A Multimedia, Acrobatic Extravaganza: The Beatles LOVE by Cirque du Soleil

loveMy husband and I are huge fans of the Cirque du Soleil shows in Las Vegas. Nearly 10 years ago on a trip to Sin City, we bought tickets for Cirque du Soleil’s Mystere (at Treasure Island), not really sure what we were dropping a couple hundred bucks on. We were blown away by the evocative music, the incredible acrobatics and the innovative storytelling. So much so, the next day we scooped up  tickets for another Cirque du Soleil show - “O” (at the Bellagio). It too, blew us out of the water (pun intended; the water-themed show takes place in an on-stage pool).

A subsequent weekend in Vegas brought Zumanity (at New York-New York), an “R-rated” show for grown-up eyes only. Somehow, in buying last-minute tickets, we ended up in the front row (red velvet love seats!) for this erotic-themed performance, and I wound up on stage! I forget (or I’ve blocked out) the exact reasoning for my being pulled up there, but I do remember wearing some sort of Puritan-style, colonial bonnet and an old-fashioned chastity belt. Needless to say, I got a free drink for being a good sport!

Last month, hubby and I caught our fourth Cirque du Soleil show: The Beatles’ LOVE at the Mirage. Like other Cirque shows, this one combined phenomenal acrobatics, upbeat dance, and entertaining characters –  complemented by  lights, confetti and many, many other special effects. More than two dozen Beatles’ songs accompany all of the aerial performances and athleticism to create an incredibly fast-paced show.

cirqueYou certainly don’t have to be a Beatles fan to appreciate LOVE, though if you were around during Beatlemania or know all the words to favorite songs, I think it’s an absolute must-see. During some of the hip-hop dancing scenes, I thought about my nine-year-old daughter who would have loved to have seen the show (it’s definitely appropriate for school-age kids; no R-rated scenes here). Really, the show is for all ages — for anyone who appreciates quality, multi-media entertainment.

My favorite scene was probably during the song, “Help!” where four rollerbladers took to 11-foot-high ramps in an amazing sequence of turns, jumps and twists. I also liked “Revolution/Back in the USSR,” where hippy-type characters evaded the cops by jumping and flipping to crazy heights on trampolines. During “Within You/Without You,” the entire theatre is enveloped in a humongous, billowing bed sheet. In the last scene, giant photos of each of the Beatles appear, and the audience can’t help but sing along to “All You Need is Love.”

Learn more about The Beatles LOVE at the official Cirque du Soleil website.

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June 5, 2009 | Filed Under Destinations, Romantic Getaways | 4 Comments 

Travel Tuesday: Wine and Vineyards

Red Wine (Flickr photo by smcgee)Wine tourism has become a popular aspect of almost any destination. In fact, it isn’t just a pastime for the wealthy anymore. Moms just like me are learning about color, bouquet, and taste, all while taking some time for themselves and learning how to choose affordable wines to serve when entertaining.

The TwitterMoms Wine Club hosts online tastings each month. A bottle is selected and participants from all over the world taste and discuss the wine, sharing notes through Twitter. There is also another event that is popular, Twitter Taste Live.

I’m fortunate that as a travel writer, I am given opportunities to tour vineyards and wineries, learn the stories of how vintners got interested in wine, and of course sample some interesting and flavorful wines.

But, wine tasting isn’t limited to online events or special occasions. You can broaden your wine knowledge by hosting a tasting with your neighbors, finding wineries during your travels, or just opening a new bottle on a Saturday afternoon.

The news segment below shows just how much fun a wine tasting is:

(Video courtesy of WAFB in Baton Rouge, LA. If you can’t see the video, the direct link is here and the backstory from the cool camera dude is on his blog.)

This Travel Tuesday is all about the vino, so please share your stories of wine tasting or travel to a winery. Whether you visit Napa, Solvang, or even Disney World, we want to know about it. If you toured an Inn and enjoyed some great dinner pairings on a romantic getaway, please share. Even if you have tips for someone’s first wine tasting or if you just want to tell us about awesome wine expert, Natalie MacLean.

Please leave a relevant link to the specific post/story or it will be deleted. When Mr. Linky asks for your name, type in the title of your blog with the post title in parenthesis. Then, leave your post link in the link box and you’re done. Here are the official rules of Travel Tuesday on Traveling Mamas.

We’d love for you to tell your friends and readers about this post and even link back here, but we won’t require you to do that. The purpose of Travel Tuesday is to introduce our readers to interesting blogs and sites.

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May 19, 2009 | Filed Under Culinary Travel, Destinations, Romantic Getaways, Travel Tuesday, Videos | 8 Comments 

A Best Mother’s Day Brunch in Venice, Los Angeles

Abbott Kinney BlvdVenice is a fun and funky part of Los Angeles, with many of the best little stores, unique restaurants, a thriving artists community, and a boardwalk made for people watching (and roller blading, and buying local crafts, and even more people watching. The ’70s still lives on the Venice Beach boardwalk). The artsiest part of Venice, itself arguably the artsiest part of Los Angeles, is Abbot Kinney Blvd. This long boulevard stretches in the California sun, full of fun restaurants, boutique shops, and hip young people. A restaurant that perfectly encapsulates the Venice sub-culture of Los Angeles is Hal’s Bar & Grill. It’s fun, hip, and trendy, with that relaxed, casual Southern California ambience throughout.

A Grandmother, Mother and Daughter out for Brunch

A Grandmother, Mother and Daughter out for Brunch

We had a memorable, multigenerational Mother’s Day brunch at Hal’s Bar & Grill. Because of the holiday, the restaurant was pretty crowded with family groups. The waiters kept their cool, though, and we were led upstairs to the quieter level. Just as well; along with my kids, we were with their grandmother AND their great-grandfather. He is in his 90’s, and hard of hearing. The more sedate upstairs area was best for us, as it was nice to not have to shout to be heard. There is plenty of room to move around at Hal’s, which is useful with four generations all together like that!  It’s so rare that all the living generations of our family can come together like this (Great Grandpa lives 3,000 miles away), and we wanted a special place to celebrate this memorable event.

Most Memorable Mother's Day Brunch

Most Memorable Mother's Day Brunch

My mother-in-law is about as hip and youthful as a grandma should be allowed to be, and the Abbot Kinney neighborhood of Venice suits her perfectly. We were so happy to share this fun part of Los Angeles with her and her elderly father; we were certain they’d love it, and we were right. Brunch was great. We shared everything we ate with each other, moving plates around and laughing.

The southwest scramble was probably the big winner at the table. Great Grandpa ordered this favorite brunch dish - I suppose it’s true when they say that “with age comes wisdom,” so his grandson - my husband - ordered a second Southwest scramble to ensure there would be enough for everyone. The smokey cheddar, grilled corn, black beans and mild spices blended together to make this a very tasty egg dish.  The huevos rancheros with chili relleno and fresh salsa was also a popular egg dish at our table. My own favorite, however, was the lobster scramble, made with egg whites. It felt almost decadent to be eating lobster for brunch, but hey: It was Mother’s Day, and I was one of the mothers! Enjoying great food, and great family time, is what this day is all about for a foodie mom like me.

There are many sandwiches and salads on the brunch menu at Hal’s, along with pancakes and french toast.  It’s a terrific brunch menu with something for everyone.The restaurant clientele is as diverse as Venice Beach itself, and I loved it. For a hip, fun Los Angeles restaurant with fresh takes on traditional dishes, I recommend Hal’s Bar & Grill. Especially for a most memorable multigenerational Mother’s Day Brunch!

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May 14, 2009 | Filed Under Culinary Travel, Destinations, Family Travel, Girlfriend Getaways, Romantic Getaways | 5 Comments 

Win a Three-Night Stay at Tranquility Bay Resort, Ambergris Caye, Belize

tranquility

How’d you like this to be your daily view on your next vacation? For free.

Tranquility Bay Resort, on Ambergris Caye, Belize, is giving away a three-night stay to one lucky winner. All you have to do is become a Facebook Fan of Tranquility Bay Resort, then post up to 100 words on its Wall explaining why you deserve a three-night stay, and you could be drinking frothy cocktails under these palm trees sometime in the next year!

There’s no airfare offered, so unless you’re already seriously planning a trip to Belize, it may not be worth your time (and money). Plus, I personally don’t think three nights is long enough to truly enjoy this slice of paradise. So, I’m thinking the winner would either a) have a Belize trip in the works and could use the freebie accommodations in conjunction with other lodging he or she has already secured or b) pay for a few extra nights at  Tranquility Bay to make it a nice, long, romantic escape. (Prize is for a one-bedroom cabana for two; my guess is that if you wanted to bring the kids along, you could also pay a bit more for their stay.)

Ambergris Caye has actually been on my bucket list for a while. My husband spent some time there years ago, well before we met, and speaks so highly of it. Definitely a dream vacation spot!

Contest ends May 10, so get on over to Facebook and check it out.

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May 2, 2009 | Filed Under Romantic Getaways, Travel News | 2 Comments 

Antiques, Music and Family Fun in Bell Buckle, Tennessee

Bell Buckle, TN is a charming little town set amidst the Tennessee Walking Horse farm area. I visited there while antique shopping with my family and found some great bargains, as well as nostalgia. It makes a great stop for families, couples, or travelers just wanting to explore.

The main building of Bell Buckle’s antique district was purchased for $750. This included all of the contents, which were WWII era. The owner, Mr. Phillips, refurbished the building and opened Phillips General Store and Antiques. The General Store offers antiques and gifts, but if you look above, the orginal items that were in the store hang as a memorial to a bygone time, where women wore dresses and men dressed up to go to “town”. Around the corner is Bluebird Antiques and Ice Cream Parlor that offers homemade fudge by the pound and hand-dipped ice cream in delicious waffle cones. They are all served up at the original ice cream and soda counter. An interesting fact about the place: the Ice Cream Parlor was voted Tennessee’s Ice Cream Shop of the Year. They also offer a special flavor, White Chocolate Raspberry that is made just for the shop.

I walked through downtown and admired the handmade crafts and the Southern Hospitality. I even went into the Bell Buckle Antique Mall and found out that it is owned and operated by the mayor at the time.

The kids were getting hungry, so we stopped in at the Bell Buckle Cafe to get some lunch. Every Friday and Saturday evening they offer live music with no admission charge and Thursday is songwriters’ night. This is where some of the great country music artists get their start. The ostrich burger and white chili was pretty good too. Get there early if you want a table on the weekends.

Bell Buckle was a charming weekend retreat and I am planning on visiting again to do some shopping. I may even visit for one of the annual festivals that they celebrate.

Festivals

March - Daffodil Day Celebration of Spring and Arbor Day
May - Mayfest Outdoor Tribute to Music
June - RC and MoonPie Festival A Celebration of one of the South’s Finest Traditions, Moonpies and an RC Cola
September - Quilt Walk A Walking tour of Bell Buckle. View a display of quilts at churches and in homes
October - Webb School Art and Craft Festival The #1 Arts and Crafts Show in Tennessee
December - Christmas in Bell Buckle Lights and old-fashioned wreaths decorate the town.

Where to Stay

Mingle House Bed and Breakfast - A Victorian house that serves up a coutry-style breakfast. 931.389.9453 (recent traveler has slideshow available)

Arrowlet Bed and Breakfast - Located 2 blocks from the Antique District.

The Cumberland House - A new, upscale Bed and Breakfast on Cumberland Street. 931.389.9223 (couldn’t find web listing)

Main Street Inn - Located in Wartrace, TN this B&B has a fantastic breakfast.

How to Get There

Interstate I-24
Exit 97, between Murfreesboro and
Manchester, Hwy 64 to Hwy 82

Interstate 40
Near Lebanon, I-840 to I-24 to
Hwy 231 to Shelbyville, to Hwy 82

Interstate 65
Exit at Cornersville to Lewisburg,
to Shelbyville, to Hwy 231 to Hwy 82

If you can’t get enough of the area, you can visit nearby Shelbyville, TN or Lynchburg, TN. Lynchburg is the home of the famous Jack Daniels Distillery. Bell Buckle also makes a great family day trip from Nashville, TN or Huntsville, AL areas. For more information, visit the Bell Buckle Chamber Website.

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April 16, 2009 | Filed Under Budget Travel, Destinations, Family Travel, Girlfriend Getaways, Romantic Getaways | 3 Comments 

Mama Memories: Honeymoon in San Juan, Puerto Rico

The Mamas are getting SO excited to meet up in San Juan, Puerto Rico, this week! The four of us haven’t been all together since our fabulous getaway to Hawaii last spring, so this is going to be one special trip, thanks to the San Juan Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino. We’ll be blogging about our adventures as they happen, but if you really want to know what we’re doing nearly hour by hour, follow us on Twitter at @travelingmamas (or our individual handles; they’re listed here). We’ll be using the hashtag #SJMamas.

In the meantime, I hope you’ll indulge my walk down memory lane. I actually had part of my honeymoon in San Juan, Puerto Rico, 10 years ago! MountainDad and I spent three nights in the island’s capital city after our Windjammer Barefoot Cruise (pity the Windjammer folded — we absolutely adored our trip). I dug out my old photo album (no digital images from 1999), and scanned these pictures from my honeymoon. Here’s the funny: we’re pictured in various places in and around San Juan that the Mamas and I will be visiting later this week!

Showing off my new wedding ring at El Morro.
New husband on Luquillo Beach.
Me (in tank top) in El Yunque rainforest.

Like these “memory lane” photos? Check out MudslideMama’s honeymoon on St. John; we’re going back 15 years for her!

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March 24, 2009 | Filed Under Adventure Travel, Destinations, Girlfriend Getaways, Romantic Getaways | 4 Comments 

A Beach Vacation in La Jolla, California

Solo Surfer (Jen Miner)
Solo Surfer (Jen Miner)

La Jolla is a gorgeous, high-end beach community just a hop, skip and a jump north of San Diego.  It’s got a reputation as being a relaxing (if somewhat deluxe) vacation destination.  The Mudslide family has never been there; we take road trips to San Diego pretty often, but La Jolla is so close to San Diego that Laguna Beach makes for a better pit stop on the way home. As a California-based travel writer and beach town fan, I clearly needed to check out this place with my video camera fully loaded.

I’m so glad I did! La Jolla is indeed lovely, with cliffs that overhand the Pacific in ways reminiscent of the more rugged views in Northern California. The La Jolla Playhouse is a wonderful local theater, and Scripps Institute of Oceanography is a focal point for training the next generation in marine biology and other earth sciences. The Birch Aquarium at Scripps melds fun and education about marine life and resources so well, I just can’t wait to take my children there. But remember…there are those miles of wonderful, surfer-friendly beaches too.

One beach has been in the news off and on; The Children’s Pool was actually man-made to create a relatively wave-free bay for kids to play in, but this serene alcove was also perfect for seals to birth their pups. (This is somewhat controversial; the philanthropist Ellen B. Scripps had it built for children, but not exclusively so.) Because there are so many other child-friendly beaches along La Jolla’s coastline - and because marine mammals are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act - the seals unknowingly won a legal battle to stay in The Children’s Pool during baby season. I love seals! I had to find them…and hopefully get a quick video of the seals in action.

Starting at the south end of La Jolla was a mistake; I found a bunch of beautiful little beaches (and a ton of fancy shops) but no seals. I had my Flip Digital Video Camera on the ready, though: Check out this video. Oh, before you do, keep in mind that I’m no professional. Holding the Flip at arm’s length and hoping for the best resulted in me chopping off my chin. Wish me better aim next time!

Ha, ha! It’s no wonder that The Children’s Pool has also been named “Seal Rock.” They look cute and happy, don’t they? But even from our respectful distance, the other tourists, gawkers, and I were just about equally impressed by the smell emanating from the beach as we were the sight of all those baby seals flopped out next to their mamas. Phoo! I wonder how long it takes to clear the air after the Harbor Seals leave.

La Jolla Beach (Jen Miner)
La Jolla Beach (Jen Miner)

In any case, the Harbor Seals (and yes, I know, I accidentally call them sea lions once in the video above, mea culpa) are a huge attraction when they’re tending to their pups. Since there are a plethora of other beaches around La Jolla, I believe that setting aside Seal Rock/Children’s Pool for the seals and their babies is a good thing. The crowd of tourists, happy to pose for photos with a seal-filled background, surely agree.

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March 18, 2009 | Filed Under Adventure Travel, Destinations, Eco Travel, Family Travel, Girlfriend Getaways, Luxury Travel, Romantic Getaways, Travel Gear, Videos | 15 Comments 

Catalina Island - A Mellow, Relaxing Weekend Getaway

Santa Catalina Island is the largest of the channel islands off the coast of Southern California. On a clear day,I can almost sorta-kinda see it from my house, or at least I would if the roof counts and binoculars are allowed. The ferry from LA to Catalina Island is less than an hour’s drive south, too.  I was hard pressed to come up with the reason why, in the six years I’ve been a Californian, I hadn’t ever visited Catalina Island. Part of this was its reputation, I’m sure; touristy, touristy, touristy, was the word, with nothing but schlock shops and bars. But Los Angeles suffers its own negative stereotypes (surely you’ve heard). The terrific natural hiking trails and great family-friendly activities here contradict those bad LA stereotypes, so why not give Catalina Island a chance, too?

I took the Catalina Express ferry to Avalon, which is Santa Catalina Island’s only city. The ride was pleasant, took around an hour, with a cheerful staff to handle my suitcase. Avalon itself is more like a small town, with just over 3,000 residents. Catalina Island is mostly natural: The Catalina Island Conservancy owns most of it, this having been bequeathed to the nonprofit by the Wrigley family. Yes, the gum guy, who gave Chicago Wrigley Field, was also heavily involved in protecting and conserving the nature of Catalina Island.

Strolling along Avalon’s main road is peaceful, at least in the off season. Surely there’s a big crowd in the summer, but even in February the weather is balmy and pleasant. The water laps against the docks, with rowboats bobbing in the sun, and people smile as they walk by. It’s very mellow, friendly, and relaxed.  The walk from one end of town along the bay (the ferry’s dock) to the other (a water sports equipment rental area on the beach) takes 15 minutes. It’s a great walk: There are very few cars, and most people get around on foot or on golf carts. This waterfront town has several rows of shops and restaurants, ranging from beachy to to elegant.

Without a doubt, my favorite store in Avalon was C.C. Gallagher. It’s an eclectic mix of interesting knickknacks, creative artisan objects and high-end food items, along with both a coffee shop during the day, and a wine bar at night. If there is any “must-see” store in Avalon, C. C. Gallagher would have to be it.

What else? Well, Brown’s Bikes and Catalina Kayak Adventures rent, obviously, bikes and boats. There are plenty of opportunities to be active on the island, or simply to kick back with a glass of wine and enjoy the views. In fact, the kick back and relax aspect of Catalina Island is what I liked the most. Santa Catalina Island makes for a relaxing weekend away, and anyone in Southern California should try it at least once. I’m glad I did.

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March 13, 2009 | Filed Under Budget Travel, Destinations, Eco Travel, Girlfriend Getaways, Romantic Getaways | 2 Comments 

Soft Adventure Girlfriend Getaway at Eagle Island, GA

Eagle Island, Georgia is a small private island, great for romantic travel, “away from it all” soft adventure, and even girlfriend getaways. In fact, one of my best girlfriends, Cajun Mama, is there right now. She’s having a wonderfully relaxing week!

South of Savannah, Eagle Island offers fishing, kayaking, and above all peace and quiet. We all can use some peace and quiet sometimes: A break from the rush and stress of everyday life is better than any prescription pill (makes for better memories too). Cajun Mama is enjoying Eagle Island immensely - in fact, the only thing that would make her experience there better would be if her girlfriends could have taken this getaway with her. She sent the Traveling Mamas this photo:

It’s so nice to know that, even while enjoying the peacefullness of a private island in Georgia, Cajun Mama still was thinking about her girlfriends. The importance of female friendship truly cannot be overstated, and we can’t wait to take a girlfriend getaway together soon. More than just fun and lighthearted, these vacations are resorative to our spirits. Enjoy the rest of your stay on Eagle Island, Cajun!

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March 12, 2009 | Filed Under Adventure Travel, Destinations, Eco Travel, Girlfriend Getaways, Romantic Getaways | 4 Comments 

Mama on the Move: Eagle Island, GA

I’m currently hiding out at Eagle Island, GA, a private island located in the inner coastal area of Georgia. This is a unique destination where all your worries and cares can be left behind. As I’m typing this, there is a bald eagle staring at me from her little hideaway in a tree above me. Whatever your reason for a visit, be it a romantic getaway, a family reunion, or just a place for all your friends to gather, you’ll find this a place to reconnect with nature and your companions.

If you’re looking for an all-inclusive beach resort with 24 hour room service, you should look elsewhere, but if you want to bring your heart rate real low, visit Private Islands of Georgia.

Here’s a video I put together of how to get to Eagle Island and the natural setting of this wonderful retreat.

If you can’t see the video, the direct link is on the Traveling Mamas YouTube Page. I can’t wait to come back to Eagle Island and share it with my family on our travels, or even with the other mamas on a girlfriend getaway.

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March 10, 2009 | Filed Under Adventure Travel, Culinary Travel, Destinations, Eco Travel, Family Travel, Girlfriend Getaways, Luxury Travel, Romantic Getaways, Videos | 4 Comments 

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