Tips for Visiting Sea World

1. Buy tickets, dining plan and any extra adventures online before you go to save time in the morning

2. Go on the Penguin Ride first as it is very popular and you don't want to spend    that much time in a line up

3. Plan rides around show times

4. Avoid weekends if possible

5. Buy the dining plan (then you don't have to carry water around with you and it is really convenient)

6. If this is not your first visit, splurge on one of their behind the scenes              adventures - so worth it

7. Work your way from the back of the park to the front, when possible

8. Buy a card for feeding the animals, it is cheaper and you are going to want to do it

9. Get a family picture taken

10. The souvenirs are very well priced here so if you are buying something to commemorate and entire trip, such as a Christmas ornament, this is the place to buy.

Check out these posts as well:
https://shyopinionated.blogspot.ca/2017/06/busch-gardens-vs-animal-kingdom.html
https://shyopinionated.blogspot.ca/2017/03/seuss-landing-at-islands-of-adventure.html

The pros and cons of visiting PEI in the off season

I’ve been to the island every year at least once for the past 40 years – sometimes two or three times and I’ve even lived there for nine months, but this was only the second time visiting in the fall as a tourist. It has a very different feeling than the summer months. Charlottetown and several pumpkin patches were the only things that seem to still be moving at this time of year.

Pros,

Less crowded – except for Charlottetown which is always very busy

Rooms are cheaper and you don’t have to book way in advance

You can get a cottage for one or two nights instead of having to book for a full week

Beaches are empty and free to get into – great for taking pictures

The fall foliage is beautiful

Cons,

Nothing is open – museums, attractions, many restaurants

You lose the ambiance and excitement

You need to plan ahead for eating and getting gas as places you normally stop will be closed

Information booths are not open

You can get into the beaches for free but there are no washroom facilities open

Difficult for finding Raspberry Cordial or Cows ice cream

PEI North Cape Coastal Drive

We did most of the North Cape Coastal Drive in PEI the first weekend October. It was a gorgeous weekend to enjoy some fall foliage, not such a great weekend if you wanted anything to be open. 

We drove from Alberton to the very tip of the island and down the opposite coast as far as the Borden-Charlton bridge and then further to the ferry boat. It didn’t take that long really, we did the drive in a morning, spent some time in Charlottetown and then took the ferry boat back to NS. 

I got up in the morning and took pictures of the sunrise from the Briarwood Inn, Cottages and Lodge, http://www.briarwood.pe.ca/  and then we set off. 

There are some coastal views, farms with cows, horses, donkeys and even sheep, and one warf. 

At the tip there is a wind turbine museum and restaurant, neither of which were open this day. We could see fishing boats off in the distance and hear a multitude of birds. 

There is a walking trail there but it was 5.5 k and we were not prepared for it. Someday I plan to do this but I will have sneakers and a jacket with me. I didn’t know that this is the trail that had the original elephant formation on it. 

On the way back the roads were a bit more confusing, just because they did not line up with the map we had from the information booth in O’Leary. The roads and little towns were not in the correct order on the map and so it was more irritating than anything else. There are a couple of lighthouses on the way back, but you have to really keep your eyes open for them as the road names are not on the map and they do not line up where they are depicted. The first one was at this little warf and the second is a lighthouse where you can actually spend the night. I have always wanted to do this and I tried to stay there but they were already closed for the season. On my next trip this is one of the things I will do.

There is a provincial park on the way as well but it wasn’t marked well and we were too tired by this time to head back to it. Maybe we will stop on the next time around. We went into Summerside to eat. Most of the seasonal places were already closed and so we ended up eating at a KFC, there was also a McDonalds, Wendy’s, Subway and A&W available that we could see. The KFC ended up being lovely though because we got to eat looking out at this beautiful view. If I ever visit Summerside I will be sure to check out their walking trail that you can see in the distance. It looks beautiful! At the bridge we stopped at the new touristy area where there are shops and an information stop. Most places were closed for the season but I was able to go to the Cows store and pick up a few of our favorite things, raspberry cordial, chocolate covered chips and of course ice cream! 

This was all we got to see on this particular drive – we were on the island for a wedding and had spent two sleepless nights before driving this scenic drive and we weren’t exactly at our best but you can see by these photos that the island is a very beautiful place and well worth the trip.

Photos to Take in Vegas

There are photographers all over the strip that will take your picture for a fee, the Eiffel Tower, Tournament of Kings, Minus 5 Ice Bar, different restaurants, Gondolas and more. I wish they could all get together and set up some type of photo card like they have at many theme parks but alas that will probably never happen.

Below is a list of pictures you should take on your own while you are there, in no particular order.

1.    With the Vegas sign – of course!

2.    Under the giant flamingo in the alley to the left of the Flamingo Resort

3.    There is a photo frame in that same alley as well

4.    The Bellagio fountains at night from the Eiffel Tower (and during the day too!)

5.    The lights of Vegas from the Eiffel Tower or Stratosphere

6.    Under the famous Las Vegas sign

7.    With M&M character at the M&M store

8.    The Mirage Volcano from Denny’s

9.    By the Egyptian themed décor at the Luxor

10. In front of Excalibur

11.  There is a knight downstairs at Excalibur as well

12.  With street characters (they charge $1 per picture – one girl said she wanted $5, don’t be taken in by that)

13.  Under the sign at any show you see

14.  Your hotel

15.  The Gardens at the Bellagio

16.  Fountains at the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace

17.  Circus Circus still has a few of the older model gambling machines, take your picture pulling down the handle

18.  Take pictures of unique restaurants and food that you eat

19.  Free shows in the resorts and mall

20. Downtown Vegas – the people, the sights, the lighted ceiling

Eagle in a Spring Storm

Seuss Landing at Islands of Adventure in Florida

                                          For all the Dr. Seuss Fans

I absolutely love Dr. Seuss. His imagination and rhymes have often been used as inspiration and many have tried to duplicate his style but never succeeded as well. He was one of a kind and his quirky world has lived on at The Islands of Adventure in Florida. 

In a portion of this park they have created a world dedicated to his books and illustrations called Seuss Landing. There are no straight lines in this area and it is colorful and bright.

1. Get your picture taken with the characters

2 Eat at Circus MaGurcus

3. Ride the rides

There are several rides but the trolley was my favorite because you could see all of Seuss Landing from above. It also goes through the ceiling of Circus MaGurcus. The rides are geared towards the younger crowd but people of all ages can enjoy them.

4. Visit the gift shop.

Here you can get everything Seuss. Everyone needs a Thing shirt! Also, see the tiny door to the right, it is adorable and a must do to make your experience complete. 

5. Make sure you explore and take it all in!

A couple of things that didn't work out for us: If you have a photo connect card you can get your picture taken in line for the and they add a Seuss character to it – even though we tried twice, these pictures did not show up on our account.

The other thing we didn't get to try was green eggs and ham which I hear they have. I will have to go back and explore some more.

I read Dr. Seuss books as a child, then to children I looked after, then to my own child and am currently holding onto my collection to read to any future grandchildren I may have. If you have a Dr. Seuss fan in your family then this is one of the places in Islands of Adventure that you will definitely want to visit.  

Check out these post as well:
https://shyopinionated.blogspot.ca/2017/06/tips-for-visiting-sea-world.html
https://shyopinionated.blogspot.ca/2017/06/busch-gardens-vs-animal-kingdom.html

A 20's Bucket List for my Daughter

                                 

When I turned 40 I had no issues, no breakdown about how old I was getting or any of those things people warn you about, but when my daughter turned 20 it was a completely different story. I had never felt so old. I also felt like I had wasted so much time in my 20s and I wanted her to live her life to the fullest and so with that in mind I started to compile a list of things I wanted her to know. Then I found several lists online, ones that people had written for themselves, ones from older people and younger people and all walks of life and I would see things on them and be like oh yes, that applies as well so a list that started out being a list of 20 things to do in your 20’s turned into this very long 20’s bucket list. I worked on it for a couple of months, adding, subtracting, changing and rearranging. Some of these things I have done in my own life and others are things I wished I had done in my life or earlier in my life. This is the list I gave my daughter on her 20^th birthday at her 20’s themed birthday supper.

Bucket List

If I Could Redo my 20’s

1. Take weekends off.
2. Keep a journal.
3. Be content with where you are – for everything there is a season.
4. Live in the moment – turn off technology for periods of time. Disable call waiting.
5. Stop a negative habit.
6. Meet new people.
7. Travel, travel, travel.
8. Always keep your internal dialogue positive, it shapes your reality.
9. Dance.
10. Take care of yourself – vitamins, get enough sleep, drink water, see the dentist and eye doctor regularly.
11. Exercise, practice yoga and take walks.
12. Make your birthday special. Give yourself a birthday gift every year.
13. Pay it forward. Give away things you no longer need. Occasionally give away money even when it doesn’t make financial sense.
14. Be open-minded. Allow people one quirk.
15. Take a class – something out of your comfort zone.
16. Move somewhere new, this is the time in your life to do it.
17. Take photographs – you won’t always have the memory you have now.
18. Explore your own town, county, province. Go on a road trip.
19. Try new things.
20. See live music and concerts. Play an instrument.
21. Decorate your bedroom – make that space really you.
22. Don’t underestimate the power of a hug.
23. Do some DIY projects.
24. Host a dinner party.
25. Plant a tree – or do something for the environment.
26. Run some sort of race.
27. Buy your own car and don’t let it become a pig sty.
28. Do 30 days of something – a 30 day challenge.
29. Travel somewhere you’ve always wanted to go – spend a year planning it.
30. Read great books.  Pick out a list and start working through it.  (For example, read all the Pulitzer Prize winners.  Then read all the Newbery Award winners.) Build your own personal library.
31. Pay attention to what makes you smile and do more of that.
32. Meet with God every day.
33. Get out of debt.
34. Learn another language.
35. Go on a mission trip.
36. Get married.
37. Have a kid or two or more. Don’t wait too long to have them.
38. Buy some original art and hang it up in your home.
39. Listen to classical music.
40. Climb a mountain, swim in the ocean, walk on the beach in moonlight. Spend time in nature regularly.
41. Do something crazy – zip line, swim with dolphins, run with the bulls, etc.
42. Decide to marry only the Right Person in the Right Way at the Right Time.  Don’t settle for anything else.
43. Adopt something, a team, a child, a pet, a human in need.
44. Go to Europe.
45. Read through the Bible several times and get to know what’s in it. Memorize Bible verses.
46. Make true friends and find time for them.
47. Recycle, and start a compost pile.
48. Paint, draw, write, sculpt, and create.
49. Know what you believe and why.  Truth matters.
50. Pay off your credit cards every month.
51. Thank your teachers.
52. Set up some way to save money – invest in yourself and your future.
53. Find a church and get involved there. Tithe. Encourage your pastor.
54. Visit your grandparents and parents. Discover your family tree.
55. Mentor someone younger than you. Find a mentor for yourself - it is good to really listen to someone older than yourself.
56. Plants some roses or tulips or rhubarb or anything and then learn to take care of them.
57. Vote.
58. Send hand-written thank you notes.
59. Visit your friends where they live now, and enjoy the time catching up.
60. Join a local sports team.  And play nice.
61. Come up with a realistic and workable filing system so you know where important things are and you can find them when you need them.
62. Clean your refrigerator and your bathroom regularly.
63. Volunteer.
64. Know where the best parks and used bookstores are in your town and visit them frequently. Get a library card and use it.
65. Camp out every once in a while, and sleep under the stars.
66. Celebrate holidays for the real reasons they were created. Make your own traditions.
67. Watch sun rises and sun sets often.
68. Keep a “People and Praise” file so that when you get notes of thanks and affirmation, you can keep them for when you’re feeling blah.
69. If you’re single, invite over your married friends; if you’re married, invite over your single friends.
70. Attend community theater; see a Broadway show.
71. Start a book club or join one.
72. Have manners.
73. Sew together a blanket out of all your old T-shirts so you don’t have to throw them away just because you don’t wear them anymore.
74. Throw a surprise party for someone.
75. Try to develop the habit of eating meals at the same times each day.
76. Graduate.
77. Go to free art shows and pretend you’re at the Louvre.
78. Bring doughnuts or bagels to work for your coworkers every now and then.
79. Sing and read to your kids before they go to bed.
80. Don’t pass up an opportunity because of fear.
81. Learn to cook. Have one recipe that is your specialty.
82. Enjoy the little things. Be grateful.
83. Add more things to your bucket list…