The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is using every avenue to reach potential passengers with information about getting through airport security checkpoints.
They are on Twitter as @TSABlogTeam, they have a blog (Evolution of Security) and they also have a TSA YouTube channel.
I thought they did a nice job with this 1.5 minute video about traveling with kids through security (for my RSS readers and anyone who can’t see the box below, the URL for the video is here.)
Remember that scene in the movie When Harry Met Sally, when Sally, er, rather vocally shows Harry how to fake the “throes of passion,” and a guy a woman sitting near them (director Rob Reiner’s mother in real life – and thanks to my commenter Susan for correcting me) sitting near them sees her display and says to the waiter, “I’ll have what she’s having?”
That scene was filmed at the venerable Katz’s Delicatessen, on the Lower East Side in New York City.
Since my husband and I consider that “our movie” (we were married the year it was released) I made a beeline to Katz’s when I was in New York for CondĂ© Nast Traveler, and I took a picture of the famous table where the characters were sitting.
Yep, that’s a sign they’ve hung above it, so you can’t miss it. 🙂
I didn’t eat anything there, but did take a look at the menu and was pretty tempted.
The guidebook I was reviewing, Pauline Frommer’s New York City (Pauline Frommer Guides)
That day, though, a sentimental journey was filling enough for me.
It’s almost time for that amazing annual event in the desert, the Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque, New Mexico October 4-12 2008.
I went to Fiesta last year, and it was simply incredible. Do get the family there before sunrise at least one day, to see the flames lighting up all of the brightly-colored balloons. Later that day, do NOT miss seeing special performances at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center there in Albuquerque; they always have lots of activities during Fiesta that are kid-friendly.
Here’s a short video by Edwin Villanueva from the Viddler site (Viddler is another site like YouTube for sharing videos.) I thought he did a nice job of showing the variety of balloons, and how many there are.
Check the Balloon Fiesta video page for even more.
I was taking my family to visit the excellent Mystic Seaport Museum of America and the Sea in Connecticut when I first heard the story of the schooner Amistad.
In 1839, slaves aboard this transport ship revolted and took over the vessel when it sailed from Havana. The situation became a court case (argued in New Haven, Connecticut) about the legal rights of the slaves who had revolted.
The Freedom Schooner Amistad, a re-creation of the ship, was built at the historic Mystic shipyard and now serves as a roving tall ship ambassador.
I found a Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) video that shows some students who had the opportunity to sail and learn aboard the ship on its recent world tour; I think you’ll enjoy their insights into history and the world of sailing ships.
Related Family Travel post: Sail the ocean blue: where to get nautical with your kids
(For my RSS feed subscribers and anyone who doesn’t see the box, click here to see the video.
These dolls were in a box in an outdoor, tented market stall on Duke of Gloucester Street in Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia. Vendors in Colonial dress were selling all sorts of related gizmos – penny whistles, tri-cornered hats, butter churns (OK, just kidding on that last one.)
I have photographic evidence of my teen daughter wearing a replica of a late 1700s women’s cap, also for sale at the stall, but I can only push the Blogging Mom thing so far!
Check the Colonial Williamsburg Monthly Specials page for deals on lodging and admission, and the Calendar page for upcoming events and focused tours for children, like a chance to be a pretend trade apprentice (like a weaver or silversmith.)
Related posts:
This photo was taken at Weikel’s Bakery (“We Gotcha Kolache”) in La Grange – it’s a Czech stronghold in central Texas.
Many Czechs and Germans settled in this part of the state starting in the 1840s and 1850s; that’s why sausage is a big deal with our BBQ, Spoetzl Brewery’s Shiner beer is popular, there are active Texas polka radio stations and you can find kolaches (a fruit or cheese-filled Czech pastry) in a small town between Austin and Houston.
At the bakery, each of us had a pig-in-a-blanket (a sausage wrapped in bread) that was quite yummy, then everyone picked out a pastry choice. I regret not grabbing one of the delish-looking pecan bars while I had a chance, though my pecan-studded Rice Krispie treat was just fine.
Many of you may remember the town of La Grange from both the ZZ Top song and because it was the home of the Chicken Ranch brothel, subject of the musical “Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.”
My teen and I laughed over that story, but I didn’t share it with my 8-year-old son.
The Texas Czech Heritage and Cultural Center is in La Grange, and there is a Czech heritage celebration every May that closes with a polka Mass.
This was the view from my hotel room in downtown St. Louis, Missouri during a summer Midwest road trip.
We stayed at the Hampton Inn at the Arch — I’m a big fan of Hampton Inns because the staff is always friendly, especially to families, and the breakfasts are great.
The Gateway Arch is also called the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, in honor of President Thomas Jefferson’s involvement in the expansion of US boundaries to the West (through the Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis and Clark Expedition.)
Designed by famous Finnish architect Eero Saarinen, the Arch was built in 1965 to commemorate St. Louis’ role as the “gateway to the West;” the city was one of the last major jumping-off points for pioneer travelers.
Finding this photo reminds me that I never wrote up a proper post about our brief stop in St. Louis — look for that in the near future!
Related posts:
Every year, a major dance event is held on the “Big Island” of Hawaii in the town of Hilo – the Merrie Monarch Festival hula competition, featuring both modern (‘Auana) and ancient (Kahiko) forms of hula.
King David Kalakaua was the “merrie monarch” who revitalized Hawaiian ethnic language, arts and dance during his reign 1874-1891.
This year’s Merrie Monarch Festival is scheduled for March 30 – April 5, 2008. The video below features Halau I Ka Wekiu in the Kahiko kane (men’s) division.
For anyone reading this post via RSS or other feed mechanism, click here to go to the hula video on YouTube.
For more like this, plus Tahitian dance, see teriimataha on YouTube.
Related post: Get Some Family Aloha When You Travel to Hawaii
This photo (courtesy wallyg at Flickr’s Creative Commons) shows one of the great things about Chicago, or any city that is on or near the water. There’s just something about the sense of space around open water, and the possibilities for adventure when you look down a moving river.
I’m headed to the Windy City for one of the best events of the year, the SOBCon08 “Biz School for Bloggers” conference May 2-4 2008 (no, no, SOB means Successful and Outstanding Blogger — coined by SOBCon founder and Galactic Blogger Liz Strauss.)
Last year was an absolute blast, and I know that the 2008 version will give me a stack of both new friends and superb ideas for Web 2.0 communication.
Will you join me there?
This woman’s head in a strange contraption is me.
I’m in the circa-1901 steam bath at the Palace Hotel and Bath House in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, taking a “eucalyptus steam treatment” for my (then) stuffy nose.
The price for it is a lovely throwback, too — US$16.00
There is a bench that you sit on inside the cabinet, and you can push the door outward a little whenever you start to feel too warm.
Legend has it that the curmudgeonly comedian W.C. Fields used the Bath House spa services.
Can you imagine him in this thing with a hangover? He famously enjoyed his booze. Hmmm, not sure that works for a blog about travel with kids.
I visited the lively Ozarks town of Eureka Springs for an upcoming article in National Geographic Traveler; will update you when the magazine is out.