This year's Susquehanna Sojourn from Harrisburg to Holtwood Dam on the Lower Susquehanna will take place from June 24 to 28.
Sojourners in the floating classroom will stop in river towns including Columbia, Marietta and Wrightsville to learn about Native American culture, migratory fish and birds and how local people are caring for the waterway.
Cost is $60 per person per day. Register by calling 737-8432. For details, visit: www.acb-online.org.
U.S. health officials have declared a public health emergency because of the rapid spread of swine flu after an outbreak in Mexico. Some are encouraging people to avoid travel to Mexico because of it. Others say that's not necessary.
While I like to be safe and healthy when I travel, I wouldn't recommend that people with Mexico travel plans get too worked up about it.
First of all, unless you're traveling in the next few days, I'd suggest taking a wait-and-see approach rather than panicking and canceling your airline tickets now. What's news now may not be an issue by the time of your trip.
Other things to keep in mind:
*Mexico is a big country. Not all of it is affected.
*Cases have also been identified here in the U.S., including 28 in New York City.
Food for thought:
Would you consider canceling travel plans to NYC because of the cases there? I think travel to a foreign country can be scary sometimes and any bad news coming out of that country can increase pre-trip jitters. People think if they stay home, they'll be safer. As so many instances in recent years show, that's not necessarily true.
I'm eager to hear what others think, especially those with Mexico travel plans.
What? How could this be true?
That was my reaction when I read this story about how the popular tourist spot, Four Corners, might be off from the true location of where Utah, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico intersect.
Now, folks upset over the blunder have found that the monument is actually only 1,807 feet -- the length of several football fields -- off target. Not 2.5 miles as originally believed.
Still, that's quite a bit of difference.
I'm a sucker for such designations.
I have pictures of myself from my high school days at Carowinds amusement park, one foot in North Carolina, one in South Carolina.
During college, while visiting a U.S. friend volunteering in Tijuana, Mexico, we marveled at how we were allowed on the other side of a see-through fence along a beach, but others weren't. Same sand, different rules.
In Quito, Ecuador, I stood in the northern hemisphere and shook hands with an Ecuadorian standing in the south.
I've never been to Four Corners, but if I had, I'd be even more upset that the people who made it popular didn't take time to do a little research ahead of time!
Any ideas what this one is about? Or do you think they literally just really like rice?
President Obama is pushing for high-speed rail to get moving in the United States.
My feelings? It's about freaking time.
Most other industrialized nations have had high-speed rail systems for years. We're way behind.
The idea been tossed around and suggested and proposed and promised so often that it's hard to believe it ever will become a reality.
Opponents cite the cost and complexity of creating such a system in a country as expansive as ours. I say, when has cost and complexity ever stopped America from doing something before?
What do you think?
West Manchester Township native and 1999 West York grad Meagan Hess is now in NYC working for On Location Tours, which offers daily tours of locations from TV and the movies.
Next month, they'll add a Gossip Girl tour to the line up, which includes tours for fans of Friends, Seinfeld, Ugly Betty, Ghostbusters, The Cosby Show, Sex and the City and The Sopranos.
If you're planning a trip to the Big Apple, they might be worth checking out.
While everyone loves a good pirate flick or pirate-themed party, the last thing you want during your pricey cruise vacation is for real, live pirates to show up.
Ever since Somali pirates took an American freighter captain hostage off the coast of Africa, cruise lines are taking steps -- albeit top-secret steps they don't want to talk about -- to protect passengers.
After all, real pirates aren't as fun as the ones in the movies.
In case you haven't heard, Obama is easing restrictions on family travel and remittances to Cuba by Cuban Americans.
While some are critical of the President's steps, others say a softening of relations -- and possible lifting of the decades-old embargo -- is the best way to encourage democracy in the Communist nation a stone's throw from Florida.
What do you think of the President's latest move? The reactions of Fidel and Raul Castro? The future of U.S. travel to Cuba?
This one's pretty self-explanatory.
I haven''t gone off topic with any cute-kids posts in a while, so I figure it's about time. Pictured below is my niece, Lily, in her Easter finest, in front of the magnolia tree in my back yard, which bloomed without me doing anything (now that's my kind of plant!)
Enjoy...
Warming up the facial muscles for a smile:
This is the best you're going to get in bright sunlight:
Ahh, enough of this silly picture-taking!
The Kindle 2 has clearly gained more converts than the first version of Amazon's electronic book reader. For travelers worried about space and weight of their luggage and carry-ons, it can be a lifesaver.
But there are still reasons to opt for an old-fashioned book made from pages. Here's one take on it. And then another by YDR copy editor Teresa Cook's husband, who recently splurged on one to enjoy during his frequent travels.
Have you gone electronic with your library? What is your take on Kindle as the next must-have travel companion?
You probably aren't thinking beach yet, but Ocean City, Md. -- a popular vacation destination for many York County residents -- is already kicking off its 2009 season with some events that just may merit an early weekend trip to the shore.
Here's a peek at a few things coming up:
*Delmarva Birding Weekend, April 23-27. Billed as one of the most popular bird-watching events in the mid-Atlantic region, visitors to OCMD this weekend can choose from more than 40 day, night and on-water excursions.
*Maryland International Kite Exposition, April 24-26. This kite festival features multi-level precision flying events using brightly colored dual- and quad-line kites. Internationally known flyers will make magic in the air between North Division and 6th streets on the beach.
*Ward World Championship Wildfowl Carving Competition and Festival, April 24-26. Carvers and visitors from around the world gather to showcase sculpted bird carvings, house decor and hunting decoys. It's at Convention Center and 40th St. on the bay.
*Springfest, May 7-10. Live entertainment and beach eats kick off the season in the inlet.
*Cruisin', May 14-17. This show features thousands of cars, from hot rods and classics to street machines and muscle cars. Find it in the inlet parking lot.
As always, if you head out and hit one of these events, snap some shots and send it here to be part of our Wish you were here feature.
Head to Baltimore's Inner Harbor from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. April 25 for a day of free activities, live performances, 3-D chalk art and more.
Put on by Carnival Cruise Lines, the event celebrates the beginning of Baltimore's first year-round cruise service on the 2,124-passenger Carnival Pride ship, which will arrive in Baltimore April 27. Cruises will depart from Inner Harbor for both an Eastern Caribbean itinerary and a Bahamas/Florida itinerary.
In addition to a Carnival fun booth and Camp Carnival Kid Zone, there will be an interactive aquarium, biodegradable balloon giveaways and a visit by Carnival's "Fun Ship Freddy" mascot.
Also, master sand sculptor Chuck Feld will create a detailed sand sculpture of the ship and Carnival's Guiness Book of World Records Beach Ball will be in McKeldin square so visitors can get their picture alongside it.
Throughout the day, Carnival Cruise ambassadors will hand out free "Fun Decoder" cards for people to register online for five chances to win a Carnival Cruise. For each person who registers, Carnival will donate a dollar to the Maryland Special Olympics.
Found this one in the alley behind my house a while back. I have no idea who it belongs to or who they're shushing.
I'm wishing the dog that barks all the time for no reason could read it...
The guys at YDR's York Common Cents business blog wrote about a new trend today that I thought was worthy of highlighting here: the Fur-cation.
It's the term travel companies are using to encourage people to take their furlough (unpaid time off) and use it for a vacation.
On the one hand, if you have enough money saved up, the time off could be a great opportunity to go somewhere. But, as Brent points out in his post, for most people, it's hard to justify spending money when you aren't making any!
What do you think of this? Do you know of anyone who has taken a fur-cation?
It seems like there's always something new in Hershey.
Last year, it was the Fahrenheit roller coaster. Year before, The Boardwalk at Hershey water park inside the amusement park.
This year, they're expanding the water attractions with a SEAquel to The Boardwalk.
It opens Memorial Day weekend and features a wave pool called The Shore and a lazy river attraction called Intercoastal Waterway. They're putting it in the spot where Canyon River Rapids used to be. (In case you missed it, they demolished that ride). They'll also have 27 cabanas for rent on a first-come, first-served basis. No word yet on the rental fee.
If you go, post a comment here and let me know how it is. Also, I'm curious... what should Hershey add next year? Are you still planning to visit amusement parks with all the economic troubles?
