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The Branson Missouri Blog
Blogging Branson Missouri to Keep You Up To Date!
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- Published on Tuesday, May 21 2013 2:56 PM
Written by Jessica Covert
Posted by Mark Ruda
The Track Family Fun Parks
When traveling down Highway 76 and around Branson, you can see towering wooden tracks from the street. If this is your first Branson vacation, you may be wondering, "What is that?" The answer is The Track Family Fun Parks. The Track Family Fun Parks are an ideal location for families to have fun together. With five locations in Branson, go-karting fun is just minutes away.
Between the five locations, there are 14 different track styles for every age group. Kids and adults alike can have fantastic fun at a great price. However, go-karts aren't the only thing that the Track Family Fun Parks have to offer. Mini golf, bumper boats, laser tag, arcades, batting cages, and the Skycoaster are also part of the fun at the Track. Three of the Track Family Fun Park locations feature a unique go-kart track. One of those tracks is the LumberJack, located at the Track 5. Built in 2001, this wooden track is three stories tall and 1,186 feet long! This track was the original wooden high-rise in Branson, and took the Track Family Fun Parks to new heights. The LumberJack continues to be a favorite among visitors.
Another of the unique tracks is Wild Woody. This track has two full spirals and a blind peak, making this riding experience feel like a wooden roller coaster. Located at the Track 3, WildWoody was built in 2002, and was even bigger than the LumberJack. At four stories high and 1,440 feet long, it's hard to miss Wild Woody when you drive into town. With ups, downs, twists, and turns, your family will love riding Wild Woody!
The final of these unique tracks is the newest one to Branson. Located at the Track 4, Heavy Metal High Rise is a metal and concrete track (700 cubic yards of concrete and 200 tons of steel, to be exact). At four stories tall and 1200 feet long, kids and adults will be thrilled when four upward spirals bring them to the top, and a three tiered slope brings them back to the ground!
All of the go-karts, rides, and games at the Track Family Fun Parks require credits, which you can buy in person at any Track Family Fun Park or online. Prices for go-karts and rides vary. If you plan on coming back to the Track more than once during your stay in Branson, a 2013 GO-CARD is a great value.
The GO-CARD gives you all the same fun at all of the Track Family Fun Parks for half price. You get $40 in free credits ($50 if you buy online), and other freebies including free pizza at Pizza World, free custard at Andy's Frozen Custard, and more. Your GO-CARD also gets you discounts and freebies at other local shows, attractions, and dining including Ride the Ducks, Dixie Stampede, SIX, Fall Creek Steak and Catfish House, and Outback Steak and Oyster Bar. If you're bringing your family to Branson for a reunion or just for a vacation, group rates are also available at the Track Family Fun Parks. All-Day, 2 Hour, and 1 Hour Fast Pass options are available. All-Day Fast Pass gives you unlimited go-karts and mini golf at ALL of the Track locations ALL DAY LONG! A 2 Hour Fast Pass gives you unlimited go-karts and mini golf at a reserved Track location for two hours, and a 1 Hour Fast Pass gives you unlimited go-karts and mini-golf at a reserved Track location for one hour. For more information about groups and booking your event, call 417-334-1612 or visit www.bransontracks.com.
So, when considering what to do on your Branson vacation, give the Track Family Fun Parks a try. Everyone in your family will love thrilling speed of the go-karts, the splashing fun of bumper boats, and stealthy enjoyment of laser tag at the Track Family Fun Parks.
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- Published on Saturday, May 18 2013 9:24 PM
Written by Klaire Howerton
Posted by Mark Ruda
Raising a Family in Branson
When you think of how you're going to go about living the American dream, you want to do it in a place where you can raise a family in safe, friendly and quality environment, with good schools, room to play, and a solid community background. Want to start living your American dream? Perhaps you should consider raising your family in Branson. It has all of the ingredients that are vital to a family friendly community!
Branson Public Schools
The schools within the Branson public school district are proud to proclaim that they are 'a community committed to learning.' With six different schools spread out over three different campuses, the administrators, faculty and staff are committed to your child's education from preschool through high school. At Branson Primary School, little learners from preschool to first grade receive engaging instruction at their level along with social interaction important to their development. The next step in your child's journey in education is second through fourth grade at Branson Elementary East or Elementary West, depending on the location of your home. Both locations encourage learning for life and striving for greatness. Branson Intermediate will be your child's in between phase during fifth and sixth grade before entering Branson Junior High, where Principal Bryan Bronn's mission is "student success." Then it's on to Branson High School, with top notch facilities and a staff committed to student growth and scholastic achievement. This great school district is truly dedicated to empowering young learners – you and your family will be proud to be a part of the Pirate community! For more information on the individual schools, programs and faculty, visit www.branson.k12.mo.us Branson Community Library
Branson Taneyhills Community Library is a wonderful family-oriented hotspot. Located in downtown Branson, this is a great place to take your little people for story-time, or your older children to research a school project. This library features a used bookstore, a thrift shop, free Wi-Fi, meeting room space, and much more. A variety of books for a variety of readers makes the Branson Community Library appealing to all ages. There are also community programs such as First Aid and Babysitting Training offered here. The library was first opened in 1933 and today, receives no state or Federal funds – it is funded instead by The Library Club and is run by a handful of paid employees and numerous volunteers. This is a great place to frequent for the reading family in Branson! For directions, hours and other information, visit www.bransoncommunitylibrary.org
Branson Parks
Parks are such an important part of a family friendly community. They provide the perfect backdrop for a play-date, a picnic, or a romantic evening walk. Luckily for those who want to raise their family in Branson, there are several great parks to visit! Alexander Park, located off of Hawthorn Street, is the home of a tennis court, two youth ball fields, a playground and a picnic area. Stockstill Park, situated along Roark Creek, has two large playgrounds, a walking trail, a lighted soccer field and a new skate park - there is something here for everyone. North Beach Park is a very scenic park right on the shores of Lake Taneycomo – it runs right up to the Branson Landing boardwalk. This quaint park features a walking trail, barbeque grills and two fishing docks. These are just a few of Branson's fun and family friendly parks!
Why Branson?
Branson, Missouri, is a great place to live, work and play. With so many lakes, rivers and creeks, you and your family will never run out of places to explore. The area is serviced by three major hospitals. There are countless country churches and community events to attend here. (Plumb Nellie Days, anyone?) The crime rate is very low and Branson even has its own airport. What's not to love about raising your family in Branson? For more detailed information about Branson or to order a relocation guide, visit the Branson Chamber of Commerce website at www.bransonchamber.com
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- Published on Friday, May 17 2013 9:07 PM
Written by Klaire Howerton
Posted by Mark Ruda
Riding in Branson – Ozarks Equestrian Venues
Many people long to feel the wind in their face and hear the hoofbeats of a valiant steed as they thunder through the woods and across open prairies. But for a lot of people, owning a horse to ride is just not practical. But if all you dream about is horses, come check out some of the great equine stables and opportunities for riding in Branson!
Shepherd of the Hills Baldknobber Trail Rides
For a real Ozarks adventure, come ride the historic trails atop a horse here at Shepherd of the Hills! It's an authentic experience you won't want to miss. The horses used for the trail rides are the very same horses used in the Shepherd of the Hills theater production – so in a way, you'll be partnered with a star! Trail rides at Shepherd of the Hills last around half an hour; the trails you'll ride on meanders through the historic homestead, wooded hollers and on some of the very same terrain the Baldknobbers rode. Riders must be at least seven years old, four feet tall and weigh no more than two hundred-fifty pounds. Riders age seventeen and under are required to wear a riding helmet – safety is a top priority on the Shepherd of the Hills Trail Rides! For more information or to book a ride call 417-334-4191
Bear Creek Trail Rides
Bear Creek Trail Rides, located seven miles north of Branson directly off of Highway 65, is a horse-centered, family owned and operated business nestled in the Ozark Mountain country. If you are looking for a quality horseback riding experience on beautiful trails, this operation is a prime choice for riding in Branson. The trails here wind through lush oak forests characteristic of the Ozarks, and offer riders lovely bluff views. Trail rides at Bear Creek last for one hour or two hours – one hour rides are $25 per person and two hour rides are $40 per person. (NOTE: two hour rides are for experienced riders only) All horses are equipped with Western tack, and Bear Creek prides themselves on providing gentle, well trained horses for guests to ride. Riders must be at least seven years old and weigh no more than two hundred-fifty pounds. You can find Bear Creek Trail Rides on Facebook or call 417-337-7708.
Dogwood Canyon Nature Park Trail Rides
For a variety of fun horseback experiences, come visit the stables at Dogwood Canyon Nature Park! Folks of all ages and riding levels will find something to enjoy here. The Straight Shooter Trail Ride is an excellent choice for novice riders. A leisurely, 'nose to tail' ramble through Dogwood Canyon will delight riders on this fun, nature packed trail ride. Riders on the Straight Shooter must be at least eight years old, forty-eight inches tall and less than two hundred-sixty pounds. The Little Indian Advanced Trail Ride is a challenging five to six hour ride that will take riders through forests, open pastures and across Little Indian Creek. Lunch is provided! Riders for this adventure must be at least twelve years old, forty-eight inches tall and less than two hundred-forty pounds. The Raw Hide! Cattle Drive provides riders with an authentic cattle drive experience moving Texas Longhorns across open fields to new pastures. After the herd has been driven to a new site, cowhands will receive a hearty chuckwagon meal! Cattle drivers must be at least ten years old, forty-eight inches tall and weigh less than two hundred-fifty pounds. Visit Dogwood Canyon on the web at www.dogwoodcanyon.org
If a thrilling (or leisurely!) ride across the Ozarks is what you seek, look no further than these great locations for riding in Branson!
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- Published on Thursday, May 16 2013 6:59 PM
Written by Jessica Covert
Posted by Mark Ruda
Table Rock Lakefront Condos at Thousand Hills
Planning a vacation is stressful enough, even without having to worry about getting lodging for your stay. Even though there are hotels abound in Branson, they aren't your only option. Instead, consider a condo rental at Thousand Hills, which offers the same amenities for a better price and more comfortable environment.
Thousand Hills offers many luxurious options for your Branson vacation. All condos and cabins come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and are affordable for your family. Whether you choose a secluded cabin, a condo located near all of the excitement of Highway 76, or a Table Rock lakefront condo, Thousand Hills' variety of lodging is perfect for your vacation.
Table Rock Lake is only one of three lakes that surround the Branson area. One of the most pristine in the area, it is a fantastic place for boating, fishing, and a variety of other water sports. Visitors love the experience of being on this lake, and Thousand Hills has the perfect lodging for those who want to take in the stunning location on Table Rock Lake.
Thousand Hills Table Rock lakefront condos offer luxury and privacy that a hotel can't match. Condo rentals are ideal because families of any size can stay comfortably without the hassle of having multiple hotel rooms. Each of these lakefront condos features access to top-of-the-line resort amenities, including:
• Indoor pools
• Outdoor pools
• Hot tubs
• Thousand Hills' 18 Hole Golf Course
• Golf Pro-Shop
• Tennis courts
• Exercise facilities
• Guest computer
• Fax services
• Free in-room Wi-Fi
Kitchens in these condos are also decked out with all major appliances, including full size dishwashers, microwaves, and even washers/dryers so you don't have to take wet bathing suits home.
Table Rock lakefront condos also offer you the convenience of a private boat dock. Bring your boat to Branson for some fun on the lake, and you can keep it overnight just down the hill from your condo. Plus, there's plenty of trailer parking near the condos. When staying near the lake, you also have access to Table Rock Dam, the Dewey Short Visitor's Center, State Park Marina, and the Corps of Engineers swimming area, Moonshine Beach.
To top it all off, lakefront condos aren't far from everything that Branson, Missouri has to offer. You have easy access to more than 50 theaters featuring world-class entertainment, go-karts, mini-golf, over 100 restaurants, craft malls, and more. Plus, the lake offers access to kayaking, bass boating, parasailing, fishing, mountain biking, and hiking trails. All of this and even more is just minutes away from your Table Rock lakefront condo.
Consider a Table Rock lakefront condo from Thousand Hills instead of a hotel for your next vacation. Still close to town, you have access to some of the fantastic entertainment that the lake and Branson has to offer. Watersports, shows, shopping, and more are all within your reach. With first-class amenities and enough room for your entire family, Thousand Hills has the perfect place for you and your family on your next Branson vacation.
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- Published on Wednesday, May 15 2013 6:39 PM
Written by Jessica Covert
Posted by Mark Ruda
Dixie Stampede is Off and Running in 2013
Branson is known as the "Live Music Capital" of the world, and visitors to the area get to experience some of the world's best performances. Dixie Stampede Dinner Attraction is just one of the options that visitors have, and the show is ready to provide you with an entertainment experience you'll never forget. So when you're planning your family's vacation, check out this premier Branson experience filled with excitement and thrills.
Dixie Stampede is filled with competition between the North and South, like the competition between the two during the Civil War. The show uses many different mediums to create a memorable experience. The show features live animals, dramatic lights, sounds, and even pyrotechnics. Talented horsemen and women perform stunts on horseback. All of this is coupled with special effects and musical productions to create a one-of-a-kind experience.
This entire experience is included with your ticket, but that's not all you get at Dixie Stampede. The show also features a four course feast that includes a whole rotisserie chicken, barbecued pork loin, vegetable soup, corn on the cob, a herb basted potato, a homemade biscuit and a decadent dessert. Vegetarian meals are also available, and include garden vegetable salad, vegetable soup, corn on the cob, a herb basted potato, a homemade biscuit, and dessert.
Each Dixie Stampede ticket includes not only general admission and a four course feast, but access to the Carriage Room pre-show. You get the opportunity to walk through the open air stables to see the magnificence of the Quarter Horse, Palomino, Paint, and Appaloosa breeds. The charming Belles of Dixie Stampede will lead you into the 2-level Carriage Room where Mountain Rukus will entertain you before the show begins with comedy and tons of family fun. Popcorn, peanuts, and Pepsi® products are all available in the Carriage Room during the pre-show, along with non-alcoholic fruit drinks in Dixie Stampede's Souvenir Boot Mugs.
The fun at Dixie Stampede has already begun. The show season for Dixie Stampede begins in February and runs until December. Dixie Stampede offers a "Dixie Family Christmas" during the holiday season. This show features the same live animals and horsemen and women, plus twinkling lights, old-fashioned holiday costumes, and holiday music, transforming the arena into a fantasy holiday land. If that wasn't enough, Dixie Stampede's Christmas extravaganza also features a live nativity in which the Three Kings ride into Bethlehem on the backs of camels.
Tickets for Dixie Stampede can be reserved online or by calling the box office. Adult admission (ages 12 and up) is $50.21 and child admission (ages 4 to 11) is $25.66. Children who are 3 years old or younger may sit in their parent's lap and eat from their parent's plate for free; however, if the child needs a seat and his/her own meal, a ticket must be purchased at the child's price. To reserve seats, visit branson.dixiestampede.com or call 417-336-3000.
For a fabulous evening of family fun and entertainment, visit Dixie Stampede for some of the best entertainment in Branson. With live animals, dramatic lights, sound, pyrotechnics, special effects, and musical productions, Dixie Stampede is a complete experience under one roof. The four course feast, featuring Southern fixings like rotisserie chicken and homemade biscuits is also sure to please anyone and everyone in your family.
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- Published on Tuesday, May 14 2013 5:45 PM
Written by Klaire Howerton
Posted by Mark Ruda
Local Dining in Branson Missouri
Most everybody loves to eat out every now and again. Maybe you eat out several times a week, or just once or twice every month. Regardless, when you hit the town for a meal, you want something unique, fresh, and wholesome. So why not give one of Branson, Missouri's local restaurants a try? Local dining in Branson is sure to satisfy even the most demanding of eaters. Here are some great local choices to get you started!
Mitsu Neko
If you want a delicious Asian Fusion experience that will outdo all other Asian Fusion experiences, look no farther than Mitsu Neko. Located just off of West Highway 76 in a small strip mall, this gem of a restaurant is a treasure waiting to be found. Opened in January of 2013, and owned and operated by Russian couple Kate and Roman, Mitsu Neko has some of the best sushi in town. A restaurant atmosphere steeped in dark purple, good music and mood lighting makes your sushi taste even better! Some of the most popular sushi rolls at Mitsu Neko are the Blizzard (featuring mango and white tuna) and the Spicy Land. Another tasty and unique sushi option offered here is the Strawberry Delight – a delicious combination of salmon, strawberry and avocado rolled in seaweed and rice and topped with a creamy strawberry sauce. If you like a little heat, be sure to try a dab of ginger wasabi with your sushi. And if sushi isn't your style, Mitsu Neko also offers a variety of steak, chicken and duck dishes, along with appetizers such as fried eggplant, smothered with mild white cheese. "Our duck is really good!" says owner Kate. Round off your sushi (or not!) dining in Branson experience with a dish of delectable crème brulee or some tiramisu. With so much to offer, Mitsu Neko is sure to become a favorite dining hotspot! Be sure to like them on Facebook for the latest dining deals and updates.
Sugar Leaf Bakery and Café
Sugar Leaf Bakery and Café is a local family owned and operated restaurant full of homemade goodness. Founded in 2004, Sugar Leaf was opened by owners Todd and Lori Janson and is located today off of West 76 Country Boulevard. Sugar Leaf boasts a menu of made to order salads, classic soups, and signature Panini sandwiches such as Café Chicken Salad, Pastrami on Rye and Tuscan Veggie. Perhaps the most popular part of Sugar Leaf, though, is the desserts! Made fresh cookies, pies (Lemon Meringue, anyone?), and cobblers are sure to satisfy the strongest of sweet tooths. And the cakes from Sugar Leaf are sheer works of art. Everything from airplanes, to cars, to football helmets and so much more have been crafted from cake at this unique bakery. Sugar Leaf works closely with customers to create the perfect cake or treat for events, weddings and everyday occasions. Find them on Facebook or visit their website at www.sugarleaftreats.com
For some truly delicious local fare, check out these and many other great restaurants around town – such as Rocky's Italian Restaurant or Billy Bob's Dairyland. If you like what you eat, be sure to post reviews on UrbanSpoon.com or Trip Advisor – that way others can learn about the tasty opportunities for local dining in Branson!
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- Published on Friday, May 10 2013 3:52 PM
Written by Jessica Covert
Posted by Mark Ruda
Branson Meadows – Shopping and Entertainment
Many towns have great places for Branson shopping or dining or entertainment that are a little out of the way, but very much worth the time and effort to get there. Branson is no exception, and The Shoppes at Branson Meadows is a great example. Located just minutes from Highway 76 at 4740 Gretna Road, Branson Meadows has a variety of unique shops for many different tastes. Culinary enthusiasts, sports aficionados, and quilters alike can all find something to enjoy.
Few places offer shopping and entertainment in the same location. The Shoppes at Branson Meadows do just that, with a number of unique shops, including:
1. All About Scrubs
2. Bike Shop
3. Bon Worth
4. Branson Meadows Cinema
5. Branson Pet Depot
6. Casual Male XL
7. Christian Gift Outlet
8. Copy Run
9. Cyberstreet
10. Dressbarn
11. Dressbarn Woman
12. Easy Spirit
13. 50's At The Hop
14. Forsyth Furniture
15. Gamewerks
16. The Gardens Cafe Coffee Tearoom
17. Golf USA
18. HobbyTown USA
19. Hush Puppies & Family
20. The Ironworks
21. Leather Outlet
22. Metz Book Outlet
23. New Image School of Cosmetology
24. Ozark Quilts & More
25. Ozarks Technical Community College
26. Paper Factory
27. Skaggs Medical Supply
28. Summerwinds Resort Services
29. Supermarket of Shoes
30. Tool Town USA
31. Touch of Class
32. The Tower Theater
33. VF Outlet-Vanity Fair Wrangler Lee
The Shoppes at Branson Meadows houses Branson's first ever Ozarks Technical College campus. This provides high school students with the opportunity to get a higher education without being too far from home. It is also a great stepping stone for students who want to get general education requirements out of the way before moving on to another college. One of the many stores housed at Branson Meadows is Vanity Fair. This outlet is a great stop to make if you're looking for discounted clothing items. The store is chock-full of wonderful pieces for men and women.
For the handyman in your life, Tool Town USA stocks many different brands of power tools, including Craftsman and Black and Decker. Like a smaller version of Harbor Freight, this store has all of the tools you need for whatever project you're working on.
If you're looking for a prom dress or tuxedo, visit Touch of Class. Touch of Class offers competitive prices on tuxedos, whether you're buying or renting for that special event. Prom dresses are also competitively priced. The Shoppes at Branson Meadows also houses a cinema. This theater is state-of-the-art, boasting all digital formats and 11 screens for showing the best movies. Branson Meadows Cinema 11 is in the same family of businesses as the IMAX, McFarlain's Family Restaurant, Montana Mike's Steakhouse, and the Little Opry Theater.
Last, but certainly not least, is the Garden Café Coffee Tearoom. The Garden boasts some of the best cheesecake in Branson, in addition to a full menu that includes a juicy steak, pecan crusted trout, and different salads. The peaceful atmosphere is inviting and allows you to relax and enjoy your meal.
Even though Branson Meadows is a little out of the way, it is worth stopping by to check out all of the unique shopping opportunities that are available at the Shoppes at Branson Meadows. Located near the famous Highway 76, you won't regret visiting the Shoppes at Branson Meadows during your Branson vacation.
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- Published on Thursday, May 09 2013 1:44 PM
Written by Jessica Covert
Posted by Mark Ruda
What To Expect With Branson Weather
Any resident of the Branson area can tell you one truth about Branson weather – it's unpredictable at best. So before you pack an entire suitcase of summer clothes for your vacation, here are a few tips to help you brave Branson's unpredictable nature.
1. Check the forecast. If you're getting ready to take a Branson vacation, check the forecast well in advance. Doing this will help you to better plan your wardrobe. Plus, it also helps you plan your activities during your stay, because you can't play golf very well when it's raining.
2. ALWAYS bring a jacket. A light jacket can be your best friend when you're traveling to Branson. Even in the summer, the evenings can get chilly. Having a jacket on hand keeps you from freezing to death while you're walking out to your vehicle after a show or strolling the Landing in the evenings.
3. Summers get HOT. That said, it's important to drink plenty of water and pack a bottle of sunscreen. Bring light colored clothing along too. It will keep you cooler during those steamy days we get in southwest Missouri. The heat also gives you an excuse to pack your bathing suit so you can enjoy the beautiful Table Rock Lake.
4. Know what the averages are. Typically, high temperatures for summers in Branson range from low 80s to high 90s. Low temperatures are usually in the 70s and sometimes below. Temperatures will be affected by the humidity, which is always high in the summertime.
5. Have an alternative plan for your day. If you're planning on playing a game of golf and a rain shower sneaks up on you and changes your plans, having an alternative activity can be a great idea. Some great rainy day activities are close by, like the World's Largest Toy Museum, the Ralph Foster Museum at College of the Ozarks, indoor mini-golf at Grand Country Inn, or a movie at the Branson IMAX.
6. Keep your phone handy. Many phones nowadays are capable of telling you the weather anytime, anywhere. Keeping your smartphone handy will keep you from being caught in an unexpected thunderstorm. If you don't have a smartphone, you can call the National Weather Service hotline for a Springfield/Branson weather forecast at 417-869-4491.
7. Other general clothing tips.
a.Socks and alternative shoes. Flip-flops are fabulous, but if the weather turns sour, it won't exactly be enjoyable getting your (basically) bare feet all wet. Tennis shoes are advisable, especially if you're going to be doing any walking. Extra socks are good too, just in case a pair get soggy.
b. Jeans. Bringing jeans along is important, especially if Branson weather turns a little chilly after dark.
c. Umbrella or poncho. These are nice to have if the forecast calls for scattered showers and Branson just happens to get one. Compact ones are easy to keep in your car or pack in a suitcase.
d. Emergency car kit and other supplies. Keeping one of these in your car is one of the best ways to prepare for a "worst case scenario." With Branson weather, if you get stranded because of high water or a tornado, it will be very helpful if you have items like a flashlight, extra batteries, a weather radio, and food and water.
The unpredictability of Branson weather makes it hard to know just what to bring along. Planning ahead helps you make certain that you have what you need in many different situations.
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- Published on Saturday, May 04 2013 7:23 PM
Written by Klaire Howerton
Posted by Mark Ruda
Enjoy Hollywood at Branson Movie Theaters
Everyone loves going to the movies. Maybe it's the thrill of seeing action on the big screen. Maybe it's watching a star crossed romance with your sweetheart. Maybe it's the comfortable seats and the popcorn. Whatever it is, everyone loves a little Hollywood in their lives – and with Branson movie theaters, that little dose of Hollywood is conveniently close to home. The Tri-Lakes area boasts three great movie theaters – Branson Meadows Cinema 11, the Branson IMAX Entertainment Complex, and the Elite Cinema III. Each theater features all the basics one would expect to find in a movie viewing establishment – big screens, good seats and popcorn – while still having some aspects unique to each theater. So get ready to plan a trip to any of these Branson movie theaters, folks!
Branson Meadows Cinema 11
Branson Meadows Cinema 11, located inside The Shoppes at Branson Meadows, is a great theater to visit if you want to kick back after shopping. Cinema 11 is fully digital, with Sony 4K Digital Projectors, making for astounding resolution. In fact, it's four times great than 1080p! You'll feel closer to the action with such amazing clarity. Cinema 11 features Free Popcorn Tuesdays, for those of you that love your popcorn. There are some great birthday party and school group options at this theater as well – birthday party packages include a movie on any of Cinema 11's eleven big screens, popcorn, and soda, as well as access to a party room. School groups can make reservations for up to 1,200 students at a time.
Branson's IMAX Entertainment Complex
Branson's IMAX Entertainment Complex houses by far the biggest screen in Branson – the six story tall screen will take you on the best movie adventure of your life! The IMAX screen is ten times larger than conventional movie screens. At eighty-three feet wide, movie watchers have maximum viewing area with stunning clarity. And the sound is just as good – with twenty-two thousand watts of surround sound, you'll be immersed in a movie experience like no other. If you are hungry or in the mood to souvenir shop after your movie, there is a restaurant and some fun shops located within the IMAX Entertainment Complex.
The Elite Cinema III
The Elite Cinema III is the newest of the Branson movie theaters, and it was designed with comfort in mind. The stadium style seating features oversized armchairs with adjustable arm rests, LOTS of leg room for taller movie goers or those who simply want to stretch out and relax, and even Tempur-Pedic foam seat pads! Movies don't get any more comfortable than this. A stellar digital surround system makes your movie experience as classy as it is comfortable. Movies at this theater are available in 3D as well as standard movie viewing style – in case those 3D glasses just don't match what you're wearing. Tickets can be purchased online for this location for those who wish to avoid the crowds and long lines on a Friday night.
All in all, Branson movie theaters are great places to see some of Hollywood's best in the Ozarks. With great features and locations to choose from, you are sure to have a glamorous movie experience! So be sure to make your weekend movie plans here in Branson – it will be just as epic as the movies themselves.
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- Published on Friday, May 03 2013 1:31 PM
Written by Klaire Howerton
Posted by Mark Ruda
Complimentary Tickets and More with the Platinum Experience
Metallic is in these days – gold, silver and bronze are all the rage in today's society. At Thousand Hills Hotel and Golf Resort, you can find the best metallic shade of them all – platinum. With qualified reservations, Thousand Hills in Branson, Missouri, is offering you the Platinum Experience in hopes of you getting the most out of your Branson stay. What exactly is the Platinum Experience, you might ask? The Platinum Experience is a booklet full to bursting with over $750 of complimentary Branson tickets, attraction admissions, free appetizers, and more, all free of charge – a thank you gift from Thousand Hills. Wondering how to make the most out of your Platinum Experience? Read on for more information.
Qualifying for Your Platinum Experience.
In order to qualify for your Platinum Experience, you must make reservations for any TWO bedroom or larger golf condo, lake condo or log cabin at Thousand Hills. Single bedroom condos or cabins and group reservations do NOT qualify for the Platinum Experience. Each qualified reservation will receive one Platinum Experience booklet – this booklet is available March 1 through December 31. The Platinum Experience is ONLY offered at Thousand Hills and there is not a catch involved – you will not need to spend any extra money or do anything special to receive your Platinum Experience, simply make a qualified reservation. Call Thousand Hills to reserve your two bedroom or larger unit today!
Making the Most of Your Platinum Experience
Now that you know what the Platinum Experience is and how you can get it, where can you use this gem of a booklet? The majority of Branson hotspots are featured in the booklet – all of the locations that offer free Branson tickets and admissions, etc. are all places that you will actually WANT to visit! Take the Pierce Arrow Theater, for example. Known as Branson's Hottest Show and featuring world's lowest bass singer, one free adult admission to the show can be found in the Platinum Experience booklet. Are you a fan of Beatles music? Then you will love the free ticket to see Liverpool Legends, Branson's own Beatles impersonators hand-picked by George Harrison's sister Louise. Wine connoisseurs will enjoy making use of the free admission to a Wine 101 class at Mount Pleasant Winery. The complimentary admission to the IMAX is sure to be popular with movie buffs. If you're hungry after using some of your free Branson tickets and admissions, head on over to Florentina's Restauraunte Italiano for a free appetizer (Italian Nachos, anyone?) or venture to McFarlain's Family Restaurant for a complimentary breakfast. All of the free goodies in your Platinum Experience booklet come with instructions for redeeming your complimentary loot at the designated locations. Each voucher is a little bit different, so make sure to read the instructions to redeem your tickets, etc., carefully.
Going Platinum in Branson
Branson, Missouri, has some of the nation's most popular shows, attractions and restaurants. With the Platinum Experience from Thousand Hills, you can take your platinum to town and make the most of your Branson tickets – and your stay!
Get More of the latest Branson News From Our Blog!
Read More ...


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NEW YORK, Oct. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Reportlinker.com announces that a new market research report is available in its catalogue:
U.S. Venous Access Catheter Market
This study covers U.S. markets for venous access devices including peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs), central venous catheters (CVCs), dialysis catheters, implantable ports, and catheter securement devices. This combination of new technology and expanding patient population will drive venous access catheters into significant growth through the 2016. The U.S. vascular access device market represents a relatively mature market that is rapidly adopting new technologies that are driving revenues and sales.
Table of Contents
Total Venous Access Catheter Market 12-23
Scope of Research 13
Research Overview 14
Market Segmentation 15
Defining Vascular Access 16
Venous Access Device Categories 17
Market Introduction 18
Market Overview 19-20
Venous Access Catheter Market 21
Venous Access Catheter Unit Shipment and Revenue Forecasts 22-23
Peripherally Inserted Central Catheters 24-33
PICC Market Drivers and Restraints 25
PICC Market Unit Shipment and Revenue Forecasts 26-28
PICC Market Competitive Structure 29
PICC Market Shares by Competitor 30
Antimicrobial Peripherally Inserted Central Venous Catheters 31
Antimicrobial Vs. Conventional PICC Revenue Forecasts 32-33
Central Venous Catheters 34-49
Introduction 35
CVC Market Drivers and Restraints 36
CVC Market Unit Shipment and Revenue Forecasts 37-38
SOURCE Reportlinker Copyright©2010 PR Newswire. All rights reserved |

subset: commoncrawl


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Matthew B. (Chicago, IL): After our conversation, I went back and looked at more of Saul Alvarez and found him to be a very interesting fighter. That said, I would like you to clarify a statement you made about him. Are you saying that you think he's ready at this particular time to face the top level of fighters at 154? Vivek W. (ESB): Before I answer your question, let me take this matter full circle: For starters, lets identify who the "top level of fighters at 154" really is. You have Bundrage (IBF Champ), Dzinzurik (WBO Champ), and Cotto (WBA Champ). When we move beyond that group, you have Margarito, whom when healthy is as durable and dangerous as anyone else there; as well as Kermit Cintron, who you can't discount either. In my mind, this core group comprises what I would personally call the best of the best at 154. Now....I know someone out there is gonna say "where's Vanes Martirosyan and Angulo"? My response: I have nothing personal against Vanes or Angulo, but at this time, although their hype and talent may suggest an elite level, (in the minds of some), I think their respective resumes haven't quite caught up and I've seen too many fights where they didn't quite impress the way I felt they would, or should at this stage. So, that being said, when you look at that group of elite 154lb'ers listed, I won't say that 'Canelo' beats all those guys, but I would argue in his defense as it relates to how or why he could make such a fight an interesting one. Cotto looks better but would be tested by a young fighter with fast hands, a durable chin, and decent power that often comes in combinations. Bundrage is pretty good, but I've seen him lose to men far less spirited and I really think there's no way he'd get the decision over Canelo. Dzinzurik? Interesting matchup. Cintron? Very interseting matchup, because Cintron is powerful, but has had issues with men who punch in bunches and aren't afraid of him. Margarito? Now there's a true nemesis. I think of all the men listed, Margarito is the one who's style poses a direct challenge. If he withstood 12rds of Pacquiao's best, Canelo is a cakewalk. My personal pick between all these fights is the Cotto fight. Chavez jr. would make the most economical sense, because they could stage it in Mexico and blow the lid off the local circuit. That being said, such a fight won't find the same global level of interest. The best money fight to be made that could also live up to the hype would be Cotto. Cotto remains a fighter under question, but keep in mind, his only two losses came to a man who may not have been playing clean and another fighter deemed the best in the sport, who, (lets be honest), has a few scratching their heads about his supernatural ability. So, I think this would be an incredible fight, and would tell us practically all we need to know about either man. Now.....as we all know, both fights would require rivals GoldenBoy Promotions and Top Rank to do business and this is no easy affair. At the end of the day, both these men are driven by money, and if it doesn't involve sacrificing the top money maker in the stable (which it doesn't) I would expect cooler heads to prevail.....followed by one hot night of boxing. Stay tuned. Gilbert B. (Northridge, CA): What are your thoughts on Floyd Mayweather jr. and his failure to appear in court for the Pacquiao lawsuit? Vivek W. (ESB): Lets take a quick trip down memory lane.....perhaps when we're done many will understand why this "issue" is a non-issue to me. The first individual to actually go public about his thoughts on Pacquiao was Paulie Malignaggi. There were discussions in the underground around the media at one point because a few even came my way, but the first person I can recall actually going public with this sentiment was Paul Malignaggi. Next, Floyd Snr. started to talk, then Roger, and then so did Oscar and Schaefer. The lawsuit soon followed, but the irony here that few seem to take note of is the fact that when you take a deeper look at the timeline, none of the words coined as "allegations" really carried any weight until Mayweather agreed in principle to all demands, including the non-commission-established $10M over-weight clause and the fight was imminent. No one seems to be talking about the fact that GBP was still actively negotiating the fight when the lawsuit was filed, but it wasn't until Mayweather agreed to all terms that the talk of a lawsuit truly intensified. Fast forward a little and suddenly, despite making statements that parallel those of the accused, Oscar, Schaefer, nor Malignaggi find themselves in the final suit; neither do the men at the center of the "controversial email" allegation, (Teddy Atlas and Tim Smith of the NY Daily News). That in and of itself is sketchy because that particular allegation remains the closest ammo this saga has seen to an actual 'smoking gun'! (pun intended) So, we look at who spoke, what they said and when they said it; then we look at the initiation of the lawsuit and how the timelines run their course. Essentially, here we have a man professing innocence, yet that man has refused the best available testing the market can supply. I firmly believe Pacquiao can be clean and innocent of any substance intake, but I also consider his position and how often it changed (Ex: from...."I'll take any test, anywhere, any time", to...."it will make me weak", to...."I will do what the commission requires only"....and beyond). Anyone familiar with defamation versus free speech knows there is far too much inconsistency here for the accused party to accuse. At the end of the day, there are 3 things that a judge considers when pondering defamation: Truth or factual properties, duty of speech (ones obligation to say certain things), and last but not least, freedom of speech. We know that Mayweather had no "duty to speak", but what we also know is that we have no idea if the statements made by Mayweather and company are true or not because Pacquiao has in fact refused the most extensive testing under many inconsistent circumstances. There has to be an established truth to say there's an established non-truth. Currently, we have no more truth that he's innocent than we do that he's guilty. Bottom-line, Mayweather is a man who has other cases against him and he's also a man who's free today as a result of bonding out of another active case against him. If this were the "serious matter" some believe, there's no way in hell the judge would have allowed the day to end without taking action to bring him to justice immediately. He isn't hard to find! I won't say this is a false alarm, but I will say this: If Mayweather goes down, it'll be from one of the other cases. Not a sketchy defamation case. Too many inconsistencies here. ESSENTIALLY PACQUIAO IS OPTING TO PAY TO FACE A MAN IN COURT, RATHER THAN BE PAID TO FACE A MAN IN SPORT. If I see this, so can the judge. Aaron R. (Dallas, TX): After seeing the HBO face-off between Wladimir Klitschko and David Haye, who do you give the edge when they meet up? Vivek W. (ESB): I'd be the first to admit that while the episode was as good as probably all the others I've seen, I think you have to remember that they were fully dressed and sitting in a room far away from the ring they'll be standing in face to face in a few weeks. Simply said, I don't really eat off the hype machine like these type of promotions try to get us fans and media to do. I've seen too many men act big in promotions, and walk away feeling very small on fight night.....as witnessed just a few weeks ago with Shane Mosley. I think the fight has all the trimmings of something special, but there's an unspoken reality that I'm gonna let you all in on right quickly: Aside from Pacquiao/Mayweather, there's no bigger fight to be made in the sport. The fact that this fight is finally made can be a good thing for the sport, or it could be one of the worst things for the sport. We all love the hype of a big fight, but for the two men involved, there's also a realization that all it takes is one big shot and all that 'rise' we feel can quickly fall! Mayweather/De la Hoya was the highest grossing fight in history, and many remember all that hype producing a safety first fight in the end. When you think about the two men involved here, both have shown tendencies to fight very tight against far lesser opposition. Do people really expect these guys to come out and play "hero" with guns blazing and get wreckless on the highest stage the sport will see this year? Bottom-line, I really think there's gonna be so much adrenaline involved that both men will do their best to avoid being the guy that didn't live up to the hype. I expect that it'll be a very cautious battle, and if this is true, I lean to the bigger man, because the bigger man will land a lot easier than the smaller one, despite the speed deficit. I want to give Haye the edge, but Wladi-K has speed too, and if he misses with the jab, he'll have a cross coming right behind it. Haye will probably be afraid to try to penetrate that reach. If so, it'll be a tough night for him. Haye has the tools to win and win easily, but does he have the heart to risk it all? I'm not sure he does. The cool thing is that this is the stage men live for, and it's the one where legends are born. One of these men can cement their legendary status to some degree. I don't know who I truly give "the edge" to just yet, but what I do know is that the one willing to risk it all will be the one that stands tall in the end. This is the most feedback I can give until I watch more fight footage and prepare for a final prediction for the fight. (Vivek Wallace can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com, 954-292-7346, Youtube (VIVEK1251), Twitter (VIVEKWALLACE747). Skype (VITO-BOXING), and Facebook).
previous article: Jones vs. Munoz on Saturday; Molina-Herrera on Friday night; Saunders-Boulden on 7/9
next article: Amir Khan: "Zab Judah is very dangerous, he can punch, and hes quick. I think hes a tougher fight than Bradley."
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I am new here, but I have found this site along time ago. It seems interesting to visit. Not planning on jailbreaking my PS3 but I want to enjoy my stay here nontheless.


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8.48am That's it from us this morning. Enjoy your Thursday! See you tomorrow for the TGIF edition of the Rush.
8.35am LOCAL NEWS: A Wombarra beachside home has sold for $3.02 million, making it one of the highest residential sales on record for the Illawarra's northern suburbs.
*Property reporter Louise Turk has the full story here.
8.30am SPORT: Lleyton Hewitt has suffered a heavy first-round US Open defeat to complete the worst grand slam season of his celebrated 18-year career. Powerhouse sixth seed Tomas Berdych ousted Hewitt in straight sets: 6-3 6-4 6-3. Ouch.
8.28am NATIONAL: Australia and Indonesia are ready to patch up their relationship with a code of conduct that should ensure last year's damaging spy scandal is not repeated.
8.26am Looking for some inspiration in the kitchen tonight? Try this smoke salmon fettuccine - looks yum!
8.24am MUSIC NEWS: Basement Jaxx star Felix Buxton, 44, has written a song about aliens after catching a glimpse of what he believes was a UFO, outside the band's London headquarters. Get the full (weird!) story here.
8.22am Australia's oldest wombat has turned 29! Patrick weighs 38 kilograms and is looking for love. Awww.
8.20am NATIONAL: Universities appear no closer to relieving the uncertainty surrounding the government's planned deregulation agenda for the higher education sector as a Senate majority proves elusive. The Abbott government will unveil its higher education legislation package today, but its immediate future is in doubt because it is steadfastly opposed by Labor, the Greens and by all but two of the eight crossbench senators.
8.18am In some other local news this morning, surfer Dylan Longbottom is set to swap the chilly climes of Wollongong for balmy Tahiti, taking to the famed Teahupoo break to film the remake of cult surf movie Point Break. Awesome!
8.16am Teeheehee, take a look at this gallery of animals dancing - Saturday Night Fever + otters = hilarious.
8.14am LOCAL NEWS: Firefighters were called to a kitchen fire in Wollongong on Tuesday night.
*Reporter Kate Walsh has the full story here.
8.12am CELEB GOSS ALERT: Lady Gaga has posted a pic her & crooner Tony Bennett, saying: "I never thought I would have a friend like this. We talk about everything, We sing, we laugh, we cry".
8.10am Alec Baldwin had a bit of a flukey moment at the US Open - he caught a tennis ball on the fly. Check it out below.
8.06am WORLD NEWS: There were two victims of the shooting at the Bullets and Burgers gun range in Arizona on Tuesday. One was the 39-year-old instructor Charles Vacca who lost his life. The other was the 9-year-old girl from New Jersey who accidentally shot him with a sub-machinegun as her parents watched on with a video camera
8.04am STRANGE BUT TRUE: A champagne glass designed by British artist Jane McAdam Freud has been modelled on Kate Moss's left breast. Why? Who knows. Click here for more.
8.02am The makers of game Candy Crush Saga pulled in $1.4bn profit last year. Scary.
Makers of @CandyCrushSaga pulled in $1.4bn in revenue last year. Experts say these games are as addictive and harmful as gambling. #Today9
— The Today Show (@TheTodayShow) August 27, 2014
8am Have you booked your tickets to see High School Musical yet? It's on at Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts from September 29 to October 5. Grab your tix here.
7.58am Good morning Illawarra! Welcome if you're just tuning in. We're in for another partly cloudy day with scattered showers & a top of 17. Traffic is still heavy through Rockdale, allow extra time. The 7:18am Martin Place to Kiama train has been cancelled between Hurstville and Kiama.
7.56am STRANGE BUT TRUE: Stop the presses - the makers of Hello Kitty have revealed she is NOT in fact a cat, but a human girl. WHA? Looks like a cat to me!
7.54am Oh, this little boy - he loves to dress up & emulate some of Hollywood's favourite stars. Who is he here? (hint, Ryan Gosling, hint).
7.52am SPORT: The NRL has floated the prospect of introducing a third on-field referee in 2016 as part of a sweeping series of mooted changes hailed as the biggest to the game since the introduction of the video referee.
7.50am Australian culture is marinated in alcohol. On average, Aussies over the age of 15 drink about 12.2 litres of pure alcohol each a year. That is the equivalent to about 480 beers, 135 bottles of wine or 40 bottles of vodka each. GOOD LORD!
7.48am LOCAL SPORT: Albion Park and University have long dominated Illawarra's first grade hockey, but the minor semi-final battle between Wests and Robertson carries its own share of history.
7.46am Hehe check out the ice bucket challenge - carried out by Lego characters! Even the little brick men are getting in on the action...
7.44am SYDNEY: An elderly Sydney man has been banned from driving for the next 78 years and is facing nine months home detention after driving while disqualified for the 21st time. "Don't drive, will you," Magistrate Chris O'Brien quipped after disqualifying 76-year-old Nathaniel Barker from driving until 2092 yesterday.
7.42am Want to learn how to cook Iraqi food? Head along to Wild Rumpus' mezze cooking class on September 7. Click below for more information.
7.40am LOCAL NEWS: If you can't trust an assistant school principal, who can you trust? That was the question an Illawarra mother found herself asking a Sydney court to consider when determining an appropriate punishment for Mark Forbes, the man responsible for molesting her two young daughters.
*Court reporter Shannon Tonkin has the full story here.
7.38am MUSIC NEWS: People, sit down & take a deep breath. It's JUST a rumour but ... if two Australian sources are to be believed, Beyonce, and her rap mogul hubby Jay-Z are bringing their On The Run co-headlining stadium tour to Australia.
7.37am Legendary graffiti artist Peque will be painting a mural at Amigos on September 24 & 25. Very cool.
7.35am TRAFFIC ALERT - Rockdale: Motorists travelling north on the Princes Highway are experiencing delays approaching Sydenham, following an earlier accident. Traffic is heavy from Rockdale - motorists are advised to allow extra travel time.
7.34am And in other local theatre news, the last three performance of Workshop's Death of A Salesman are on from tonight. Click below for deets.
7.32am Roo Theatre's production of The Mikado opens this weekend. The theatre is looking for volunteers to help with front-of-house. Email firstname.lastname@example.com if you can assist.
7.30am NATIONAL: Thousands of homes across Australia are at risk of catching fire because of faulty, non-compliant electrical cables installed in the past four years. The ACCC says Infinity and Olsent cable ranges, sold widely through 18 retail groups including Masters Home Improvement, Thrifty and Mitre 10, could become brittle and spark fires from 2016 and onwards.
7.29am MUSIC NEWS: Lady Gaga joined Adam Lambert & Queen on-stage last night in Sydney. Very cool! NB my parents went the night before, damn!
7.28am TIARA ALERT: Prince Harry whisked away new girlfriend Camilla Thurlow over the weekend for a romantic cruise through Saint-Tropez. Oh to be a royal girlfriend!
7.26am Qantas Airways is tipped to make a pre-tax loss of $750 million but some think it could sink to nearly $1 billion.
7.25am LOCAL SPORT: Playing in the shadows of some of his high-profile English counterparts, Mike Cooper admits his successful NRL debut season has been motivated by fear.
7.24am NATIONAL: Overseas surrogacy arrangements are taking place in an unregulated environment that is exposing babies and the women who carry them to a higher risk of bad health outcomes, a study shows.
7.22am The Kristen Fletcher Trio are set to bring their blend of jazz & pop to Three Chimneys on Saturday night. Head in for dinner & some cool tunes.
7.20am CELEB GOSS ALERT: Modern Family actress Sofia Vergara really partied at the Emmys. So much so that she had a bit of a "nip slip" while she was being thrown around the dance floor. Oopsie!
7.19am LOCAL NEWS: The staff at Coles Fairy Meadow were recently named NSW Store Team of the Year for their customer service and outstanding contribution to the community.
*Click here for the full story.
7.18am MUSIC NEWS: Lady Gaga has stripped down to just fishnet stockings while on stage in Brisbane. Are we shocked by this? No. I'd be more shocked if she was wearing clothes!
7.16am WORLD NEWS: A US writer freed after being held captive for two years by Syrian insurgents yesterday thanked those who had worked for his release and said he was emotionally overwhelmed by his welcome home.
7.14am Looking for somewhere to eat tonight? Why not try Cha Cha Bar & Grill under the WEC? Have a look at this review - see what you think.
7.12am STRANGE BUT TRUE: A woman in the US has failed to realise she has been sharing her house with a 5000-strong wasp "megahive". Exterminators said it was their "biggest job in 45 years of operation".
7.10am NATIONAL: A three-year-old girl has died after being struck by a car reversing out of a driveway in Taree. Click here for the full story.
7.08am The Brewery is running its Tex Mex night tonight. Think nachos, tequila and Corona buckets to share. Yum!
7.06am LOCAL SPORT: Illawarra rugby league manager Chris Bannerman doesn't believe there are issues with performance-enhancing drugs in the Coal League, after ASADA officials attended last week's minor semi-final in Dapto.
7.04am Love sweets but REALLY don't like all the sugar? Then you'll love these raw carrot cake bliss balls. Bliss in name, bliss in taste.
7.02am In some other TV news this morning, the final episode of Chelsea Lately has been filmed and several celebs, including Ellen Degeneres, Jennifer Aniston & Sandra Bullock, appeared. Jen & Sandra even brought out Chelsea's ex-boyfriend 50 Cent for the occasion!
7am SYDNEY: A woman appeared agitated and concerned as she left the foyer of a Sydney unit block just 12 hours before her body was found in a Sydney creek yesterday morning.
6.59am TV NEWS: A pop-up Central Perk coffee shop is on its way to New York City to celebrate 20 years since Friends hit our TV screens. Cool!
6.58am Good morning Illawarra! Welcome if you're just tuning in. We're in for another partly cloudy day with scattered showers & a top of 17. All is swell on the roads & rail.
6.56am LOCAL NEWS: It is open season on trees in large sections of the Illawarra, as new vegetation clearing rules allow landowners to cut down anything growing near their houses.
*Reporter Ben Langford has the full story here.
6.54am MOVIE NEWS: Can you believe it's been 50 years today since Mary Poppins premiered? 50 YEARS! Jane Banks has sure grown up a LOT since then...
6.52am Looking for a fun night out? The Social is hosting Fiesta Thursdays, serving up a range of sangria specials to go with tasty $5 tapas plates. You can also head there for an after-work drink every Tuesday to Friday - enjoy $5 house beer & wine from 5pm to 7pm
6.51am And in some other world news this morning, a Salt Lake City mother has been accused of giving birth & then dumping her newborn baby in a garbage bin.
6.50am WORLD NEWS: Two earthquakes measuring more than magnitude 5 hit Iceland's Bardarbunga volcano overnight and another quake shook a nearby volcano, with overall seismic activity staying high, the country's Meteorological Office said yesterday.
6.48am Look at this hedgehog with his hamster friend. Awww. I want. both.
6.46am The Mercury is launching a new newsletter, Mercury Morning Rush. Sign up here for your chance to win $500. Entries close September 8.
6.44am NATIONAL: The Abbott government is pushing ahead with a religious-only school chaplaincy scheme, following a cabinet debate over whether secular welfare workers should be included in the program.
6.43am STRANGE BUT TRUE: Clothing giant Zara has been forced to apologise over a set of PJs that look like a concentration camp uniform. D'oh!
6.42am Funny man Dave Hughes is set to return to the WEC on December 4 with his hit show Pointless. Tickets go on-sale today via Ticketmaster.
6.40am MOVIE NEWS: Brad & Ang are set to star in a movie together! It will be the first time they've appeared on-screen together since Mr & Mrs Smith.
6.36am NATIONAL: A Melbourne art expert has been charged after an investigation into suspected forged Brett Whiteley paintings. It is alleged Muhammad Aman Siddique obtained a $2.5 million financial advantage for himself and others by producing a purported Whiteley painting - Lavender Bay - and then fraudulently selling it as a genuine work.
6.34am LOCAL NEWS: Tributes have flowed for Tumbleweed bassplayer, Jay Curley, who passed away on Monday. Leave your tribute on our wall.
6.32am Feeling a little tubby this morning? Don't stress, we've all been there, including this gopher. He had to be rescued by a couple in the US because he was too fat to wriggle out of his hole. Bless.
6.30am NSW: More than 5000 trees have been chopped down at schools across NSW with $13 million spent on "tree safety works", following the playground accident in February in which eight-year-old Bridget Wright was killed by a falling limb from a gum tree.
6.28am And in some other celebrity news this morning, Jennifer Aniston has made a BIG announcement. Drum roll please ... she's NOT pregnant. She's over the speculation and has just come out and confirmed it - NOT pregnant.
6.27am BREAKING CELEB NEWS: X-Factor judge Redfoo has been glassed at a pub in Sydney's eastern suburbs in the early hours of Thursday morning, according to witnesses. We've got the full story here.
6.26am What were you doing 10 years ago? We're here to help jog your memory - click for our gallery, flashing back to August 2004.
6.24am STRANGE BUT TRUE: We have found the wooliest sheep in the world! This sheep was captured after six years in the wild & my god, does it have some wool! Man, you could make 20 jumpers out of that!
6.22am SPORT: South Africa have pulled off the second-biggest run-chase in their one-day international history to sink Australia in the tri-series clash.
6.20am TV NEWS: Did you watch The Bachelor last night? There was drama on the group date, Chantal scored a dreamy single date & one of the new girls went home (not our girl Rach!)
6.19am Guilty of snapping a few selfies? This will make you think twice - a father has secretly filmed his daughter taking selfies - and the video is hilarious!
6.18am LOCAL NEWS: A man charged in relation to making threats to Wollongong Hospital on Tuesday has faced Port Kembla Local Court.
*We've got the full story here.
6.16am A little Thursday funny for you - mouse-style!
6.15am NATIONAL: A pilot involved in a light plane crash that claimed the life of an 11-year-old girl in northern NSW has been charged with manslaughter. Get the full story here.
6.14am STRANGE BUT TRUE: A US couple has thrown a Wizard of Oz-inspired wedding, complete with Yellow Brick Road. Now THAT'S dedication to a theme! I wonder if they had munchkins...
6.12am TV NEWS: After sweeping the globe, the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge has reached Springfield. Producers of The Simpsons have released a clip of everyone's favourite father, Homer J. Simpson, being doused with ice – and more. Check it out here.
6.10am WORLD NEWS: Fighting in eastern Ukraine between government forces and pro-Russian rebels raged on after the Russian and Ukrainian presidents hailed as "positive" talks Tuesday night on ending the conflict.
6.08am CELEB GOSS ALERT: Former Home & Away star Kate Ritchie has named her baby girl - and it's a normal name! Welcome to the world baby Mae.
6.06am And in national news (via the SMH):
*The state government has been left red-faced after the first two houses to be auctioned at Millers Point sold for significantly higher than the price guides provided to buyers.
*Tony Abbott broke with tradition and skipped an annual black tie dinner held for government senators when he attended a party fund-raiser in Melbourne on Monday night.
*Australia's Defence Chief has warned the brutal Islamic State group will sooner or later have to be defeated "on the battlefield", as the United States was reportedly preparing to ask Australia for help with air strikes in Iraq.
6.04am Here's what's making news in your Mercury today:
*Earlier this year, Sharon Holz took her first independent steps with a mobility frame after being in a wheelchair for 25 years.
*Illawarra politicians say Wollongong will be left scrambling for Sydney's crumbs when it comes to getting a share of the NSW government's $20 billion poles and wires fund.
*The State Emergency Service has reiterated a warning not to drive, walk or ride through flooded areas after several rescues across the region on Tuesday.
6.02am Let's kick off the morning with the latest weather & traffic, shall we?
WEATHER We're in for another partly cloudy day with scattered showers & a top of 17. The good news is that showers will ease during the day.
TRAFFIC All looks good on our roads & for the run to Sydney.
TRAINS There is a good service on the South Coast line.
6am Good morning Illawarra! Happy Thursday, hope you're keeping dry during this wet week. Stay with your host Emma Spillett this morning for all the latest news etc.


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Just one week later and one of the region's leading property developers, UAE based Damac Properties, formally unveiled its own $120 million 35 storey contribution to the mega project.
The Abdali Boulevard will be the first above ground, visible sign of the Abdali project's gradual progress since the scheme got underway back in 2002. Until now, essential underground infrastructure work has been carried out but construction can begin apace on what Sheikh Baha'a Rafik Hariri, the Chairman of Abdali Investment and Development, described as the entire Abdali project's 'beating heart'.
The boulevard will run from east to west in the very centre of the development and will offer over 240 retail outlets, more than 200 apartments up to 7,100 square feet in size, 270,000 square feet of office space as well as a variety of restaurants, fitness facilities and piazzas.
But the boulevard is just one element of the large-scale project being put together by Abdali Investment and Development, a partnership between Mawared, a government owned investment corporation, and Oger Jordan, a subsidiary of Saudi Oger, an international construction conglomerate.
The Abdali project incorporates six other separate sectors including a graduate campus for the American University of Jordan, which will occupy a sizeable chunk of the development, a Central Market Place mostly dedicated to retail activities and ten towers, with a variety of uses, including the landmark Abdali Business Tower.
One such tower, The Heights, to be located at the main gate of the Abdali development, will be built by Damac Properties. The construction will consist of 35 storeys and will comprise a mixture of one, two and three bedroom apartments, as well as penthouses.
Damac sees a lot of potential in the Jordanian market and plans to offer further developments in the course of time, with Peter Riddoch, the company's Chief Executive, saying, 'Our initiative is part of a broader scheme that is devised for Jordan, as we plan to introduce a number of very exciting projects within prime locations.'
The company has recently launched a major expansion into several new markets, including elsewhere in the Levant. At the end of June, Damac announced La Residence by Ivana Trump, a $150 million 27 storey residential venture in the centre of Beirut; the subsequent sustained military attack on Lebanon by Israel will no doubt put a severe strain on the project, but Damac remains bullish about its prospects. At the start of June, the company had also revealed a $400 million project in Doha, Qatar and an ambitious $3.5 billion mixed use development in Tianjin, China.
Damac is certainly keen for its newly launched Jordanian venture to get off to an encouraging start, as it is offering the first 25 purchasers of three bedroom apartments in The Heights a free 2007 Jaguar X type as an extra inducement.
The Abdali project is scheduled to take another three years to complete and it will then be hoped, not only by Abdali Investment and Development but also by the Jordanian government, that the area will become a vibrant, thriving centre of investment and commercial activity.
Recent figures, highlighted in the Jordan Times, show that real estate sales in Jordan in the first half of the year totalled $3.2 billion, a massive increase of 60 per cent on the same period last year. It would seem then that property developers can look to enter large-scale Jordanian projects like Abdali with a good deal of confidence.
Wednesday, July 19- 2006 @ 15:16 UAE local time (GMT+4) Replication or redistribution in whole or in part is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Mediaquest FZ LLC.


text:
Raj Resorts Reviews
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Great location if you have a car or motorbike since it is in the middle of Goa. The local beach is one of the best in Goa if you like peace and not too many people.
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San Francisco Dons (10-7)
@BYU Cougars (14-4)
Saturday, January 07
Marriott Center
Attendance: 14,823
San Francisco
Provo, UT (Sports Network) - Brock Zylstra scored a game-high 22 points, leading four starters in double figures, as the BYU Cougars easily defeated the San Francisco Dons, 81-56, in West Coast Conference play at the Marriott Center.
Noah Hartsock accounted for 14 points for the Cougars (14-4, 3-1 WCC), followed by Brandon Davies and Matt Carlino who both dropped in 12 points, the former adding six rebounds and six assists as the hosts won their third in the a row and the sixth in seven outings.
The Dons (10-7, 0-3) were led by Michael Williams, the only player in double figures, with 10 points as he shot just 3-of-12 from the floor in the team's fourth loss in five tries. Perris Blackwell contributed with a game-high 10 rebounds in the setback.
BYU took immediate control of the meeting, shooting a sizzling 61.5 percent from the floor in the first half, including 7-of-10 behind the three-point line, en route to a 42-20 advantage at the break.
In the second half the lead reached 31 points for the Cougars as they again shot the ball well from beyond the arc (5-of-9) as they cruised to the 25- point triumph.
In addition to knocking down 12-of-19 on the perimeter, the hosts also held a 40-31 rebounding advantage and limited USF to just 32.8 percent shooting from the floor.
Tom Wood, Brett Nansel, Horace Shields


text:
Hi DWEN,
Yes, this is exactly what we were looking for.
I see there is an existing one called OMP_NUM_THREADS = 6. Could you try closing Inventor, change the value from 6 to 1, then re-launching Inventor to see if meshing works?
If this doesn't work, please change the value back to 6 and let us know. I will share your list with Development and we'll get back to you if there is anything else that seems out of place.
Many thanks, -Hugh
I have e-mailed a .txt file containing my environment variables to the address you provided.
Thank you for yor assistance in this matter.
I can not change this. see picture
Is there an other way to change this from 6 to 1?
I saw that my OMP_NUM_THREADS variable was set to 6 (like DWEN's), so I attempted changing it to 1 as you instructed. Despite the change, the error still continues.
I was also unable to change the OMP_NUM_THREADS variable with the windows gui, however, I was successful in changing it via command line. If you go start->"cmd", and then right click the cmd application, you can then select 'run as administrator'. After the cmd window appears, type "set OMP_NUM_THREADS=1" into the prompt to set the variable.
I am sorry, i am running my computer as administrator. But anyway I can not go in to cmd prompt (richt klik) and change it in run as administrator. Then I tried to change this parameter with set OMP_NUM_THREADS=1.
But nothing happens. Stil standing at 6.
Anyway..... It did not help for you. So for me it is the same I think.
Same thing every year when there is an new inventor......
Hi DWEN and rschwartz,
Thank you for checking and reporting back.
I think it is also worthwile to try logging in as a user with admin rights and try to mesh. Hopefully, Inventor was installed with administrative rights in order to have unrestricted write access to the registry, enviornment variables, etc. If you are unsure if Inventor was installed without restrictive privileges, please try a re-install with a user having full admin rights, firewalls turned off, etc. to see if it helps.
I have compiled the feeback info and passed the issue along to Development for further investigation. Hopefully we'll hear back soon.
Best regards, -Hugh
Okay, Development has got back to me very quickly!
We would like more info. Could you send us the log file generated upon the failed mesh? It will be located in your C:\Temp folder, and it will be called FEAComputeServer.log.
To enable the log file, create this registry key:
(set HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Autodesk\Inventor\Regis
With it, we can tell:
I've also attached a registry key that you can double-click and it will create the reg key automatically. The 17.0 assumes you are using Inventor Release 2013.
Thanks, -Hugh
I am sorry, installed youre key. and looked in C\temp. No such file.
And yes I have Inventor 2013.
After I press the mesh button, I get a waiting bar. The waiting bar shows for +/- 30 sec and doesn't move.
Then the waiting bar disapears and notthing has changed.
Made an other user and gave it administrator rights.
Then started inventor and try to make a mesh.
Gave me some more info: (see screenshot)
But when I search for the folder \APPDATA, there is no such folder.
Do you have any news?
This problem is verry hard for me, I have to make some FEM on a part that I have drawn on Inventor 13.
So I can't go back to Inventor 2012.
You can also call me. 0032 89 79 35 31
Ask for Dirk Wenmakers.
At this moment it is 16u02. You can reach me until 22u
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text:
State Shutdown, Mpls. Tornado Among Top Stories
State politics and Mother Nature dominated Minnesota's headlines this year.
Minn. Shutdown Slowed Fiscal '12 Tax Collections
Minnesota's government shutdown pushed state tax collections below projections for the first two months of the new fiscal year, as the state's budget office sounds a note of warning about the U.S. economic outlook.
Minn. Lawmaker Who Got Retroactive Pay To Take Cut
One of the 18 Minnesota House members who got full retroactive pay after the state's government shutdown is now planning to take a cut in a future paycheck, while two others say they already donated the money without publicizing their charity.
18 Minn. Lawmakers Got Shutdown Pay Retroactively
Eighteen Minnesota House members who declined paychecks during last month's state government shutdown went back for the money.
Shutdown Over, Dayton To 'Do What I Can' On Jobs
Gov. Mark Dayton starts a statewide jobs tour next week hoping to build a legacy as a jobs governor, with last month's government shutdown behind him.
Minnesota Sees Revenue Drop During July Shutdown
Minnesota's 20-day state government shutdown hurt state revenue collections last month as tax auditors stayed home and lottery sales halted.
Moody's: Minnesota's Financial Outlook 'Negative'
One of the three major credit rating agencies took a gloomier outlook on Minnesota's financial future on Monday, citing "political intractability" and the lack of a permanent fix to persistent deficits after a 20-day government shutdown.
State Campground Reservations Now Open
State campground reservations are now open for business in Minnesota.
Closed Door Meetings But Still No Special Session
This is Day 17 of the state government shutdown and despite a weekend of negotiations, there is still uncertainty about when it will end. What is known is that the special session will not start on Monday.
Minnesota Special Session Won't Happen Monday
There won't be a special session of the Minnesota Legislature on Monday but officials say work is continuing to end the state's government shutdown.
Restarting Minn. Gov't More Than Flipping Switch
Minnesota may soon have an end to its government shutdown, but re-starting the machinery of the state will probably take a few days.
Minn. Shutdown Means State Muskie Record Stands
Because of Minnesota's government shutdown, an Arizona man will never know if his monster muskie broke a state record from 1957.
Vikings Ready To Advance Stadium Plan
The Minnesota Vikings are ready to move forward with a stadium plan when lawmakers return for a special session to end the state government shutdown.
Sighs Of Relief From Businesses Affected By Shutdown
The budget compromise reached Thursday means 22,000 state workers will have a paycheck again, lottery tickets will soon be printed, horse jockeys will be busy and beer will be on the shelves.
State Workers' Mixed Reactions To Deal To End Shutdown
While many of Minnesota's more than 22,000 laid-off workers are excited to hear they could soon be returning to work, not all of them are happy about the way they would return to work.


text:
Nov. 9 (Bloomberg) -- South Korea's won rose for the first time in three days after the unemployment rate unexpectedly dropped toward a record low, bolstering confidence in the economic outlook. Bonds advanced.
The jobless rate declined to 3.1 percent last month from 3.2 percent in September, Statistics Korea said today. A 3 percent level in the first two months of 2008 was the lowest in data going back to 1999. Economists expected a 3.3 percent rate last month, based on the median estimate in a Bloomberg News survey. Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi offered to resign yesterday as soon as Parliament approves austerity measures pledged to European partners.
The won strengthened 0.3 percent to 1,117.32 per dollar, after gaining as much as 0.9 percent earlier, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The currency trimmed gains on speculation importers are buying dollars to settle bills, according to Roh Sang Chil, Seoul-based chief currency dealer with Kookmin Bank. The Kospi Index of shares advanced 0.2 percent today.
"The Italian prime minister's plan to quit and South Korea's unemployment data will buoy market sentiment," said Lee Jung Ha, a Seoul-based senior currency dealer at Korea Development Bank. "There's not much momentum in the market and players are reacting to news headlines."
The Bank of Korea will meet on Nov. 11 to review its benchmark interest rate, which has been kept at 3.25 percent since the last increase in June. The rate will be left unchanged this week, according to all 17 economists surveyed by Bloomberg.
The government's benchmark three-year bonds gained for an eight day, pushing yields to near a four-week low. The yield on the 3.5 percent bonds due June 2014 fell one basis point, or 0.01 percentage point, to 3.38 percent, Korea Exchange Inc. prices show.
South Korea's currency trading market will open one hour later than usual tomorrow to help reduce traffic for high-school students taking their national college entrance examinations. The market will close as usual at 3 p.m., according to the Seoul Foreign Exchange Market Committee.
--Editors: James Regan, Brett Miller
To contact the reporter on this story: Jiyeun Lee in Seoul at firstname.lastname@example.com
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Sandy Hendry at firstname.lastname@example.com


text:
Visiting Angkor in Cambodia – Fascinating ruins or hot and expensive?
September 15, 2014 by Guest Author
Filed under Accommodation, Cambodia, featured, Guest post, Leisure, Misc, Nature, Photography, Sightseeing, Walking, World
In this article our guest writers, Illia and Nastia share their tips for visiting Anghor in Cambodia – while it's a one of those must-see sites with a huge amount to cover in a day or two, we find out whether the heat and high prices were worth it.
Angkor, a UNESCO heritage site, is considered to be a photo paradise. Unbelievable sun rises, ancient ruins and wild rainforest combine to make this place unbearably attractive for any photographer. Of course, we weren't that lucky: while we enjoyed ancient ruins, it was raining, cloudy and gloomy. The temperature was either extremely high (in the middle of the day) or extremely low (early in the morning), so it was pretty hard to choose what to wear. Nevertheless, we managed to take a few of pictures and now want to share them with you.
When you depart early in the morning from Siam Reap, the nearest Cambodian town, it is 6 o'clock in the morning and the only thing you can think about is how much you want to sleep. The wind blows through an open tuk-tuk and it's freezing cold. The price of the entrance tickets – $40! – quickly wakes you up and here you are, awaken and ready to explore ancient Hindu-Buddhist temple complex. Ancient? Hmm, not really. In fact the majority of temples were constructed in the 12th-15th centuries. However, if Lara Croft considered it to be old enough to die for its treasures, we can assume that it's old enough to pay $40 entrance fee.
The Angkorian period began in AD 802, when self-confident Khmer monarch Jayavarman II decided that he was a "god-king" and "universal monarch" and lasted until the late 14th century, when Ayutthaya conquered "god's territories". Khmers didn't like it and organized a rebellion which resulted not in freedom, but in migration of population to Longvek.
The complex includes so many temples that it is physically impossible to visit all of them. Scientists believe that some of them are still hidden in jungles and are impossible to reach both for tourists and explorers. Many temples are built on moors, so it's hard to understand how Khmers managed to access them at all. We took a traditional two-circle tour (small + big circles) and were completely satisfied with the amount of ruins we saw.
Interestingly enough, these ruins were never used for living or praying in them, but were rather considered to be home for gods, accessible only for priests. The great-grandchildren of the architects and constructors believed that the temples were erected by gods. In 1850 Angkor was found by a French priest, owing to whom it became a popular destination for European tourists and researchers.
Nowadays there are so many tourists in Angkor that sometimes it's impossible to take a picture. The situation is worsened by numerous local sellers, trying to persuade you to buy totally unnecessary stuff. In addition to the crowds of tourists there are lots of orphans hanging around in Angkor. At first, it looks strange, but in fact there is nothing surprising about that: there are several orphanages in the temples' neighborhood. Orphans either beg for food and water, or collect plastic bottles, thrown away by tourists, to sell them to recycling companies. Even though the life style of these children is miserable, they don't look unhappy: we saw lots of them playing in the jungles and riding the vines.
To cut a long story short, the visit to Angkor can be described as follows:
Day 1 – Wow! Ancient ruins!!! I must see ALL of them!
Day 2 – Hm, that is interesting collection of stones, I think it differs a little bit from the previous temple.
Day 3 – I am fed up with heat and rocks! I want ice-cream and rest.
That's why we conclude that two days are enough.
In general, visit to Angkor was unusual and quite inspiring experience we highly recommend to everyone visiting South East Asia.
Practical information for visiting Angkor
How to get there: from Cambodian town Siam Reap you can take a tuk-tuk ($7) per day or a bike ($4). Take into consideration that Angkor is pretty big; walking might take too much time.
Cost: $40 for three days
Where to stay: Only in Siam Reap – our budget (but totally fine) hotel cost $6 per night for double room.
Where to eat: Only in Siam Reap. When going to Angkor, take food with you, since it is quite expensive to eat there.
Many thanks for this article to Illia and Nastia who are passionate about each other, traveling around the world and sharing their experiences at crazzzytravel.com, a blog where you can find plenty of budget travel tips as well as practical information about numerous destinations. They have already been to 33 countries on 4 continents and ain't no stopping. Visit their Facebook or Google+ pages and follow them on Twitter.
For more things to see in Southeast Asia:
The highlights of Phnom Penh – Cambodia
Take your hobby on holiday – follow your interests in Vietnam
The Best Places to Snorkel in Thailand
Photo Credit: All photos by crazzzytravel.com
This article is originally published at Heatheronhertravels.com – Read the original article here
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You'll also find our sister blog with tips on how to build a successful travel blog at My Blogging Journey
A Mom and daughter trip to Disney World – tips for having fun and staying friends
July 29, 2014 by Guest Author
Filed under Accommodation, Eating and drinking, featured, Guest post, Leisure, Misc, Self-catering, Sightseeing, USA, World
In this article, our guest author Amanda Kusek shares her experience of visiting Disney World in Florida with her mother and shares her tips for having fun together as a parent and adult child without driving each other mad!
I am thrilled to say I've just returned from 7 days with my mother in Disney World, sharing a villa along with her best friend and boyfriend, and have come home unscathed. We certainly had moments of tension, but by reaching toward each other rather than pulling away, we had a fantastic time. If you're planning a similar trip, here are my tips from an adult child's point of view so you too can bask in familial bliss;
Let's Stay Together
Rather than staying in one of the many Disney World resorts, my mother and I opted for a villa at Liki Tiki Resort Village just twenty minutes from the park. We used my brother's timeshare, but you may book the resort online. If you use 3111 World Dr. as your GPS address, Liki Tiki to Disney is completed in a flash on back roads. You'll bypass main entrance traffic and slip easily into main parking via a back entrance. The villas truly do have one of the best locations outside of the parks.
I enjoyed staying away from the free-for-all that is Disney. With the villa, we were able to invite along two others, cook some of our meals, and laze by the pool just steps from our door. Not only was it significantly cheaper for all of us but having a joint space made me feel more at home. We had family style dinners, enjoyed wine, and played cards. It was a nice way to spend time together without hustling around the parks.
The Thin Line Between Doting & Nagging
My mother has explained to me on countless occasions that even though I am 26, she still feels an incredible urge to take care of me. She misses me and cooking dinner or picking up the bill makes her feel closer to me. While being doted on is something I can certainly enjoy, too much of a good thing can make me turn sour.
It's important to remember that your adult children make hundreds of decisions about their lives every day. For example, in Epcot my goal was to eat everything in sight. I wanted to, I needed to, and I was prepared to outdo myself. And yet, my mother took it upon herself to warn me about eating a bite of sushi before our lunch reservations. Food is important to our family and especially to my mother's nurturing, but in this case I was going to do what I wanted anyway, there was no need to mention it.
Admit When You're Tired
Guess what? I'm not as young as I was once was either! I now know what it feels like to be tired, to rise early and want to be in bed equally as early. My late nights are few and I spend more time getting up and going to work than out partying and sleeping in. If you tell me you are exhausted, we can re-do the plans and make new ones, or just head home to have a glass of wine. Chances are, I'm probably tired too. After we had a long day in Hollywood Studios, my team of middle-aged rock stars (I got 2 of the 3 on Aerosmith's Rock N' Roller Coaster) and I decided to call it quits and return to our villa for dinner. We canceled our dinner reservation and enjoyed a steak dinner and an early bedtime. It was just what the doctor ordered. We returned to Disney the next day totally refreshed instead of exhausted and cranky.
Some Things Are Still New To Me
My mother has been to Disney over 20 times in her lifetime. This was only my fourth go around. Though I have grown up, many of the parks rides and attractions feel new to me. While she may know Magic Kingdom like the back of her hand, I certainly do not, and she indulged my wonder with certain buildings, rides, and shows. I know that some of this may have bored her but she embraced it as though I was seeing it for the first time. She must have asked me, "Do you remember this?" countless times but whether the answer was yes or no, we still participated and enjoyed. Together we made Disney World, something that risks being "too perfect", exciting and suited to us. We just had to listen to one another.
I'd love to hear about what it is like to travel with an adult child and how I can be a better version of myself! Please share with Amanda in the comments below.
Many thanks to Amanda Kusek from TripGal for this article. You can read more of Amanda's work at http://trip-gal.com/author/amandakusek/ or cheapcourage.com. Follow her on Twitter at @akaymayday.
For more Fun travel:
What does Orlando offer other than Disney?
Our Top 5 Florida beaches
Our supercalifragilistic day at the Magical Kingdom of Disney
Photo Credit: All photos originally from Amanda Kusek
This article is originally published at Heatheronhertravels.com – Read the original article here
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Win a Hotel Stay in my Summer Giveaway with Hotelscheap.org
July 20, 2014 by Heather Cowper
Filed under Accommodation, Europe, featured, Giveaways, Hotels, United Kingdom, World
Whether you fancy getting away to enjoy the summer sunshine or are planning a weekend break in the autumn once things have cooled down, I'm happy to announce my summer hotel-stay giveaway in partnership with HotelsCheap.org. I'm giving away a HotelsCheap.org voucher to one of my readers, worth $250 (or equivalent value of £145/€185) which you can use to book yourself a stay in a lovely hotel and treat yourself and that special someone to a relaxing summer break. The voucher can be redeemed for a hotel booking on the HotelsCheap.org website up until spring next year, so if you prefer you can wait until the autumn or even next spring to enjoy your hotel stay.
HotelsCheap.org is a hotel booking website that specialises in finding discount hotel rates for travellers worldwide and you can use the voucher to book a hotel stay in the UK, US and Canada, Europe and many other destinations worldwide. To inspire you in your choice of hotel getaway, I've come up with a few ideas, based on destinations and hotels I can personally recommend. If you'd like to enter this giveaway, please follow the details at the bottom of the article to find out how you can gain the maximum chances to win the HotelsCheap.org voucher.
A historic getaway in Winchester
Why go?
The best of England packed into an ancient market town, Winchester has a very walkable historic centre, plenty of green spaces, river walks, interesting artizan shops and great places to eat. If that's not enough, you have the beautiful Hampshire countryside on your doorstep, with walking and country houses to explore within a short drive of Winchester.
Where to stay?
The Winchester Hotel and Spa is a short walk from the historic centre and has rooms in August and September Saturday nights for £150 and under. Read my review of The Winchester Hotel and Spa
What to see?
Wander around the medieval market town and visit the famous cathedral where Jane Austen is buried – perhaps you'll find a farmer's market in full swing. Shop in the craft markets or artizan shops that line the narrow lanes, walk along the river to the city mill where you can see flour being ground as it has for centuries and perhaps spot some otters in the mill stream. The South Downs Way starts at Winchester so you may like a hike in the lovely Hampshire countryside or walk to the top of the town and visit the medieval Great Hall with King Arthur's round table.
Read more about Winchester here: 10 ways to spend a wonderful weekend in Winchester
A lively stay in San Antonio, Texas
Why go?
This town is one of the most historic in Texas, set on the San Antonio river, with some buzzing bars and restaurants along the Riverwalk making it a great choice for a relaxing getaway.
Where to Stay?
Hotel Valencia Riverwalk is an elegant boutique hotel on the Riverwalk and has Saturday night stays in August and September for under $200 although you may prefer to wait until the sweltering Texas heat and humidity reduces and take your hotel break in October or November. Read my review of Hotel Valencia Riverwalk
What to see?
Take a boat tour along the Riverwalk or stroll on foot as evening falls and the area buzzes with bars and restaurants. Of course you will want to visit the Alamo, a landmark in the struggle for Texan independence and perhaps drive out to some of the other historic Spanish missions in the area. You can hire bikes and cycle on the path beside the San Antonio river or shop for local crafts and artizan souvenirs in the La Villita Historic district.
Read more about our stay in San Antonio here: Texas Podcast Part 1, Houston, San Antonio and Picosa Ranch
A cool weekend in Copenhagen
Why go?
Haven of Scandi-cool, Denmark's capital has a compact centre that is easy to explore by bike or on foot and in summer you can take in the party atmosphere as locals enjoy the summer in the parks and around the harbour.
Where to Stay?
The Ibsens Hotel is a stylish hotel near the Copenhagen lakes that is furnished with quirky finds from neighbourhood shops and local artizan businesses and has Saturday night stays available in August and September for €130-180. Read my review and video of Ibsens Hotel here
What to see?
A boat tour of the canals and harbour will help you get your bearings and locate some of the major Copenhagen landmarks, such as the Opera House, Royal Palace and the Little Mermaid statue. Stroll along Stroget where you'll find luxury Danish design stores and climb the medieval Round Tower, for views over the city. You'll want to enjoy the food scene too, with some of the best restaurants in the world where Michelin stars abound, but you can also find inexpensive snacks and deli-meals in the Torverhallerne food halls.
Read more about Copenhagen here: In photos: Our weekend stay in Copenhagen
A spa break in Budapest
Why go?
Hungary's capital has all the sophistication of Paris but with far more affordable prices and warm, friendly locals. There's so much to see whether you love sightseeing, relaxing in the numerous traditional and trendy cafes or visiting one of the thermal spas.
Where to Stay?
The Intercontinental Hotel is a 5 star hotel that's centrally located for sightseeing by the Chain Bridge with views of the Danube and there are dates in August and September available from €100 per night. Read my review and video of Intercontinental Hotel Budapest here
What to see?
Take the funicular up to the top of Castle Hill to visit the colourful Matyas church and take in the views from the Fisherman's Bastion over the Danube and Hungarian Parliament building. You'll want to visit one of the Hungarian spa baths such as the Gellert or Szechenyi complexes to enjoy a massage or a soak in the warm baths and perhaps afterwards have coffee and cake in an elegant cafe. The House of Terror is a compelling reminder of Hungary's communist past, while a visit to the Hungarian State Opera House for a concert or ballet is a must for culture lovers.
Read more about Budapest here: 48 hours in Budapest, top things to see on a weekend break
About HotelsCheap
HotelsCheap.org specialises in finding discount hotel rates for travellers worldwide operating in 75 countries for hotels, bed-and-breakfasts and holiday apartments. On HotelsCheap.org you can find anything from hostels and popular brand hotels to boutique hotels to luxury resorts, so getting the best hotel price doesn't mean compromising on where you stay. You can also find more tips, traveller interviews and accommodation guides on the HotelsCheap blog
Follow HotelsCheap.org on their social media channels for travel inspiration and tips for the places you'll want to visit; follow along on Twitter @hotelscheap, on Google+ and on Facebook
About the giveaway
I'm giving away a voucher to one of my readers worth $250 US (equivalent value £146 or €185) which can be redeemed on HotelsCheap.org any time before June 2015. The giveaway is open to all readers regardless of your location although the voucher will be redeemed in $US. The giveaway will run for 2 weeks and end on Monday 4 August 2014. To enter the giveaway all you have to do is;
- Leave a comment below telling me how you'd like to spend your HotelsCheap voucher; which destination would you love to visit, who will you be going with, where would you like to stay?
You can also add 5 additional chances to win by doing any of the following through the Rafflecopter widget below;
- Like the Heatheronhertravels Facebook page
- Spread the word about the giveaway on Twitter, for example; I'd love to #win a summer hotel stay with @hotelscheap in the #giveaway at @heathercowper http://ow.ly/zmLnX
- Follow Heather on her travels on Twitter @heathercowper
- Follow the HotelsCheap Google+ page
- Follow HotelsCheap on Twitter @hotelscheap
Entering this giveaway gives permission for you to be added to the e-mail lists of both Heatheronhertravels.com and our sponsor HotelsCheap.org, but you can unsubscribe at any time.
This article by Heather Cowper is originally published at Heatheronhertravels.com – Read the original article here
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