Fantasy Fest - Key West

October 17-26 experience the well known Fantasy Fest with this years them as...

Animeted Dreams and Adventures.  

What is Fantasy Fest?

Each year since 1979 the town of Key West throws a 10 day adult themed "party in paradise".  Originally created to bring more visitors to the area in the shoulder season, it nows entertains thousands each October and expresses the true spirit of the Keys through imaginative and creative costumes and themes.  All around it is a wild extravaganza that allows adults to leave all their inhibitions behind for a day or week (and all their clothes)!

Animeted Dreams and Adventures Theme

Anime is a traditional form of Japanese animation with different art styles incorporated making it a diverse art form.   It has transformed into a reality for some known in the costuming world known as cosplay (short for costume play).  

So if you are ready to soak up some sun, stroll Duval Street and get animated head on down to Key West!  

Some tips to surviving Fantasy Fest!

1.  Book your accommodations now! 

The Fantasy Fest official website for where to stay is fantastic!

2.  Be prepared for plenty of "indecent exposure".  If you are comfortable in your own skin (and seeing others) then you will be just fine.  While nudity is ILLEGAL there, you can avoid jail time buy simply applying body paint of a sheer cover up....easy peasy!

3.  Pretenders in Paradise is the most famous of all Fantasy Fest costume contests with the grand prize being $10,000.  There is some serious money to be made if you "go all out".

4.  Key West is a fairly "pet friendly" locale so if you want to bring your pooch to the Festivities check with your hotel on their rules.  Wanna bring fido to happy hour?  No problem, check out this website for all the pet friendly restaurants.  Also, the only beach that you can take your dog to is also the local "hobo" hangout so be prepared to share the space.

*Fun Fact: Key West is the most sought after destination for the homeless in the United States.

5.  If you do bring fido pack a costume for him or her so they can participate in the Pet Masquerade and Parade.  

6.  Car in general are a pain in the butt in Key West - primarily due to the lack of parking.  If you are able to walk or bike I suggest doing that everywhere.  One it avoids the dreaded DUI,  you will avoid the headache of parking and meter checking and gas is pricey so save your monies for the yummy food and beverages.

If you do drive around here is a cheat sheet on where to find parking:

* 24-hour parking is available at the corner of Carolina St and Margaret St as well as, Front St and Wall St.  $2 to $4 an hour with daily maxes.  

*Grinnell and Carolina Street park and ride for $2/hour or $30/day.

* Also do not forget about the Key West bus and shuttles!

7.  Each day is a different event on the island so if you want to take full advantage of all the debauchery follow this guide to know when and where you should be.

8.  Use your common sense - while you can get away with a lot of things this week play it safe and keep your wits about you.  Safe fun is the best fun!

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United Military Travel is a great resource to help you enjoy the festivities!  Call them today to book your airfare, car rental and/or hotel!

866-582-9579

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

A Harry Potter theme park

....

Need I say more????

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Check out everything the park has to offer here!

This fall is a going to be a great time to take your kids down to Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida.  The Wizarding World of Harry Potter spans two theme parks and allows patrons to enjoy many of the aspects we love in the movie series like:

* riding the train at Hogsmeade Station

* wondering Diagon Alley
* drinking Butterbeer and Pumpkin Juice
* ride the thrilling, high speed roller coaster called Dragon Challenge

My questions for you are:
"Do going to parks like this create a bit of anxiety for you?  Do you know how to make the most of your time there?"

...Attention Parents - A word to the wise...
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Diagon Alley - is located in Universal Studios
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hogsmeade - is located next door at Universal Islands of Adventure
This means you will have to buy admission tickets to both theme parks to experience ALL of the excitement.
You can purchase a park-to-park admission ticket or annual pass and that will allow you to access both parks AND Hogwarts Express.  
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Now, take note of these tips on how to survive the lines, crowds and navigation issues of theme parks to make your experience as magical as ever!

1. If you stay at a hotel that is one-site then you will have access to the theme park one hour before they open!  Or you can book a vacation rental from United Military Travel and stay in a luxury home where you have access to your own pool, kitchen etc. 
2. Download the Universal Orlando Wait Time app so you can pick and choose what rides to ride and when.  

3. The parks offers a room called "baby swap" where the parents can take turns watching small children but still getting to enjoy the attraction.  One parent rides then the next - without having to get separated.  
4. To avoid the scalding heat of the day, Diagon Alley was designed to have cooler areas so hit this park later in the day and do Hogsmeade first. 
5. When you decide to go over to Hogsmeade, enter Islands of Adventure and walk right to Seuss Landing.  It is a shorter distance to Harry Potter than going left. 
6. To really take note of all the magic happening around you, make sure you are looking in the store windows and just being aware of your surroundings.  The park has put a lot of thought into the detail, you just have to be aware to look for it.
7.  All around the park are actual pieces from the movies like the Sword of Gryffindor in Filch's Emporium and the talking heads inside Hog's Head Pub.

8.  In the bathroom at Hogsmeade, you can hear the cries and complaints of Moaning Mrytle.
9.  If the entrance to Universal Studios is to long you can try the entrance by Blue Man Group.

10.  If you dial 62442 (magic) from the telephone booth outside of King's Cross, it will connect you to the ministry of magic.
11. If you purchase a wand at Ollivanders they will give you a map that if you put it under a black light it will lead you to places where you can cast spells.

12. In both Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade they are special performance all over to look out for.

Call UMT today and book your Universal Studios trip today to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter!

5 Free Things To Do In Miami!

Get to know Miami on a personal level with these free activities!

1.  Art

On Viernes Culturales (Cultural Fridays), Little Havana's Calle Ocho turns into an open air gallery with hundreds of artists and musicians filling the sidewalks for your enjoyment!  It happens the last Friday of every month from 6:30pm to 11:00 pm and is free of charge.  It also includes a walking tour of Little Havana.

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Also, head over to the Wynwood Art District and Design District - they are Miami's up-and-coming art scene that produces a ton of eclectic energy! Every second Saturday of the month to take advantage of the later gallery hours to view the posh showrooms and vanguard designers for free! 

2. Attractions

Cruise down to 1116 Ocean Drive and pause at the Versace Mansion to see where Italian fashion designer once hosted lavish parties for glamorous guests like Madonna, Elton John, and Princess Diana.  Versace was also shot to death on the steps of the mansion in 97'. 

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After that check out the JFK Torch of Friendship that is accompanied by statues of Simon Bolivar and Ponce de Leon which affirms the United State's relationship with the nations of the Caribbean and South and Central America, and also honors JFK.

3.  Culture

Take a free tour of the World of Bacardi Museum and discover the corporate and family history of this world famous rum, which began in 1862.  Tours are free but appointments are required.   

4. Kids

The Miami Children's Museum offers, Target Free Third Friday, which allows kids to explore hundreds of hands-on exhibits that teach art, culture, and communication absolutely free.  Head over on the third Friday of each month from 3to 9pm.  

5.  Outdoors

Other than the obvious beaches check out...

Biscayne National Park for snorkeling and scuba diving along the colorful coral reef.  Or you can stay on the shore and look for dolphins and manatees.  Others boat, fish, watch wildlife, and meander via canoe through one of Florida's longest stretches of mangrove forest.  Family Fun Fest is a FREE program held on the second Sunday of each month.  

5 Free Things To Do In New York City

New York City

When you think of things to do in New York City you probably think of visiting the Statue of Liberty, going to Broadway plays, and climbing to the top of the Empire State Building.  

You can still do all of things if you wish but the 5 ways I enjoyed seeing the city were practically free!!

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"Start spreading the news, I'm leaving today

I want to be a part of it

New York, New York

These vagabond shoes, are longing to stray

Right through the very heart of it

New York, New York"

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Top 5 free things to do in the city that are soooo New York...

1. The Highline

The Highline is a public park built on a historic freight rail line elevated above the streets of Manhattan's West Side.  It runs from Gansevoort Street in the Meatpacking Districk to West 34th Street, between 10th and 11th Avenues.

Take goofey pics all around the city!

The city is all about walking - grabs some friends and get moving!

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"I want to wake up, in a city that never sleeps

And find I'm king of the hill

Top of the heap"

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2. Hang out on a roof top terrace

Enjoy the view with some good wine!

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"These little town blues, are melting away

I'll make a brand new start of it

In old New York

If I can make it there, I'll make it anywhere

Its up to you, New York...New York"

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3.  Explore the parks 

I'm on shrooms...hahaha!

These people do really exist...

Central Park

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"New York...New York

I want to wake up, in a city that never sleeps

And find I'm number one, top of the list

King of the hill, A number one..."

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4.  Staten Island Ferry

This ferry is completely free of charge so hop on and once you reach the island just hop back on another ferry.  Viola! You just saw the Statue of Liberty for FREE!!!

 5.  The Brooklyn Bridge

One of the most popular attractions in New York today - make sure you get there to take in the views!

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You know who to call to book your travels...

United Military Travel!!

866-582-9579

The best places to visit on the Chesapeake Bay

Enjoy the best of what America has to offer by exploring the Chesapeake Bay!!

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What comes to your mind when someone says that they vacationed on The Bay?

Is it "what bay?"

or

"Why?"

maybe even

"you mean San Francisco Bay?"

If you are not a East coaster than the likely hood of you having personal experience with the Chesapeake Bay is slim to none but that is why I am here to educate you on what you are missing out on!  It is also a great escape for people living in the Washington, DC area because it is so close!

United Military Travel can get you to all these places by utilizing their fly now/pay later and stay now/pay later options!  
Call them today to book 866-582-9579
www.unitedmilitarytravel.com

* Lets start with the towns/cities on the Bay *

• Cape Charles on the Eastern Shore

Yes, that is literally how big the town is.

Their very quaint downtown - make sure you stop at the only wine shop for a fantastic selection of wines!

Cape Charles is a small, sleepy village on the Bay that offers you the down home, southern quaintness you expect from a coastal town.  

I recommend by experience:

Staying at:

the Cape Charles House

Eating at: 

Kelly's Gingernut Pub - an old bank turned into bar/restaurant 

Land activities:

Pfeiffer Riding Stables

Water activities:

South East Expeditions - go for an eco tour via kayak!

• Inner Harbor - Baltimore, Maryland

Everyone has heard of Baltimore but not everyone has visited there.  Their downtown is one of my favorite places to visit along the East coast.  It is urban and trendy yet the city still has managed to keep the history and coastal attributes.  You can take a boat ride to a restaurant that is said to still house "spirits" in the upstairs.  Or view where pirates used to hang out.

I recommend: 

Staying at: 

Hotel Monaco

Eating at: 

The Capital Grille for amazing seafood!

Daytime land activities:

You HAVE to visit the National Aquarium!

Daytime water activities:

Cruise the Inner Harbor aboard the Big Red Boat through Watermark Cruises!

• Tangier Island, Virginia 

The tiny island of 700 residents is known as the "soft-shell capital of the world" and many of the locals make their living solely off oysters and crabs.  In order to visit the 3 mile long island you will have use either boat or plane and once you get there do not expect a ton of amenities - there are only a few gift shops, restaurants, hardware stores, grocery stores, and B&Bs.  Also, there are only a few cars so primary transportation are golf carts and bikes.  You may be asking yourself why visit then?  Well, for a nature lover it is going to absolute heaven!

I would recommend:

Staying at:

The Chesapeake House - the offer golf cart rentals!

Eating at:

Lorraine's - lunch and dinner

Activities:

kayaking, boating, fishing, swimming, shelling, photography, crabbing, sleeping, reading

• Easton, Maryland

Easton is your quintessential waterman town of the Chesapeake.  It was founded in 1710 but unlike other sleepy towns, has been able to progress with time.  It is sophisticated, with fantastic shopping and delicious dining!

I would recommend: 

To Stay and eat:

The Inn at Easton

Activities:

Eat, drink, shop, boat, fish, hike, lay on the beach

• St. Michaels, Maryland

This place reminds me a lot of Beaufort, North Carolina, it looks like a village Norman Rockwell would have loved to paint.  It comes equipped with all the perfect little boutiques, restaurants, churches, and B&Bs.  Basically, a postcard town!  It has evolved from a shipbuilding center to a fishing village and now to a tourist destination.    

I would recommend:

To stay:

Inn at Perry Cabin by Belmond - I would die and go to Heaven and never want to leave here!

To eat:

208 Talbot for American, seafood cuisine 

Activities:

eating, drinking, shopping, reading, relaxing, swimming, fishing, boating, sailing, kayaking, shelling

The Great Chesapeake Bay

The largest estuary in the United States

I recently made a move from the Outer Banks of North Carolina to south eastern Virginia - which was a HUGE transition for me.  Going from a majestic sand bar to a bustling city....well lets just say we are still adjusting.  But one thing that we have going for us is the Chesapeake Bay - it is literally right in my back yard!

The following posts are here to benefit you and me - we all need to realize what is in our backyard.  Where to go, what to see, how to see it, how to get there etc. 

 I majored in Marine Technology and my deep passion is coastal environments so I hope you enjoy our exploration through the Bay as much as I am going to!

So follow me this coming week on an exploratory trip through the Chesapeake Bay!

The Bay is huge and it stretches from southern Virginia to northern Maryland making it necessary to split it into two parts, lower and upper. 

But first....

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Some fun facts!!!

Geography

The Chesapeake Bay is an estuary: a body of water where fresh and salt water mix.

The Bay is about 200 miles long

The Bay's width ranges from 4 miles near Aberdeen, Maryland to 30 miles near Cape Charles, Virginia

The Bay is actually very shallow, the average depth is about 21 feet.  According to The Chesapeake Bay Program a person that is 6 feet tall could wade through more than 700,000 acres of the Bay and never get his/her hair wet.

Along with the shallowness there are deep troughs that are as much as 174 feet deep.  They are believed to be the remnants of the ancient Susquehanna River.

The bay and tidal tributaries have 11,684 miles of shoreline - that is more than the entire west coast.

The surface area of the Bay and its tidal tributaries is approximately 4,480 square miles.

Two thirds of the United States five major North Atlantic ports - Baltimore and Hampton Roads - are on the Bay.

I live in the Hampton Roads area!

Water and Watershed

The Bay holds more than 18 trillion gallons of water.

It receives about half of its water volume from the Atlantic ocean and the rest drains into the Bay from a 64,000 square mile watershed.

The Chesapeake Bay watershed spans 6 states - Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New York, Pennsylvania, and the entire District of Colombia.

Over 150 streams, creeks, and river drain into the Bay contributing to the 18 trillion gallons of water that it holds.

Approximately 51 billion gallons of water flow into the Bay each DAY from freshwater sources.

More than 80 % of the Bay's fresh water comes from the three largest rivers that flow into it - the Susquehanna, Potomac, and the James River.

The largest of those rivers is the Susquehanna providing over 50% of the fresh water and an average of over 19 million gallons of water per minute.

More than 17 million people call the Chesapeake Bay watershed home and about 150,000 new people move to the Bay each year.

There are nearly 1,800 local governments in the Bay watershed, including towns, cities, counties, and townships.

The watershed contains three distinct geological regions: the Atlantic coastal plain, the Piedmont plateau and the Appalachian province.  

About 8 million acres of land in the Bay are permanently protected from development.

There are more than 700 public access points on the Bay and its tributaries.

The Chesapeake Bay was the first estuary ever in the nation to be targeted for restoration as an integrated watershed and ecosystem.  

Flora and Fauna

The Bay supports more than 2,700 species of plants and animals, including 348 species of finfish and 173 species of shellfish.

The Bay produces about 500 million pounds of seafood per year!

The Chesapeake region is home to at least 29 species of waterfowl.  Nearly one million waterfowl winter on the Bay which is approximately one-third of the Atlantic coast's migratory population.  The birds stop to feel and rest of the Bay during their annual migration along the Atlantic Flyway.

Nearly 80,000 acres of bay grasses grow in the shallows of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries.  Young and molting blue crabs rely on the Bay's grass beds for protection from predators.

About 284,000 acres of tidal wetlands grow in the Bay region which provide crucial habitats for fish, birds, crabs and other species.

Forests cover 58 percent of the watershed but sadly the region loses about 100 acres of forest each day to development.  

Source: Chesapeake Bay Program

Explore the Blue Ridge Mountain Towns!

The Blue Ridge Mountains

The mountains get their name from the trees releasing isoprene into the atmosphere causing the distinctive color and haze.

I personally feel like when people go to plan a vacation their first thoughts are to head to the beach.  Honestly, it is my first reaction but why?  It makes me feel like I am cheating on the mountains and when we have one of the most beautiful mountain ranges in our backyard, we should take advantage!  To spend a week with crisp fresh air, outdoor activities that are different from sun bathing and miniature putt putt, and being surrounded by un-touched nature sound like just what the doctor ordered.  Sign me up - the mountains are definitely going to be my next adventure!

The Blue Ridge Parkway is the best way to travel along the mountain range because you will never experience views this beautiful again.  I found this awesome website that lists the top secret spots to see along the entire Blue Ridge Parkway - check them out here! 

Lets start with the best outdoor city:

Chattanooga, Tennessee

This city is one of the most popular destinations in the south and the New York Times names it one of the "Top 45 Places to go" in the world.  Only four US destinations were named and the southern city was the only one outside of California.  Chattanooga is a breathtaking city nestled between the mountains of southeast Tennessee and the Tennessee River.  

With Chattanooga being dubbed "the best town ever" by Outdoor magazine you can imagine how many activities you have to choose from.  One day you could go rock climbing or mountain biking, or hot air ballooning, the next white water rafting or hang gliding or take it easy and walk down the 13 mile river walk. 

Personally, I want to go for the music scene.  The town offers killer festivals of all kinds and just imagine the homemade crafts this town has to offer! 

I suggest visiting their official website for more information - this town is a must see for sure!

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Charlottesville, Virginia - A True Gem

For those of you who have never been to Charlottesville I am sure you have at least heard of it.  The town, at least here in the south, is well known for being one of the greatest towns to visit and to live.  The University of Virginia calls Charlottesville home so there is a young, hip vibe that accompanies the town and not only that, it is only an hour and half to Richmond making the mountains accessible from the coastal area.  When I first went I camped out in Louisa, which is right outside of town, and it only took 20 minutes to drive in when we decided to go shopping or dine out.  The downtown mall is well known as being the best shopping in Virginia - it is a must see!  I suggest visiting on of their 20+ orchards or vineyards to pick your own apples or enjoy a wine tasting.  Check out what the town offers here :)   

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Asheville, North Carolina

Being a fellow North Carolinian, the town of Asheville has always been a part of my life in some way or another.  And not once have I ever heard a negative thing about this mountain town, only raves.  Hippies welcome, come one come all!  For all you musically talented folk and artists out there, this town is for you.  I have never been surrounded by more talented people in my life, this town breeds talent and welcomes all walks of life.  Aside from it being culturally diverse, the views are breath taking!  You could hike for weeks, swim in hundreds of different water falls and pan for gold too.  

For the days you feel like being inside or taking it easy, head over to the 8,000 acre Biltmore Estate, the largest home in the United States.  United Military Travel books trips to the Biltmore Estate all the time, even for their Christmas celebrations!   Or if you feel like getting saucy, Asheville's craft beer scene is taking off like a wildfire.  They even have a festival called the Beer City Festival that hosts all local breweries and local talents including musicians, artists and culinary works.  

For more information on lodging etc click here! 

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Now this is just scraping the surface of the many mountain destinations of the Blue Ridge Mountains so take your time and decide on what you want out of your vacation.  The map above shows the cities by small, medium, and large towns - Google them and pick which one offers what you and your family needs.  

Get out there and have fun!!!