With temperatures climbing, it is time to start enjoying summer vacations. Hospitality expert Sandy Chen, an associate professor in the Restaurant, Hotel, and Tourism Program at Ohio University’s Patton College of Education, offers five travel tips on saving money while staying comfortable during summer travels.
TRAVEL TIP 1. Book accommodation with economy hotel chains. “By doing so, you not only get more value out of the money you pay for the room since these hotels normally offer free breakfast, WIFI, swimming pools and gym facilities, but you also accumulate loyalty points with these hotel chains, which you can use in the future for free or discounted rooms,” said Chen. “If you use a credit card that rewards ‘cash back upon purchases,’ you could save more for future use.”
TRAVEL TIP 2. Book accommodation one or two days before you check into a hotel. Chen explained, “Unlike the airline industry where you can receive low airfare if you book way ahead of time, the hotel industry plays the other way around. Studies on revenue management show that customers normally can get good deals with hotel room rates if they wait until the last minute. But make sure you do reserve a hotel room via phone or website before checking into the hotel. Normally the walk-in rates (without reservation) are the highest rates you could get. However, in the peak season, this might be somewhat risky since sometimes all your favorite hotel rooms could be sold out due to special events. This might mean you would not get the right hotel room in the right location.”
TRAVEL TIP 3. Check three major reservation outlets to compare rates and special offers. “Sometimes, travel reservations sites, including the hotel’s website, the hotel’s reservation staff at its physical location, and an online booking website like Expedia.com, offer different rates. When they do offer same rates, they might have different bonus offers, such as government rates, veteran discounts, and loyalty rewards,” advised Chen.
TRAVEL TIP 4. Book accommodation in suburban areas instead of urban areas. “Booking hotel accommodations in the suburbs, instead of urban areas, could mean saving several hundred dollars on one trip,” said Chen. “For instance, a hotel room in downtown Washington D. C. is much more expensive than one in the suburb Rockville, Maryland, which is only 35 minutes away by car to the capital city and may offer free shuttle service to and from the city and nearby areas.”
TRAVEL TIP 5. Consult customer reviews on hotels if you are interested in booking. “Websites, such as TripAdvisor and Expedia, have customer ratings of hotel facilities and service quality. Many of them give detailed descriptions of hotel experiences, which can help you decide the right hotel in which to stay,” said Chen.
About the expert: Sandy Chen, an associate professor in the Restaurant, Hotel, and Tourism Program at Ohio University’s Patton College of Education, gained hospitality experience at a five star hotel in Beijing, China and at Walt Disney World in Orlando before deciding to continue her education. See her full biography here: https://www.ohio.edu/ucm/media/experts/ohioexpert.cfm?formid=1822088&pageid=2802315
Learn how to write your first book using the same steps a best-selling author did!
INTRO
Each year, dozens of folks I meet on tour share their desire to someday write and publish a journal, storybook or non-fiction book. No surprise as, statistically, 80% of people say they “have a book inside them.” The wanna-be authors are all ages – from middle elementary students to grandparents.
As the co-author of 16 books, people constantly ask me how I got started. More importantly, a lot of people out there wonder exactly how to write a book.
Their faces reveal the secret – what I call “THE ZONE.” Their passion for the subject of their book is THE ZONE. They care about the subject matter deeply. They are passionate about their topic and, my guess is, it will show in their writing.
BUT THE TRICK IS – How does an author get started? Don’t worry, this workbook will take you on Baby Steps to first build a chapter, then repeat the process with another chapter and, before you know it, you’ve got a book!
WRITING TO A PROMPT
Sometimes you can choose what you write about. Sometimes someone else picks the subject. I think you can actually do both when you are in the Zone. The Zone= your favorite things, people, places – the ones you’re really passionate about!
The exercises you will do to complete your first book are a series of prompts. They are formatted alongside the same types of prompts used in most State Writing Assessments in schools beginning in upper elementary school and continuing through ACT/SAT tests. Once you complete this workbook, you not only have your first “self-published” work but also great practice for tests you will have to take to be eligible for higher education!
Honestly, most writing is just expressing one focused thought – with a series of smaller supporting thoughts and a conclusion. Some writing can just be a series of individual paragraphs bunched under one topic (example: each KIDS LOVE TRAVEL chapter includes a series of maybe 50 individual reviews of places to visit located in ONE area region).
IDEA FACTORY
Ever hear of “writer’s block?” We all get it. Here’s what I’ve learned on how to “break the block” – tools I use with my kids, in workshops and with my own writing:
Search Google for topics you are interested in…all the time. Save articles or blog posts you think might work to stimulate your thoughts in your computer’s “FAVORITES” box for reference later. Or, if you’re a highlighter freak like me, print that great article and highlight the best points. Keep a Writer’s File folder of printed materials you’ve found along the way.
Subscribe to RSS Feeds of web blogs you find interesting. Browse around there for a little while and see what inspires you.
Browse magazines you subscribe to. They identify your interests and that’s probably what you’re going to write about. Tear out the pages that have good content, underline those facts, and then store in your Writers File folder.
Stop and think about the last fun activity you did.
Stop and think about the last person you talked to – meaningfully.
What is a question people often ask you? For example, “How do you make…?” or “Why don’t you get nervous when you…?”
Visuals. This is my favorite technique for getting over writer’s block! Go through scrapbooks or saved picture files. Maybe dig through knick-knacks and souvenirs. Most everyone has a story behind every award or trophy or funny thing on display in your bedroom. Bedroom walls are an Inspiration Zone, for sure!
MOVEMENT (or, actually getting words on paper)
Did you know the battle is half over? If you think writing is hard, it is. When you think writing is telling people about your favorite ideas, it becomes easy. You’ve already come up with ideas AND the topic is in your ZONE. That’s the power source. Now, tap that fountain in your head and just start jotting things down. We’ll have lots of time to revise and organize later. Better to start with a lot and then whittle out the fluff later.
EDITING
Write shorter sentences. Write shorter paragraphs. If necessary, change long sentences to two sentences or one connected with semicolons. You make your point quicker and prevent readers from losing interest or, worse yet, falling asleep!
Reduce redundancy and trim unnecessary words. Don’t overuse words like: “like”, pretty, really, fun, cool, and very. Use your Thesaurus to find new words that better express your thoughts!
Use description and details vs. ramblings about nothing. Your first book is meant to teach or inspire the reader. Add those marvelous personal triumphs or failures to your writing. Pepper it with adjectives that replace “wordiness.”
Use short words instead of long words. This project book is not formal writing. Using words such as utilize (vs. use) or presently (vs. now), for example, making the writing too serious and lose the personality of your writing.
Typos really mess with today’s reader’s trust in your work. Use a spell-check program but then have someone read your work for correctly spelled words, just used incorrectly (ex. There vs. their).
FINAL THOUGHTS
Value the ideas more than the format, the sharing more than the editing. As you move through these exercises, the writing car will have enough fuel and move easier – you just might enjoy the ride!
PUBLISHING
Now that you’ve finished the “guts” of your mini-book…it’s on to publishing your work. First, you’ll want to form:
A copyright page using that lovely little insignia. Anyone can copyright their work by using this icon as identification.
A table of contents
A biography page
Design a front and back cover (full color – your best quality pictures or graphics go on the cover)
Add pictures to the essay writings (if you haven’t already)
Once you have those materials, you can publish your first book. First, convert your Word files to Adobe PDF files. Now, publish your book (to be seen by the public) using one of three formats:
Print the entire work plus the cover. Staple your printed copy together in order. Or, paste your pages into a scrapbook of your choice. Decorate the pages, if you like. Share a copy with friends and family or give it away as a gift.
Start your own free Web blog page (using wordpress.org) and paste your work into individual blog posts over time. You may have to copy/paste the Word files vs. the PDF files, depending on what format is acceptable to your blog format. Keep a separate My Pictures file (with any pictures, diagrams, etc. you’ve created for your book). Use that file to browse from when you click “Add Photos” to your blog posts.
Publish the PDF files as an e-book or print book on KDP.com. Amazon’s Kindle Publishing platforms offer templates and tutorials.
Obviously, here at KIDS LOVE PUBLICATIONS we actually publish our guidebooks and workbooks to print. I don’t recommend it for beginners. Print books take a big chunk of effort. Coming up with an idea for an entire book obviously requires more thought and considerably more research. Wait until you have a series of mini-books under your belt. Then, you just might have the chapters of a real book!
Don’t find yourself drained this Memorial Day Weekend. Most people like to think of Memorial Day weekend as the unofficial kickoff to summer. The three-day weekend is the perfect opportunity to get away, even if it’s just a day trip to a nearby city. While traveling we all rely on our smartphones for directions, looking up destination spots or places to eat and for capturing memories in the form of pictures and videos. One travel necessity to never leave home without is a quality portable charger so you can stay in control of your trip!
We tried the HubMini. Here’s some stats; 22 extra hours of power / Integrated Apple® Lightning™ cable / Integrated micro-USB cable
TECHNOLOGY
Smart-sense: ensures complete device compatibility Hyper-charge: ultra-fast charging of your devices; up to 65% faster than competitors Power-stay: maintains battery power for up to 1 year Max-power: maximum power transfer from powerbank to device High-density battery: the smallest and lightest powerbank Safe-cell: provides the highest level of battery safety Rapid-recharge: powerbank recharges up to 50% faster than competitors Pass Through Charging: will charge the powerbank and connected device simultaneously
Our Take: The HubMini charges fast. How many times have my kids and I been at a ballgame, an outdoor festival, or a restaurant and our cell phone battery is nearly dead. Restaurants don’t have outlets at every table and outdoor activities never do. Plus, who wants to lug a heavy charger cord everywhere. This is light and compact. Best of all: my Android phone and a friend’s IPhone can CHARGE AT THE SAME TIME! This is a new standard item for my purse and beach tote!
myCharge makes a variety of portable chargers that will fit anyone’s needs from the Hub Series chargers, that include convenient built-in charging cables and wall prongs on the back of the unit to charge it, to the Razor series that offers ample extra battery life and a sleek look. https://mycharge.com/
Gosh I love Saturday mornings on FB! Discovered 3 travel tips I forgot about: 1. use dryer sheets as air fresheners and spill picker uppers 2. freeze juice boxes before road trip – they double as mini ice packs and a slushie drink! 3. use old fitted twin sheets as van seat protectors.
The perfect travel guide for baseball fans who want to see more of the great ballparks in America’s heartland, this handy guide gives you the tips for best lodging, great restaurants, and local attractions for the Major League and minor league cities and towns that dot the Midwest. With details about every ballpark from Major League Baseball to the Frontier League, this travel companion tells you the best places to sit, the best ballpark food to eat, and the best places to go around town when you are not at the ballpark.
As a huge baseball fan, I couldn’t wait to dig into this book (sent complimentary for unbiased review). I really liked the format (easy reading) and callouts (interesting sidebar notes). As a journalist, I wanted to especially compare my personal experiences at many of these ballparks to that of the authors…and I learned some stuff along the way!
Since I’m biased towards certain MLB teams, I refrained from examining the major league ballparks too much. After all, we visit those predominantly to watch our fave team play, not really for the ballpark.
But the minor league ballparks are a different story. Here’s some examples:
1. INDIANA – South Bend Silver Hawks – Four Winds Field – my review was more recent and favorable (https://kidslovetravel.com/fun-in-south-bend-indiana/) but we both agree this is a resurgence ballpark finding its following near Notre Dame campus.
2. KENTUCKY – Louisville Bats – Louisville Slugger Field – now here’s where I learned something very unique – how the Pittsburgh Pirates got the name “Pirates” – when the city’s ballclub fell victim to a pirate in 1899 – not the type of pirate you may think (pg 77). This ballpark is too fun (https://kidslovetravel.com/sporting-fun-in-louisville-day-two/)
3. OHIO – Columbus Clippers – Huntington Park – my adult hometown set in the heart of the Arena district and Short North arts district, this newer ballpark is also home to Dime a Dog night and Buck a Bone (ribs) night. Live bands on summer weekends and plenty of craft brews now offered make this a fun park to buy a $7 standing room only ticket and wander the park set in the heart of the city. As the author says, “The fans of Columbus also have a good view no matter where they sit.”
From taking in a AAA game with the Iowa Cubs in Des Moines and visiting the Field of Dreams to knowing how to best experience Target Field in the Twin Cities, Baseball Road Trips: The Midwest and Great Lakes is all you need to plan a dream baseball road trip.
The University of Notre Dame’s Main Building has 1,250 thin strips of 8 oz. 23-karat gold, 3 microns thick. http://tour.nd.edu/locations/eck-visitors-center/ (pg 93 of Kids Love Indiana)
The University of Notre Dame has the oldest continuously existing college band in the nation. When Notre Dame played football for the first time against Michigan in 1887, the Notre Dame Marching Band was already celebrating its 41st birthday.
The South Bend Chocolate Company produces more than 3,000 pounds of chocolate daily at its South Bend, Ind. factory. They invite you to “take a dip” literally – paid tours get to make a chocolate golden spoon! (pg 99 of Kids Love Indiana). www.sbchocolate.com
South Bend’s East Race Waterway was the first artificial whitewater course built in North America and opened in 1984.
The St. Joseph River flows north from South Bend into Lake Michigan. Several great walking/biking paths loop around the bends of the river. (you will cross it upteen times as you wander the city and surrounding suburbs)
South Bend Cubs single A baseball team is an affliate for the Chicago Cubs. www.southbendcubs.com. They play at Four Winds Field. The night we were there they had fireworks after the game. New are the Splash Pad water play area right behind Lawn Seating (only $6.00 for lawn seats) and the Tiki Bar, where parents can linger while their kids play in the Fun Zone.
We fit in a recent visit back to Zoombezi Bay and loved it just as much as before…with a few added notes:
ALL–NEW! Soundsurfer, King Of The Beats: This newly renovated five-person raft ride, formerly Tahitian Twister, now includes LED lights, speakers, a fog machine and a mist filled splashdown. Riders can pick from eight programmable experiences (music genres) featuring these new additions. This 512-foot water ride propels guests through a series of acceleration drops, vortex loops and back-to-back curves in total darkness before jetting into the pool below.
Long Lines? Because the ride lines can be long, consider Zoompass ($14.99). ZOOMPASS allows guests to reserve their spot in line and enjoy other areas of the park until their turn is up.
Meals and Beverages: Due to limited acreage Zoombezi Bay does not offer public picnic areas. Guests are not permitted to bring food into Zoombezi Bay. However, they do provide a cooler storage area for guests located at the front entrance to Zoombezi Bay. Your park admission will allow you to exit the park to enjoy your packed meal at the Zoo and re-enter when you finish. Guests are permitted to bring in bottled water and a small snack. Adult beverages are available to purchase at kiosks and bar around the waterpark and the zoo.
My fav hangout at Zoombezi – the wave pool sea of lounge chairs!
This fresh museum is where creativity and daily life in the city of Columbus come together. Why expand? In 1931 CMA owned 500 pieces of art and had 10 gallery spaces.
Today, the collection has grown to more than 10,000, yet the same 10 galleries remain, and the endowment has more than doubled in size. The expansion allows the museum to highlight the collection, welcome exciting special exhibitions and nurture the culture of creativity in Columbus. Sundays are FREE.
CMA Contemporary Wing plus kids Wonder Room
The Center for Creativity is a family-friendly experience, complete with hands-on activities, such as sculpture making, a Creativity Challenge, and an interactive Wonder Room, where visitors interact with art as well as create art. (this space was super engaging) Embark on a scavenger hunt, imagine yourselves inside a painting, or discover a work of art that tells a family story during Family Adventure Tours. Browse for art kits, illustrated books, coloring books and artsy toys that cultivate creativity in the Museum Store. Savor a quick treat or snack in Schokko Art Cafe with a special $5.00 Kids Menu. CMA and the Museum Store are open Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 to 5:00 p.m., and until 9:00 p.m. every Thursday. Museum admission.
In Nashville, it is truly all about the music. Country music is woven into every corner downtown. www.visitmusiccity.com
So we ventured around town with our teens for a day or two trying to catch that country vibe best…(and stayed within 4 blocks on/near Broadway)
Country Music Hall of Fame (PG 32, KIDS LOVE TENNESSEE, 232 Fifth Avenue South, http://countrymusichalloffame.org/) has a lot more interactive areas than we remember from previous visits. Now kids and teens can really engage their talents with inspiring creative activities and scavenger hunts…
Expansion: The new Taylor Swift Education Center is a “learning lab” as well as a children’s exhibit gallery…perfect for the younger set.
Johnny Cash Museum – 119 Third Avenue South. www.johnnycash.com. The museum is dedicated to “The Man in Black”, which, btw, is a super cool legend to teens. Lots of interesting never before seen letters, costumes and instruments reside in themed displays while Johnny’s music plays in the background.
GooGoo Shop – It’s a Honky Tonk for your taste buds! (across street from Johnny Cash Museum). 116 Third Avenue South. www.googoo.com. Invented in 1912 in a copper kettle right here in Nashville, the GooGoo Cluster is the world’s first combination candy bar. The Goo Goo Shop is more than a shop. It’s also a museum, a candy kitchen and a piece of Nashville history. Open daily.
Honky Tonk Highway – Music City’s honky tonks line both sides of Broadway and pump live music into the streets all day, every day. There’s no cover charge but the tip jar gets passed around for those wanting to appreciate the musicians. The music starts at 10am with the party lasting until 3 in the morning. Many clubs require ID after dark so enjoying this “highway” is best with teens to catch lunch or early dinner. Tootsie’s and Tequila Cowboy were our favs!
Wildhorse Saloon – (pg 50, KIDS LOVE TENNESSEE) 120 Second Avenue North www.wildhorsesaloon.com. This famous hot spot features hot bands, good food, fun drinks and line dancing fun! Our baseball team of teens joined us for dinner and dancing and…though reluctant at first, they loved it! (probably didn’t hurt there were pretty country girls in boots smiling at them from the dance floor)
Wildhorse is one of few venues playing live music evenings that is family friendly. (youth are allowed entrance evenings accompanied by an adult) The parents tagging along had as much fun watching our kids as we did learning a new dance step or two…
Clarion Hotel Nashville Downtown – www.continentalinnsofamerica.com. 211 North 1st Street. The biggest draw to this lodging – the free downtown shuttle service and the fair price – about $120/night. Other perks: free deluxe hot breakfast buffet, mini fridge & micro in room, indoor pool & fitness center, lobby bistro & bar, nice renovated rooms. The staff were very welcoming and helpful as we tried to navigate the shuttle and all we wanted to do while downtown.
COME TO booth #1621 – KIDS LOVE TRAVEL at the Midwest Homeschool Convention and check out our books and show specials. (http://midwesthomeschoolconvention.com ).
ONE of the authors will be there so think of a QUESTION or two to get a JUMPSTART on your next trip!
AND, take a fun break and listen in on one of our convention workshops:
Kids Love Travel – Let’s Plan an Affordable Family Day Trip!
Family Field Trips with kids can be a delight or a disaster. Two things that make a homeschool trip great: low-cost and educational fun.
INSIDE SCOOPS. What are some secrets to get the most value for your money. Where to sit to get best value? what to bring? why to get there early? Examples: on Tours-why standing in the first two rows is beneficial. What about having a picnic at a castle? Why go early to outdoor dramas?
EDUCATORS? There’s suggestions for finding FREE lesson plans embedded in many listings as helpful notes for educators.
Marriage of guidebook and the Internet.
Guidebook= organic – highlight it, dog ear pages, write notes, already organized and filtered for kids, unbiased (no fee), and accessible without a wireless connection. Internet= the newest discounts, web updates, extra insights can be found at the links provided on every page.
KIDS LOVE TRAVEL GUIDES can save you $$ in just 20 minutes reading just one chapter in one book! We can save you dozens of hours on the internet, too.
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