Saturday, September 29, 2012 is National Museum Day where select museums around the country admit you and a guest for free! You can’t just show up, however. You must get your Museum Day ticket online beforehand. This event is sponsored by Smithsonian Magazine. Go to their website to find a list of participating museums near you and to register for your free tickets.
A fun, autumn Central Florida occurrence is Magic Kingdom’s annual Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party held on select nights from September 11 – November 2. It provides a different experience than a regular Magic Kingdom visit, and whether you hate theme parks or are a Disney fanatic, it’s a fun and different way to celebrate Halloween.
Here are some ways that MNSSHP differs from a regular Magic Kingdom visit.
– Slightly cooler temperatures! The event is held in the evening, so the Central Florida weather is a bit cooler and bearable (that’s reason enough, right?). The party’s hours run from 7pm – midnight (though you can enter the Magic Kingdom as early as 4pm).
– Candy! Trick or Treating is not just for kids! Adults, too, can get their fill of candy. You can bring your own bags or MK will provide you with one.
– Costumes! Everyone is encouraged to wear a Halloween costume, though of course you don’t have to.
– Festive atmosphere! Instead of the wait-in-lines, ride-focused experience, there is more of a relaxed, party feel.
– A unique parade! This special MNSSHP parade runs two times per evening. Try to find a spot close to Main St. at least 30 minutes prior. You will know when it’s about to begin when you see the Headless Horseman run by! Then while the parade is winding its way along its route, a mini dance party will take place where children can get up and dance, dance, dance.
The Headless Horseman’s arrival signals the beginning of the parade festivities!
– A special fireworks display!
– Less crowded and shorter lines for rides, usually! This depends, of course, on the night you attend. Halloween night will be crowded (and more expensive). The weekends are also more crowded. A week night visit is best!
MNSSHP is not included in regular MK admission; it is a separately priced event. Tickets range from $57.95 – $69.95 depending on type of ticket and night of week.
For more MNSSHP tips check out the Disney Tourist blog.
Have you ever attended Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party? What are your tips?
Take in a colorful view of Reykjavik on top of the Hallgrímskirkja. (Photograph by Didier Jansen, Flickr)
A little bit of travel history today: check out this 1926 film of Reykjavik, the capitol of Iceland. The population has grown by about 100,000 since then and tourists no longer have to ride in the back of a horse-drawn wagon, but you can still tour the area on the backs of Icelandic “ponies.” For comparison take a look at this blog post containing photos of the city taken just this year.
Mom-oriented website, SheKnows, has created a list of a must-see sites located across the U.S. that would make great vacation spots for families. The list is rather bland with the obvious choices such as Yellowstone National Park and the Smithsonian. However, it’s still worth taking a peek to see if any are missing from your own travel bucket list or if you need some ideas for the next family vacation.
Rockland, Maine’s Lobster Festival – one of the Fun in the USA spots
A volcano in Germany? Yes! Germany’s volcano was built by a German prince in the 1700s who was so impressed by Italy’s Mt. Vesuvius that he wanted to recreate it at home. The result was the Stone Island of Woerlitz, located about an hour’s drive south of Berlin. Today it is part of the Garden Realm of Woerlitz, a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is the world’s only artificial volcano and has been restored, complete with annual eruptions. Read more about it and see a video of the erupting volcano at Smithsonian.
Germany’s Volcano (Rebecca F. Miller, Smithsonian)
If you’re the kind of traveler that likes to visit out-of-the-way, less known spots, then you’ll enjoy this article by Budget Travel, 12 Best Places You’ve Never Heard Of. Locations include a village in the Caucasus Mountains; Namje, Nepal which is only accessible by a footpath; an Australian island; and even a few places in the U.S. Is there anything on the list that makes you want to pack up and go?
Sucre, Bolivia, on the list of “Best Places You’ve Never Heard Of.”
Photo: Jerome Lorieau & Budget Travel
Iceland, an island country shaped by glaciers and volcanic eruptions, is rich in natural beauty. See for yourself in this gorgeous, 12-minute video voyage. This project by Henry Jun Wah Lee is titled, Legend: A Journey Through Iceland, and takes you on a “visual and aural journey through Iceland’s breathtaking landscapes during the time of the midnight sun.”
If after viewing you fall totally in love with Iceland, National Geographic Expeditions will be offering a new small ship expedition to the country next year. During this pricey cruise, ” passengers will get to experience walking on lava fields and ice sheets, visiting hot springs and waterfalls, birding in the Arctic Circle, kayaking into fjords and serene bays, and hiking along remote stretches of the Iceland coast.” Of course there are less expensive ways to see this beautiful place, but this cruise does sound wonderful . . .
The Eiffel Tower is the most valuable monument in all of Europe as determined by Italy’s Monza and Brianza Chamber of Commerce. When they say valuable, they don’t mean culturally or historically significant, but are referring to the amount of tourists they draw along with the tourism revenue they generate. In addition to the Eiffel Tower, the top five money-making attractions in Europe include the Colosseum, Sagrada Familia, The Duomo Cathedral, and the Tower of London. Are you surprised by this list? What is your favorite European attraction?
Europe’s most valuable monument
Travel app, jetpac, has a cool infographic outlining ten places around the world for you to put on your travel bucket list before they disappear. Locations range from the Alps, to Glacier National Park, to the Taj Mahal. Click on the picture to enlarge.
This painting from the Metropolitan Museum of Art is titled, The Bay of Naples with Vesuvius and Castel dell’Ovo (1818- 1820) is by German painter Franz Ludwig Catel.
Franz Ludwig Catel (German, Berlin 1778–1856 Rome)
This is a present-day photograph of the Bay of Naples. Though not in the picture Castel dell’Ovo is still there. It mainly hosts conferences and exhibitions today, but visitors can climb to the top for beautiful views of the city. Does either one spark a desire to see Naples for yourself?
Bay of Naples and Mt. Vesuvius
Has a painting or other work of art ever inspired you to travel?