposed granite mountain. The first thing you should do when you get to the park is to ride the sky-lift gondolas that will take you over 800 feet above ground, giving you the most beautiful views of Georgia's countryside. Within the park are other interesting things to see and do such as a petting zoo, a riverboat, an antique automobile museum and an antebellum plantation. Be sure to settle your family in the park's campgrounds or any of its other lodging options for the laser light show in the evening, which is a regular event in Stone Mountain State Park during the summer.

Atlanta sure is rich of cool surprises for everyone taking a vacation. It has been among the most sought for getaways for families, couples and those who prefer traveling alone. Top the above mentioned attractions and activities with the city's wide selection of dining options, and you are definitely bound to have one of the best family summer vacations.

Fun and Exciting Summer Things To Do In Yellowstone National Park

The list of summer things to do in Yellowstone National Park makes it one of the best weekend getaways this season.  The national park is visited by millions of visitors during holidays because of its magnificent beauty as well as the wide variety of summer and winter activities it offers.

Yellowstone National Park stretches across Wyoming, Montana and Idaho, that has an intact ecosystem with a diverse and numerous wildlife. Within the park is a collection of some of the most extraordinary geysers, hot springs and the world-famous Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. It is home to various animals such as elk, buffalo, bison, grizzly bears and wolves.

Kick off your summer by going out to experience the hundreds of geysers and hot springs in Yellowstone National Park. The Old Faithful geyser erupts more frequently than any of the big geysers in the park, which is one of the reasons why it is the most popular geyser in the world. Check out the very colorful Grand Canyon of Yellowstone where you can drive around. Hiking the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone is even more rewarding as you get to see breathtaking vantage points of the canyon and the waterfalls. The Canyon Village visitor center for any inquiries and tips you might need before the hike. The Canyon also has an evening program that will educate its visitors with a narration of Yellowstone's natural and cultural history.

Get your cameras ready for wildlife sighting as you wander around Hayden Valley, which is part of the Yellowstone River and sits between Yellowstone Lake and Upper Falls. It is a natural prairie with plenty of opportunity to see the animals that reside in the park. Find yourself a comfortable spot along the Yellowstone River and explore the history of the Fishing Bridge area as well as the polka-dotted cutthroat trout.

Yellowstone National Park is rich with a lot of amazing gifts of nature. Visit the Mud Volcano where you can view colorful and interesting mudpots and hot springs. You can also have the opportunity to find out the explosive past and future of Yellowstone. There is also the Morning Glory Pool that resembles the morning glory flower, and is arguably the most beautiful pool in all of Yellowstone. Then, discover Yellowstone's geographic past and learn about its present through the colorful hues of the Mammoth Hot Springs. In the evening, an illustrated lecture on Yellowstone's history takes place at the Mammoth Campground amphitheater. Other things you can find in the park worth noting are the Fountain Paint Pot and the Biscuit Basin.

All the above mentioned activities can be explored by joining the Ranger-led programs if it makes you more comfortable discovering the park with a guide rather than on your own. No matter how you choose to go around, though, you are certainly going to marvel over everything there is in the park while fishing, hiking, camping and viewing exhibits and films. Yellowstone National Park is definitely filled with adventurous summer things to do that defines an amazing vacation.