Sunday, March 22, 2009

California

A few years ago my family and I vacationed on the west coast in California. My cousin was getting married in Pasadena, California, which is right next to the Pacific Ocean, and my whole family was going to be there. My little sister and I were in the wedding and we were both very excited, since we had never been to California.

After taking a five hour flight to California, I stepped off of the plane and was greeted by the warm sun at the outside California airport. As we hopped into the rental car and sped down the highway with the windows down, a warm salty breeze blew in my face. We arrived at our hotel and were greeted by multiple family members that were also staying at the hotel. Between the wedding and all of the activities in California, my family and I were never bored.

The first part of our week long vacation in California consisted of lunches with my family, doing last minute wedding details, parties, and the wedding. We spent a lot of time with family and close friends during this part of the vacation. It was fun to spend time with a lot of my cousins and we were able to catch up with everyone. The wedding took place in the late afternoon of a warm and sunny August day. It was outside in a little garden, which was right down the road to the beach. There were different colored flowers everywhere, green vines along a stone backdrop, and a little stone pond with various colored fish. After the wedding we went inside this little two-story white building that was right behind the garden. It was the perfect place to get married. After the wedding most of my family members went home, but my parents, sister, and I spent a few extra days.

Our first day trip was to the California beaches after everyone went home. I had never been in the Pacific Ocean and the water was a little cold, but it felt refreshing in the hot sun. The waves were rough and the beach was crowded, but it was an enjoyable day. It was hot and sunny that day, as it had been all week, and it was nice to sit on the warm sand and stare out at the ocean. That day we also went shopping in all of the shops that were right down the street from the ocean. There were all different kinds of stores that lined the streets including clothing stores, restaurants, shoe stores, and many other kinds of stores.


One of the beaches we got to visit while we were in California was the famous Manhattan Beach, which is seen in many movies and TV shows. We did not go swimming in the ocean, but we did get to walk down the pier that goes out over the ocean. The wind was blowing and it got a little cold, but the view from the pier was amazing. There were a lot of people on the pier, some were walking while others were fishing. At the end of the board walk there was a little aquarium that I vaguely remember. It was small, but it had a lot of different kinds of fish and other sea life that lives in the Pacific Ocean.

Another day we took a day trip to Disneyland, which is one of the many theme parks in California. It was just like going to Disney World in Florida when my sister and I were really little, but this time we could go on a lot more rides. We got there early in the morning and left late into the night so that we had plenty of time to go on rides. One of the other places that I have heard is great, but I did not get to go there, is the San Diego Zoo. It is one of the largest zoos and is home to a huge variety of animals. This zoo is also the home of the giant panda, which is not at many zoos. Other theme parks that are popular for families to visit when they go to California include Lego Land, Sea Word, and various water parks. California has a lot of places to go and keep all types of families entertained.

When it was time to go home, I was sad to leave after an amazing vacation. Between the remarkable wedding and all of the incredible day trips my family took, it turned out to be a wonderful vacation. Spending time with my whole family at the beginning of the vacation made the vacation more memorable and fun. I never get to spend time with my whole family at once and it was nice to spend part of my vacation with them. While in California, I also got to visit a lot of new places that I had never been before and with so much variety, there are still places that I wish to someday visit. Every time I vacation with my whole family, I find myself having a much more memorable and exciting time. When taking vacations, make sure that you pick somewhere that is new and exciting. Then make sure that you spend it with family and friends, it makes the vacation unforgettable and you get to spend time with them.

(word count: 894)

Monday, March 16, 2009

Summer in New Hampshire


During the summer, my favorite place to go on vacation is my family's summerhouse in New Hampshire. My family has a small and simple summer house on the edge of a little lake known as Silver Lake. The lake sparkles in the hot, summer sun and there is a view of the green mountains that circle the area. There are trees that surround all of the houses, both big and small. It is always quiet and peaceful on this lake, with the exception of the motor boats driving around the lake. Silver Lake is a perfect vacation spot, where I can relax and have fun.

When I go on vacation in New Hampshire, I am constantly doing many different activities. Since my grandmother will not allow a television at our summer house, I am always outside during the day and partway into the night. Whether I am sitting around reading a good book on the hammock, swimming in the lake, or playing games with my family on the deck, I am always outside enjoying the beautiful summer weather. If there happens to be rain, my family and I sit inside talking, playing a game, or reading books. I am always relaxed and content when I am at my summer house. The vacation always seems to go by very quickly.

One of my favorite activities at my family summer house is spending time on the motor boat that my uncle owns. I often get to go tubing and waterskiing when we go out on the boat. It is a thrill to soar over the waves when tubing, the spray from the cool water hitting up against the person. My dad and uncles always try to flip the person that is tubing by taking them over gigantic waves and taking sharp turns. Most of the time, I find myself in the water by the end of the ride instead of safely on the inner tube. Waterskiing is also another fun activity that I am able to do when I go to New Hampshire. It is a lot of fun to glide across the water, feeling as if you are flying across the lake. My family also owns a rowboat and canoe, both in which we use to travel to the tiny island across the lake.

On all of the hot summer days in New Hampshire, my sister and I spend most of our time in the water. The summer house is so simple that there is not air conditioning, only a few measly fans. With the combination of the cool breeze from all of the trees surrounding the lake and the refreshing lake, my family is able to stay cool even on the hottest days when the temperature nears one hundred. I would lie on an inner tube all day under the hot sun if I could. My sister and I also enjoy swimming out to a wooden float and jumping into the water.

Even though it is nice to simply relax by the lake, we also take trips to other places. For the last few years our trips have consisted up going up mountains and going shopping in North Conway, a town in New Hampshire that is only about forty-five minutes away from our summer house. When my sister and I were younger, my parents would take us to Storyland. Storyland is an amusement park for younger children, which is based on kid's stories and nurseries rhymes such as Cinderella, The Three Bears, and The Little Old Lady Who Lived in the Shoe. All of my older cousins who are in there 20's and 30's went to Storyland when they were younger, and some of them took my sister and I there as well. We would visit the little old lady in her big yellow shoe, get our pictures taken with Cinderella, ride the Pirate ship, and go on all of the rides. As we have both gotten older, we stopped going to Storyland and started to go on other trips, which suited our age. We mostly go shopping to all of the stores in the surrounding towns, but occasionally we will go to other parks such as Atatash. Atatash is a small park that has a few water slides, a rock wall, and the Alpine Slide, which is a ride in which people sit on individual carts and ride down the mountain on the tracks.

Whether I am at my summer house in New Hampshire or out on a day trip I am constantly relaxed and having a good time. From not having a television in New Hampshire or a computer to amuse me, I have been able to see that a person can enjoy themselves with out materialistic things. Just sitting down and relaxing amuses me for a few weeks during the summer. Our summer house also lets me spend time with most of my family. New Hampshire can be an amazing place to go on vacation. Even if there is not a lake available, there are many places that people can go and they have a large variety of activities. Book a hotel or cabin and experience all that New Hampshire has to offer. People can swim in a hotel pool or in a lake; they can rent canoes or kayaks and go to a lake to use them; or they can go to any of the amusement parks that are all over New Hampshire. All different kinds of vacations should be experienced, and this is one a person definitely does not want to miss.
(word count: 926)

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Traveling on Vacation

When people choose to travel, they all face a common problem, how are they going to get there. With the economy becoming weaker, people do not always have a lot of money to use for travel. Over the past few years, the prices of gas have been steadily increasing, but lately it has decreased a little. Today's most popular ways of transportation include by plane, train, and car.

Taking an airplane to a destination is one
popular way to travel. Although this is a quick way to travel places, it is also very expensive and can be frustrating. When looking at airline prices, the cost is not always expenisive, but it can be. With todays economy, not all people can afford to fly and are watching their usage of money. When people are flying with their families on a trip to Disney World or another destination, the price for the whole family to fly can be very costly. My family and I hardly ever fly unless we are going someplace far away because it costs a lot of money for plane tickets for a family of four. Going to an airport can also be a wearisome and difficult. When a person arrives at the airport, they have to go through airport security. A person can never predict how long it will take to go through the security, which means they have to arrive at the airport a few hours before their flight leaves. It is also a pain to have to make sure that your luggage and carry-on bag has all of the the right requirements. Overall, airport experiences can be exhausting and the costs can be expensive for people.

Another wa
y that people can travel to their destination is by train. Although I have never traveled this way to a far destination, I have taken a short train ride to Boston a few times. This April, I am going to visit Disney World on a chorus and band trip and we are traveling by train. Although the chorus and band have gone to Disney World, this is the first time they are going to travel by train. This is due to the high cost in airfare, which would make the total price of the trip very expensive. They found that the train is a much cheaper way for the chorus and band to travel, even though it takes longer. When traveling by train, there are options to get a sleeper car or just regular seats. The chorus and band are traveling on comfortable seats that supposedly have a lot of legroom. This will be an interesting experience, mostly because there are going to be a lot of teenagers on a train for 24 hours, but it should be a lot of fun. I have also heard from family and friends that traveling by train is comfortable and is a convenient way of transportation.

Road trips are another popular way of travel that a lot of people
choose to take when traveling. Not only do families get to spend quality time with each other, but this can be a cheaper way of transportation than flying for families. Even though driving can sometimes be cheaper than flying, the price of gas for a person's car is still expensive. The price of gas has been getting more expensive each month, although recently the price has dropped a little. Driving places is usually my families way of transportation unless we are going on a trip far away. During the summer, my family and I get into the car multiple times and drive three to four hours to our family summer house in New Hampshire. The trip goes by reasonably fast and we amuse ourselves with today's technology. My sister and I will watch movies, read books, or listen to music. My family has also made the seven hour car ride to Maryland a few times. This trip was less expensive then if we were all to fly there and it was an easy trip. Another poplular way to travel is by camper. Although I have never done this, I have heard that driving across the United States in a camper is a fun way to travel and you get to see a lot of places at the same time. This is convienent for people since they have a hotel and a way of transportaion in one form. Campers can also come with all of the conviences of home including televisions, stoves, bathrooms, running water, and much more.

When going on a trip, take the easiest and cheapest way for you and your family. As long as you are satisfied with your trip and you get there, then that is the right way of transportation for you. Planes can be the easiest way for some people even though they can be expensive for people with todays economy. Traveling by train can also be a great way to travel that a lot of people do not consider when they have to go on long trips. Driving in a car or even a mobile home to the destination is also another satisfactory way to travel. Traveling is only part of your trip, but your trip will be a lot more enjoyable if you travel comfortably and easily.
(word count: 880)

Sunday, February 22, 2009

School Vacations at Home


During the school year, the students and facility are always excited when vacations come. Many of these people jet off to tropical islands, ski resorts, or other exotic places. While all of these people are off on their thrilling vacations, I am always stuck at home. Over the years I have surprisingly found that a person does not have to travel far from home to have a fantastic vacation.

The events of my vacation began a few days before February break even started. In my friend's math class, she found out that her boyfriend was going to Florida for all of February vacation. She was not happy when she found this out and then she and my other friend formed a plan that they would have a better vacation than him. Determined to have the better vacation, the two of them came up with lots of astonishing activities that a person can do in and around our town.

Almost every single day this week, my two friends and I have visited Gold's Gym as a part of the plan. This was so that we could stay in shape between the months of winter track and spring track without having to run outside in the cold everyday. Besides using all of the machines at the gym, we were able to take a lot of enjoyable classes. We took heart-racing all cardio classes, a muscle conditioning class, and we even took a zumba class one day. My favorite class there was the zumba class, which is a Latin dancing class. We had never done anything like this before and it proved to be a great class. While keeping in shape we were able to have an entertaining time.

After the gym, my friends would sometimes go into the hot tub to relax their muscles. The hot tub was outside at one of my friend's houses and was just as good as all of the Florida beaches. On one of the days, the air was fresh and the temperature was moderately warm. The sun was shining down on them and my friend believes that she started to tan a little. On this day, they learned that the Florida weather was not very good. My friend's boyfriend informed her that it was windy so that he could not go in the ocean. The weather at the beach was also not the warmest and the wind was whipping around the sand.

After going to the gym one day, we all ventured to the mall. There my two friends got haircuts and than we browsed throughout the mall. We did not end up spending any money, except for the two haircuts and some pretzels, and it ended up being an inexpensive, but a pleasant trip. Later on that week, we also went to Wrenthem Village. Although this trip proved to be a little more expensive, we did not spend a lot of money at all. We had fun trying on lots of different clothes and ended up spending almost our money in the first store. After the first store, we walked around the outside and went into a lot of stores. Eventually, we all got hungry and went to Friendly's for food. We had a lot of fun at the restaurant, filled with laughter and good food. We also could miraculously afford the delicious food that we ordered.

Another fun activity that we did was go to the movies. My two friends and I saw He's Just Not that into you, which is about the different relationships between guys and girls. This movie was exciting to see with my friends and we enjoyed seeing it. The movies is a amusing and easy activity that people can do if they are bored or just need an activity to do. It was relaxing and I was able to hang out with my friends again.

On the Friday of the vacation, we ventured into Boston to see our friend Jill run in the Division III championship. This was an exciting race and Holliston did an amazing job. The girls came in 5th overall and the boys also did an outstanding job. Jill had already beat the freshman record in the mile in the TVL championship and at this meet, she made a personal record of 5 minutes and 44 seconds.

Part of my vacation also consisted of staying at other people's houses instead of my own. During a lot of the nights this vacation, I sojourned at my friends houses or they sojourned at mine. Those nights we just sat around and talked with each other or played games. One night we even brought out Yahtzee and had an intense game. I never had to go far from home to have a good vacation. Most of it consisted of spending time at my friend's houses, just laying around and doing various activities.

Throughout this week, I have done a lot of activities with my friends. This has proved to be a much better vacation than a vacation on the beach or skiing. First of all, it proved to be much less expensive. I did not have to pay for any airfare, hotels, and other major costs that many people spend when they go on vacation. Instead, I spent my money on cheaper activities that I could do with my friends. Also, when many people go away during the vacation, they are missing out on the opportunity to spend time with their friends. Most of the time when people go on vacations, they are only allowed to bring one friend at the most and sometimes none. While I was on school vacation at home, I was able to constantly spend time with my friends. I also never had to travel far from my home, a maximum of forty-five minutes. While my friends and I were having fun here, my friends boyfriend was also having fun in Florida, but not as much fun as we had. He admits that he wishes that he had been here instead of in Florida and I am sure that we had a better vacation than he did. Everything that he told us that he did down there including going to the beach, shows, and going out to dinner, made it sound like he was enjoying himself, but it also seemed to be unexciting. Our vacation back home was amazing and exciting, mostly because we were doing all of the activities with friends.

Next time that you want to go away on vacation during school vacations or any other time, remember that a person can have just as much fun at their home. The vacation will cost less and they will also have lots of opportunities. A vacation does not mean that a person has to go to some exotic place just as long as they are relaxed and enjoying themselves. I have found that the best type of vacation is the ones that I spend with my friends and the ones that I am constantly doing interesting activities. Instead of booking the plane ticket, take your vacation close to home.
(word count:1,185)

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Boston


After living not too far from Boston, Massachusetts’s capital, I have found that this city holds a lot of fun and history. I have only traveled there a few times for various reasons, but each trip has held a different memorable event. The tall, brick and glass buildings line the streets of Boston, almost touching the sky. The streets are crowded and the busy traffic whizzes through the dirty streets. The sidewalks are normally crowded by the people who are visiting, working, or live there. Every time I go to Boston, I am greeted by the whirlwind of the city and the fun activities that it holds. Although Boston has a lot of crime, is dirty, and can often be crowded, it has many enjoyable activities that amaze all people that come here.

Throughout Boston there are many museums, each for a different age group to enjoy. As a child my mother would take my sister and I to the Children's Museum and also to the Museum of Science. At both of these places our young minds were nurtured with valuable information. They also have a great deal of entertaining play areas that we found to be quite amusing. One of the play areas I can remember distinctly was the huge play supermarket. The room was set up like a pretend supermarket, complete with the registers, checkout isles, produce section, fruit section, and automatic doors. This room had plastic fake food, all which people would find at a regular grocery store. At the Museum of Science, children can learn all sorts of scientific ideas through activities. Children are able to interact, while they learn about science. Besides museums that are meant for children, Boston also has art museums, culture museums, history museums, and many other types. Some of these museums include the Museum of Fine Arts, Paul Revere's House, and the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum.

History also fills the streets of Boston with many other historical aspects. One fun historical activity in Boston is the Freedom Trail. This is a pathway through parts of Boston that has historical sites and a lot of information about the American Revolution. While learning history, people can get exercise by walking along this 2.5 mile trail to each historical site. There are also opportunities to visit and learn about many other historical people and events that have happened to America.

One way to see these amazing historical aspects and other sights of Boston is to take a ride on the Boston Duck Boats. The Duck Boats take you all over the city to view many museums, historical buildings, parks, and many other sights. If a person wants to see a lot of sights in one day, then they should get on a Duck Boat to be educated and amazed. At the end of the Duck Boat ride during the spring, summer, and fall, the Duck Boats end the ride by going into the water. These transportation vehicles take a person from the streets of Boston to the peaceful waters in a garden. This is something that everyone should experience and is a great way to spend the day.

This city also holds a lot of culture in it through the diversity of food it has. Whether a person goes to get Chinese food, Italian food, or sea food, they are experiencing a different culture. In the south end of Boston, there are multiple Italian restaurants. This part of the city is where a person can indulge in eating a variety of breads and pastas as they eat Italian foods. A person can get Chinese food in China Town, which is another part of the Boston area. This part of Boston holds a lot of history and culture from China in Europe. These restaurants are decorated with vivid colors and objects from China. People are able to learn about China’s history and tradition when they visit China Town, while also getting the opportunity to experience the culture of China. One major food in Boson is seafood, which is imported and pulled up from the harbors of Boston. A lot of the restaurants in the Boson area serve fish. The fishing and seafood that people eat is part of the culture from the New England area. Wherever a person decides to eat when they come to Boston, they are learning and getting the opportunity to practice a different culture.

In the streets of Boston, there are also a lot of theatres to visit. At each of these theatres a person will be amazed by the spectacular shows that are brought in from all over the place. For the past few years, I have been lucky enough to view some of these amazing shows. Every year as a Christmas present, my aunt and uncle take my sister and I to see a show in Boston. The theatres that we have been to have been beautiful and the shows have been intriguing. My favorite theatre that we have visited is the Cutler Majestic Theatre. When I first stepped into this theatre, I was amazed by the detailed decorations that are all over the ceiling. There was soft music playing in the background and the curtains were red velvet. I felt like I was in an old palace that royalty lived in during the 18th century. Every show that I have seen there is full of life and energy, which gets the audience excited.

Another activity that many people partake in where ever they go is shopping. With all of the variety and multitude of stores in Boston, there are always a lot of people there who enjoy shopping. One place in Boston that has a lot of stores is Newbury Street, which is in the Back Bay area of Boston. This area was once part of Boston Harbor until it was filled in the mid 1800's. Today, people come to the streets of Boston to go shopping in the assortment of stores. The stores range from expensive jewelry stores to little boutiques to brand name stores. There are toy stores for children, gift shops, electronic shops, and many other types. Besides all of the stores packed into this area, there are restaurants, coffee shops, hair salons, and pharmacies. This area attracts people from surrounding areas to come and shop in the endless array of stores.

As a person strolls through the streets of Boston, they will find themselves in a dirty city, but with lots of activities to do. A trip into Boston can be a trip into history, knowledge, culture, and fun. Even though this city can be a busy and filthy place, a person has not experienced all that life has to offer until they visit Boston.
(word count: 1,124)

Sunday, February 1, 2009

A Vacation in the Woods


Not all people enjoy having a nice vacation with room service and fancy restaurants. For these people who enjoy living on the edge or just spending a quiet vacation in the outdoors, I would recommend going camping. Although this type of vacation is not quite my type with the poison ivy, outhouses, and living in the woods, I would find that anyone who likes living off nature or living a simple life would enjoy this vacation.

Deep in the wilderness, life is quite and peaceful. The ground is covered with either crunchy or wet leaves; the surrounding variety of trees sway back and forth, blowing cool air throughout the woods; and the wildlife is active throughout the area. When the sun shines brightly and the weather is good, the forest comes alive with activity from all of the different animal species and all of the plant life becomes green and lush. Everything is normally quiet in the woods so a person can enjoy the peace of being with just themselves or other people.

Pitching a tent and sleeping in sleeping bags is one way for people to go camping the inexpensive way. Instead of buying a huge trailer or mobile home, they can buy a tent and sleep in it. If they decide to sleep in a tent, then they will have to cook their own food over a campfire or they can bring a grill. They will also most likely have to use a portable toilet or use a public bathroom if they choose this method of camping. Although I find this myself to be an unpleasant vacation, some people find it relaxing to live in the wilderness without the comforts of home.

Some people also enjoy to sleep in campers when they go camping. Instead of sleeping in tents, they can enjoy all of comforts of home in simpler campers or in more complex campers. Some of these campers have stoves, refrigerators, microwaves, running water, bathrooms, and even televisions. While enjoying the outdoors, these people can enjoy the comforts of home and they do not have to sleep on the forest floor. This makes it easier for many people to camp and makes camping available to more people. Using a camper makes it easier for parents who have young or multiple children. They can cook for the children, have food available at all times, have an easier place for the children to sleep, and also have room for all of the equipment that children need. Campers are also the perfect way to be outdoors without having to live in the wilderness.

There are many camping activities that are fun to do with families, friends, or just by yourself. Whether a person is roughing it out in a tent or in the safe components of a camper, one of the many activities that people do when they camp is building a camp fire. Sitting around a campfire in the early evening and into the night is a great way to spend time with family or friends. One of the only activities I enjoyed when I went camping once was roasting marshmallows to make smores over the open fire. Although I smelled like smoke after, I enjoyed myself and even had fun. Some people even prepare their dinners over the open fire, which is a very interesting experience. Other activities can include taking nature walks in the woods, playing outdoors, going swimming if there is a lake nearby, or just sitting around playing games. These activities allow family and friends to become closer and have fun together.

One of the best parts about camping is that it can be an electronic free time if you choose so that you can spend quality time with family or with friends. When you are in a camper, you can choose not to have electronic devices such as televisions, electronic games, and other things that keep us occupied today. If you are sleeping in a tent, you can definitely avoid use of all of these devices. This way you can spend time with your friends or family by going on hikes together or playing sports outside. This makes people more active if they go camping instead of spending other vacations where people just lay around on beaches. Camping is a great way to have fun with your family and to be more active outdoors.

If you are tired of the regular vacations that cost a lot of money and are too fancy, go the simple and inexpensive route of going camping. This is a great way to enjoy the fresh air and to be relaxed at the same time. Although camping does not suit everyone, a person will never know if they like it or not until they spend a vacation in the woods.

(word count: 800)

Saturday, January 31, 2009

Martha's Vineyard

Off of the coast of Massachusetts is a little island called Martha's Vineyard. After staying there in the summer for fourteen years of my life, I can personally say this is one of the best vacation spots. It is relaxing and has many activities that everyone can enjoy. I have experienced many new things here, which makes it such a memorable place.

One of the things that makes Martha's Vineyard such a wonderful place to go is the beaches that surround almost the entire island. Each beach is suited for different people that visit them. There are some beaches that have nice calm waves, most of the time, and hardly any undertow. These beaches are a perfect way for small children and families to spend a summer day. There are also other beaches such as South Beach, which has a bigger undertow and can get very crowded. Private beaches are also available in some parts of Martha's Vineyard so that the beaches are less crowded. Whichever beach a person plans to go to, they will aways find themselves relaxed. On sunny, summer days on these beaches, there is a soft, salty breeze blowing and the hot, summer sun is beating down on the beach. The sand feels warm from the baking of the sun and the waves are softly crashing on the brim of the beach. Children can play in the sand and in the cool ocean water. This is a perfect way to spend a summer's day on Martha's Vineyard.

Some people are not the beach type or they just have had enough of the sandy beaches. For these people, there are many other activities to do. The little townson this island are filled with shops, restaurants, and fun for the whole family. Lining the streets of most towns are little shops and boutiques that hold everything from jewelry to clothes to toys. All of these shops hold little treasures that are just awaiting to be found. Although a lot of things can be a lot more expensive on Martha's Vineyard, the merchandise is worth the money and they bring back many memories of this special vacation. For children their are a few arcades throughout the island and many toy stores. While mothers and women like to spend their day shopping, children love to spend the day in a toy store. I know this because I was once one of those children who loved to go to toy stores while my mother was off shopping. She used to bribe us to go shopping with her on Martha's Vineyard, which my little sister and I hated, by telling us that we could stop at a toy store along the way.

In the little town of Oak Bluffs, music fills the crowded streets from The Flying Horses Carousal, which is the oldest carousal in America. As you walk down the streets you can hear the children laughing and the music flowing out of the open windows of this tiny brown building. The carousal squeaks when it starts up, but this carousal is no ordinary carousal. As the carasual goes around and around, people grab little silver metal rings. People then put these rings on the head of their horse and whoever gets the last ring, which is a brass ring, gets a free ride. This is very exciting to children and adds more excitement to the ride. Each horse is old and falling apart, but they have a certain magic to them when a person climbs on them to ride the carousal. Attached to the Flying Horses Carousal, is a little arcade, which has a variety of fun games for children or adults to play. Although it is small, it keeps children happy and entertained.

One of my favorite parts of Martha's Vineyard was all of the different kinds of food that I got to try and experience. Since this is a island, there is a huge variety of fish that is sold there. In the town of Menemshia, there are the docks where people can go and watch the fisherman bring in their fish they have caught. People can there and on many other parts of this tiny island go and buy the fish to prepare for themselves. If they are not in the mood to prepare their own meal, they can go to the restaurants on Martha's Vineyard, which sells a fine variety of prepared fish. From stuffed quahogs that leave a tingling feeling in a person's mouth from the spicy and rich flavors to finely cooked lobsters smothered in butter, there are a fine variation of foods from deep within the sea. A person has not experienced their stay on this island until they have tried some sort of exotic seafood. When I was younger, my dad made my sister and I try all sorts of seafood that we have grown to love over the years. He even had us try fried calamari, which is octopus, one time and we ended up eating the whole basket. There are other places to eat on this island that have food other that seafood like Giordanos. This little Italian restaurant is across the street from The Flying Horses Carousal in Oak Bluffs and has magnificent food. The line for this restaurant is always out the door, but the wait to get a table is worth it. In the less crowded part of Martha's Vineyard, there is a little chocolate shop called Chilmark Chocolates. This little store makes their own fudges and chocolate candies to sell. The line is almost always out the door on the few days that this store is open, but it is definitely a part of this island that I highly recommend experiencing.

As you explore this little island, you will find surprises and fun things to do around every corner, which makes this vacation memorable and special. Whether people are going to the beach on those hot summer days, shopping, or just spending quality time with family, there are many activities to experience here. Every time I have to leave this little island, a wave of sadness hits me and I realize I have to wait another year to return here. This island offers a wonderful vacation to every person who visits here.

(word count: 1,045)

Friday, January 23, 2009

A Fantastic Family Vacation


Families often go on many trips together whether it is during the summer, school year or school vacations. One of the places you hear of families going the most is Disney World in Florida or Disney Land in California. Each year, millions of people go to Disney on vacations to experience the fun rides, the entertainment, and the magical aspects that are throughout the parks and hotels. Even with the weakening economy, people are still going to Disney on family vacations or with friends to experience the magic that is created there.

With the weakening economy today, many people are on a tighter budget and don’t want to throw away money on expensive vacations. Disney can be very expensive with the hotels, park admissions, and other luxuries, but there are ways to keep this trip on a low budget. There are many package deals for families who visit Disney which can reduce the costs. This helps small or large families to save some money. People can also stay at the more inexpensive hotels instead of spending lots of money to stay in the top notch hotels. This makes people’s stay at Disney more affordable for them while they still can have fun.


When families go to Disney, there is something to do for every age group. This makes the park the perfect place to bring a child of any age and for adults as well. There are the thriller rides, scary ride, tame rides, and many other things to do. One of my personal favorites of a Disney ride when I was in first grade was the Peter Pan’s Flight ride. I would highly recommend this ride to any person, especially younger children, as they soar in a boat through the story of Peter Pan. Some rides little children will enjoy include the Mad Tea Party, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, The Mad Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, and many other rides. For the people who like the thriller rides, there are numerous roller coasters and other fun rides that will leave your stomach in knots. These rides include Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and so many more. There is also the infamous tower of terror that drops you from the top floor of a building to the bottom floor. Besides rides in Disney, there are also many attractions that you can go see like Mickey’s house or Minnie’s house. The constant activity and having something to do for everyone keeps families coming to Disney.

Another wonderful aspect of Disney that makes every little child’s dream come true is meeting all of the characters from movies and stories. Every little girl dreams of meeting all of the princesses and this dream becomes reality when they get to meet Cinderella or the Little Mermaid. Besides the princesses, there is Mickey, Minnie Mouse, Pluto, Goofy, and many more characters that people can meet throughout the park. As people run into pirates, princesses, and other characters, they can get their picture taken with them, get their autographs, or even just greet them. Families can even schedule to have meals with the characters that they choose. This is very exciting for little children, but it can also be exciting for teenagers and adults.
There are also daily parades that take place in Disney that happen throughout the parks. Disney usually has different parades at different times and they change these parades depending upon the season. In these parades, people are able to see many characters from different stories depending upon which parade they see. Whatever parade people go to see though, people will almost always get to see Mickey, Minnie Mouse, and the rest of their gang in the parade. Everyone that attends the parade will be amazed with the colorful and detailed floats, the dancing characters, and the magic that is created. Sometimes, people's families are even picked to participate in the parade whether it is dancing with the characters or riding on a float.

Disney is an incredible family vacation that many people choose to take. Many people take this vacation to this popular theme park because of the magic and fun they experience. They are amazed by the great rides, characters, parades, and all of the surprises that are around every corner of Disney. This vacation also does not need to cost a lot of money, which allows families to take this trip. Disney World and Disney Land are remarkable vacation spots for the family.
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Wednesday, January 21, 2009

My First Post

This is my first post. I am now a blogger.