Sep
23

Where to Spend a Memorable Family Vacation

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There are many places you can go for a memorable family vacation. Summer is usually the best time for these getaways because the kids are out of school. However, your child’s spring break, the week of Thanksgiving, and the end of December are other times when your kids can leave school behind for a vacation.

 

One great place to go on a family vacation is to a state or national park. Don’t waste a vacation sitting in a hotel room watching television. Parks are full of natural beauty. Find a park that offers great places to go camping with the family and has many activities for all ages. A lot of the national parks also have historical sites you can visit.

 

Another place to spend a memorable family vacation is at a beach. It’s the perfect place to go swimming, surfing, fishing, and has many more enjoyable activities for the family. A beach is also a very relaxing place where you can just lie in the sun and stick your toes in the sand. Search Canada 411 to find some great beaches in your area with family friendly attractions and restaurants.

 

Amusement parks are a great place for kids as well as adults. If you have a larger budget, you can visit some of the most exciting amusement parks such as Disneyland or Six Flags. No matter where you live, there’s probably an amusement park within driving distance. These parks typically have entertainment options that extend beyond rides. Some offer concerts and shopping venues.

Jul
12

Missouri: Unlikely Vacation

A view of a boat on the Mississippi. The pictu...

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As far as summer vacations go, the 24th state in the Union usually doesn’t rank too high on the list of places to go. Despite this, Missouri can be a new and exciting adventure, as well as a relaxing and comfortable destination.

Perhaps the most famous spot in Missouri is the St. Louis Arch, known as the Gateway to the West. This towering arch is 630 feet tall, the highest monument in the United States.

Missouri has many beautiful cities and towns where you can slow down and enjoy a lovely season in the center of America. Audrain County is especially nice, located along the Missouri River, and St. Louis, of course, is a major attraction, as is the capital city of Jackson, Missouri.

The Missouri River itself is a treasure trove of history. Its easy for travellers and tourists to take a step back two centuries and experience 1800s Missouri by taking a trip on one of the traditional riverboats that makes excursions on the river.

The Civil War left several historic battle sites in Missouri, such as Lexington, Wilson’s Creek, and others. In addition, Missouri was the playground of the Jesse James’ gang in the 1860s and 1870s. Taking a tour of James’ Gang sites can be an exciting trip, especially the family farm in Kearney where the infamous outlaw grew up.

Don’t let Missouri fool you: it’s a one-of-a-kind destination waiting to be explored. And unlike far off exotic vacation spots, it’s readily accessible!

Jun
26

A Small Brief about Audrain County

Map of Missouri highlighting Audrain County

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Audrain County is full of hunting attractions. It is a quiet county resplendent with spectacular naturist views. Located in the U.S state of Missouri, Audrain County was formed in 1836. Named after Col. James Hunter Audrain, Audrain County is flanked by counties such as Monroe, Ralls, Pike, Montgomery, Callaway, Boone, and Randolph.

Audrain County Historical Society is a famous name. Located in the Robert S. Green Park, there are some museums located here. They are namely Graceland Museum, and American Saddlebred Horse Museum.

Graceland Museum is considered to be a historical museum nationally. It was formerly a mansion which was then converted to a museum. During the American civil war, Colonel Ulysses stayed here.

Visitors can see the beautifully dressed rooms in this mansion-museum. Victorian architecture is in vivid display, and the architecture still resonates the beauty of the America’s rich history.

The American Saddlebred Horse Museum is dedicated to Graceland. It exhibits rare and unique pieces that will capture your attention and interest.

At Audrain County, and at the Audrain County Historical Society is located the Country School. Placed among lush settings, the school is a cute cozy outfit in the middle of picturesque settings. Constructed in the early part of the nineteenth century, the Country School reflects the olden day school building architecture.

In the same vicinity is the Country Church. It was built in the 1800s. This is a trans-located church. It was brought to the Audrain County Historical Society premises part by part before re-building it here. The church is beautifully set amongst serene settings, and is a must visit for new visitors at the Audrain County.

 

Jun
13

Essential Items for Vacation Packing

A True vacation spirit 

Image by Kenzoka via Flickr

Whether your vacation plans entail just a few short days in a lovely place such as Audrain County, Michigan, or some far-off exotic location, there are a few tips that you should follow to make the most of any vacation. If you remember to take along these simple items, you’ll enjoy your days and nights.

  • Moist towelettes can be used to not only clean off your hands and face, but they are a great way to also cool down in warm climates. Use them to wipe those hot areas such as your neck and forehead.
  • Clear plastic bags are a must have. You can use them to store your postcard printing projects for people back home, or to put your toiletries into when you need to go through airport security.
  • A compact umbrella is a small detail many people forget until they are standing in the rain without cover. These are small and easy to pack. Make sure it is in a handy, easy to find spot.
  • Chargers are a must for everyone. These chargers can include those for cell phones and media players or those for electric shavers and other electronic devices. If you are traveling overseas or internationally, make sure that you also have currency converters for your electronics as well.
  • Make sure your wardrobe includes certain necessities such as at least one dressy or formal outfit, as well as the casual clothes for sightseeing. Include rain gear and comfortable shoes.

With these few simple items that should be included in your vacation packing list, your travels will be sure to be a little less stressful.

May
23

Historical Tidbits about Audrain County, MO

Map of Missouri highlighting Audrain County

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Audrain County, Missouri’s known history dates back as far as 1816 when the first settler, a hermit named Robert Littleby, came to stay in today’s Audrain County and eventually built a cabin in what is now Prairie Township. Very little else is known about the early days in the area other than there were only occasional reports of people passing through the area. Life on the prairie was hard and initially not suitable for settling or farming because of the scarcity of timber and soil that was difficult to cultivate.

The first people to come through the area were emigrants from the eastern states, notably Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee. While many of these people continued west, some stayed to form a community. Audrain County was formed in 1831 and founded in December 1837 with Mexico as the county seat. It is interesting to note that Mexico was originally named “New Mexico” when it was a stopping point for travelers headed for the then Republic of Texas. The word “new” was dropped when Texas became a state.

The first community school was built in 1832, before the county was even founded. The county’s school system was formally organized in 1874. Mexico became the focal point for growth in Audrain County. The town was incorporated in 1855 and chartered as a city in 1874. Many of the original town’s buildings are still standing around the historic square.

A local history of Audrain County written in 1884 notes that it was the junction point for three railways that connected Mexico with St. Louis and Chicago and describes Mexico as the “brightest of all town” in the county.

May
05

Planning a Ski Vacation

Any kind of vacation will be more successful if it is carefully planned well in advance. To plan a ski vacation, make a checklist with categories such as accommodations, travel, reservations, activities and packing. As you think of items that need attention, add them to the list and check it frequently until you’re ready to leave. Work with those who will travel with you so each person’s needs are met.

If you go to an unfamiliar resort learn all you can about it first. If you want to ski in Tennessee, find out about the state’s sole ski resort, Ober Gatlinburg, in the Great Smoky Mountains. The hotels, restaurants, and tourist attractions in the town and the features of the ski resort are all important to know. Finding ski deals 2011 requires research.

Your packing list should include all the clothing and equipment needed for skiing. If you plan to rent skis, find out what is available at the resort and how much you’ll pay. Determine how the extra cost of taking your own skis on an airline flight compares to the cost of renting skis at the resort.

If you’ll be driving, know the route and road conditions and what luggage each person will take. If you plan to fly, arrange for travel from the airport to the resort. Your budget will help you decide where you can go and how to get there.  Ski vacation planning includes learning what accommodations are available, how close they are to the slopes and about other available activities nearby. See if package deals on transportation, lodging, lift tickets, etc. will be cost effective compared to purchasing separately.

Apr
24

Taking an RV on Vacation

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When going on vacation in an RV, there are different preparations that need to be made as opposed to traveling in a different type of vehicle. For example, when you are traveling in a car you are most likely to stop at hotels along the way, but when traveling in an RV, you must stop at campsites along the way. There are other preparations that need to be made when traveling in an RV.

If you have your own RV, make sure that it is in working condition before you leave on your trip and that it is registered. If you are planning on renting an RV, you may want to research different local businesses that rent out RVs so you can find the most reliable one with the best prices. Before you leave, make sure you have motor home insurance in the event that something happened to your vehicle along the way.

As part of your planning, make sure you have a plan on where you are going to stop along the way. You may want to research different campsites so that your drivers can get an adequate amount of sleep. There’s no point in stopping at a hotel when you are traveling with an RV, so you are going to have to research campsites so you know where you’re going to stop.

Budget any other common expenses. Motor homes tend to use more fuel than other vehicles, so make sure you know the gas mileage of your RV so you can factor in the correct amount of fuel needed plus the cost of campsites, activities, and food.

Mar
25

Audrain County Economy

No matter how small a county is, it contributes to the overall economy of the country and Audrain County is no exception. This small, rural county is located towards the Northeast of Missouri. It has a sizable population of approximately 26,000 people. In terms of distances, Audrain County is around an hour and half away from St. Louis and approximately 3 hours to Kansas City.

Audrain County’s economy has exceeded that of Missouri on several occasions. It has shown tremendous economic growth in the past decade and has been a forerunner in the Missouri economy with Mexico City as its county seat.

What gives the economy an advantage is its location close to the four-lane highways of U.S. Highway 54 as well as Interstate I-70. This makes it a centralized location for the expansion of many large manufacturing companies. In fact, manufacturing is now the backbone of this economy and is gradually surpassing agriculture in terms of economic relevance for the zone.

The county is also a major railhead when it comes to goods shipping and movement of products via rail. The nearby Mexico county seat has an FAA airport that is unregulated. Its two runways have also given the area the ability to entertain corporate landings. Several manufacturing companies have made inroads in Audrain County. These are largely technology based. This region is famous for production of pharmaceutical products as well as those automobile related. Diverse products such as airplane kits and fittings for vinyl windows are made here too. Five years ago, Audrain County inaugurated its first bio-diesel based plant.

Mar
24

Tips for Winter Travel to Audrain County

Audrain County in Missouri experiences some of the most drastic temperature changes in the country. Winters can be unforgiving and cold. When travelling to Missouri in the winter, you will need to winterize your car with a good quality anti-freeze. Make sure your battery is in good condition and your exhaust system has been serviced. Also, ensure that your car oil can stand up to cold weather.

If you can help it, avoid travelling until all the roads have been cleared of snow and treated. Skidding is quite possible and you wouldn’t want to be a road impediment yourself. Make sure you car is inspected before winter comes with extra attention given to the tires, brakes and windshield wipers.

Always check local news and information from the Missouri State Highway Patrol on the conditions of the road to the area you are planning on visiting. Pack some snacks, water and one or two blankets in the car when you head out. Make sure a member of the family is aware of where you are headed so that people know to look for you in case of an emergency. Have your phone fully charged and a car phone charger handy.

Some things that you definitely need in the car during the winter are a flashlight, some basic medicines, cough drops and warm clothing for all in the car. Also, keep a small bag of sand to help give your wheels some traction and a shovel. Keep booster cables handy as well as small tools like pliers, a wrench and a screwdriver. Keep a bright multi-colored cloth handy to use as a flag.

Mar
21

Tips for Relocating to Audrain County

The thought of moving an entirely functional home to another location can be quite distressing. If you are relocating to Audrain County, there are a few basic pointers to keep in mind to ensure that your move is a pleasant one. As a first step to relocating to Audrain County, start your planning as early as possible.

At some point, you will have a moving date. Call all your service providers – phones, newspapers, groceries, electricity, etc and give a cut-off date for a day after you move out. Get in touch with all the service providers at your new home and arrange to have all the utilities working when you arrive. This ensures that you don’t have a powerless home the day you arrive. Go to the post office and fill out a change of address form. Specify from when you would like your mail delivered to your new address.

Start collecting boxes at least a month in advance. You can get boxes from your local grocery store. Place boxes in each room and gradually starting packing things that you will not be using until you get to the new house. Never forget to label the box with the name of the room it goes in, what it contains and if there is anything fragile in it.

If you need to rent a moving truck, talk to a few moving companies and get quotes from each one of them. Sometimes a package deal with a movers company including boxes, packing and transport to the new house will work well for you.