Showing posts with label Shopping. travel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Shopping. travel. Show all posts

Thursday, 11 July 2013

The Top 10 Amusement Parks in America

Copyright © 2010-2013 Ryan Hogan

The deciding factor in selecting the top ten amusement parks in America was the answer to the following question: is the park worth a trip across country? If the park is in Florida is it worth the trip from the West Coast? If the park is in California is it worth the journey from Boston or Baltimore? If the answer was yes, the park qualified for inclusion.

The list also favored parks associated with popular franchises (Disney, Marvel Comics, Peanuts, and Sesame Street just to name a few). While this may put off some adults (okay, most adults), kids love the characters. And after all, amusement parks are all about the kids.

English: The Contemporary Resort in Walt Disne...
English: The Contemporary Resort in Walt Disney World Resort (Orlando) Nederlands: Het Contemporary Resort in Walt Disney World Resort (Orlando) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
1. Walt Disney World Resort
Location: Lake Buena Vista, Florida
Phone: 407-939-7675
Website: " target="_blank">http://disneyworld.disney.go.com
Size: 25,000 acres
Rides: They don't have "rides" they have "attractions."
Operating Season: Hours vary by season.
Top Attractions: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Disney's Animal Kingdom

Walt Disney World Resort is the largest and most-visited amusement park on the planet. There's not enough summer to see and do everything Disney World has to offer. Sure the resort is a "little" commercialized, but with 25,000 acres of high quality fun Disney World is the prime vacation spot for both the young and the young heart.

Cinderella Castle at the Magic Kingdom, Walt D...
Cinderella Castle at the Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World Resort (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
2. Universal Orlando Resort
Location: Orlando, Florida
Phone: 407-363-8000
Website: " target="_blank">http://www.universalorlando.com
Size: Unknown
Rides: 25+
Operating Season: Hours vary by season.
Top Attractions: Universal Studios Florida, Universal's Islands of Adventure, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Wet 'n Wild Orlando, City Walk Orlando

Universal Orlando Resort is a smorgasbord of family fun. Many of its amazing rides and attractions, including 4-D adventures and state-of-the-art roller coasters, are based on popular movies and television characters like Harry Potter, Shrek, The Simpsons, and Marvel Comics. Yet, as cool as Spider-Man and the Hulk are they can't beat the mouse and that's why Universal Orlando is number two.

3. Cedar Point
Location: Sandusky, Ohio
Phone: 419-627-2350
Website: " target="_blank">http://www.cedarpoint.com
Size: 364 acres
Rides: 75 total, 17 roller coasters
Operating Season: May through Early November
Top Attractions: 17 roller coasters, water rides, Challenge Park, Planet Snoopy

Many amusement park enthusiasts put Cedar Point on the top of their "Best of" lists. That's because it's probably the best pure amusement park in the world. After all, its 17 roller coasters are the most of any park on the planet. Besides the coasters, visitors can get all wet at their world famous water park, Soak City, or enjoy one of their many exciting live shows. Cedar Point comes in it at number three because, well, to put it bluntly, it's in Sandusky and it doesn't have the cool franchises like Disney World and Universal Orlando.

4. Disneyland Resort
Location: Anaheim, California
Phone: 714-781-4565
Website: " target="_blank">http://disneyworld.disney.go.com
Size: 510 acres
Rides: 1 (see #1)
Operating Season: Hours vary by season.
Top Attractions: Disneyland, Disney's California Adventure, Downtown Disney

Disneyland Resort contains two amusement parks, one is the famous Disneyland, which opened in 1955, and the other is Disney's California Adventure. The two parks, together with Downtown Disney and various hotels, attract more than 20 million visitors every year. So why is this legendary resort only number four on our list? Is it because of the song "It's a Small World (After All)" incessantly repeats during the ride of the same name? Yes.

5. Busch Gardens Europe
Location: Williamsburg, Virginia
Phone: 800-343-7946
Website: " target="_blank">http://www.buschgardens.com/bgw/default.aspx
Size: 250 acres
Rides: 25 total, 5 roller coasters
Operating Season: March through October
Top Attractions: Roller Coasters, Sesame Street Forest of Fun, Special seasonal events

In case you didn't glean it from its title, Busch Gardens Europe has a European theme going on. It also has a small but highly rated set of roller coasters. When your stomach needs a break from the thrill rides, the park offers several relaxing but entertaining Broadway style shows. Busch Gardens is a great place to visit during the holidays.

6. Six Flags Great Adventure and Wild Safari
Location: Jackson Township, New Jersey
Phone: 732-928-1821
Website: " target="_blank">http://www.sixflags.com/greatadventure/index.aspx
Size: 260 acres for Great Adventure, 350 acres for Wild Safari
Rides: 46
Operating Season: March through November
Top Attractions: Roller coasters, 350-acre wildlife preserve, Looney Tunes pals

Due to its close proximity to New York and Philadelphia, Six Flags Great Adventure is one of the most popular amusement parks in the North East. Great Adventure is known for its spectacular roller coasters like Nitro, The Ride, Kingda Ka, and El Toro. Its 350-acre wildlife preserve is home to 1,200 animals and the park boosts that it's the largest "drive-thru safari" outside of Africa.

7. Canada's Wonderland
Location: Vaughan, Ontario, Canada (Greater Toronto Area)
Phone: 905-832-8131
Website: " target="_blank">http://canadaswonderland.com
Size: 330 acres
Rides: 48 thrill rides
Operating Season: May through October
Top Attractions: Planet Snoopy, The Mighty Canadian Minebuster, Riptide, Drop Tower, Psyclone, Whitewater Bay, Hollywood's Stunt Spectacular

Canada's Wonderland is renowned for its great variety of roller coasters, probably the best assortment on the continent. In fact, if you ignore the United States, Canada's Wonderland has the most roller coasters of any amusement park in the world. This is also the most visited seasonal park in North America. Canada's Wonderland is about 30 minutes from downtown Toronto.

8. Legoland California
Location: Carlsbad, California
Phone: 760-918-LEGO
Website: " target="_blank">http://www.legoland.com
Size: 128 acres
Rides: 50+
Operating Season: Hours vary by season.
Top Attractions: Miniland, Legoland Water Park, Dino Island, Fun Town, Pirate Shore, Imagination Zone

Everything is better when it's made out of Lego's. Amusement parks are for kids but this park's height requirements really favor vertically-challenged young ones. Legoland is laid out in nine areas each with a different theme. One of the most popular areas of the park is Miniland. In this area, artists have used Legos to construct several American landmarks to 1:20 scale.

9. SeaWorld San Diego
Location: San Diego, California
Phone: 800-25-SHAMU
Website: " target="_blank">http://seaworld.com/sandiego/default.aspx
Size: 189 acres
Rides: 8
Operating Season: Hours vary by season.
Top Attractions: Journey to Atlantis, Wilde Arctic, Lights, Camera, Imagination 4-D!, Sesame Street Bay of Play, Dolphins, Orcas

SeaWorld Adventure Parks Tycoon
SeaWorld Adventure Parks Tycoon (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
SeaWorld is a classic. Since opening in 1964, SeaWorld San Diego has delighted visitors with exhibits, rides, and of course, its wonderful marine wildlife. SeaWorld is near the bottom of our list because it lacks the thrill rides of other amusement parks and it maybe too educational for some kids. Still, SeaWorld has enough things to do and see to make it a viable vacation destination.

10. Knoebels Amusement Resort
Location: Elysburg, Pennsylvania
Phone: 800-487-4386
Website: " target="_blank">http://www.knoebels.com/index.asp
Size: Nearly 300 acres
Rides: 55
Operating Season: April through September
Top Attractions: Twister, Flying Turns, Haunted Mansion, Grand Carousel, 3 Ponds Golf Course

Knoebels is a straight-forward, non-pretentious, kid-friendly, family-run amusement park. The park was created to entertain, not to sell merchandise-no ubiquitous cute and furry corporate mascots here. Knoebels has the best amusement park food in the country and bills itself as "America's Largest Free Admission Park." You can buy rides a la carte or via a day pass.




About the Author:
Ryan Hogan writes for ParentingFun411.com, a website that offers parents who want to have fun all kinds of useful resources such as a directory of fun parenting businesses like toy stores across America. Also read the parenting blog that offers great information for parents such as the top amusement parks in America. Learn more at: http://www.ParentingFun411.com/


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Saturday, 29 June 2013

Shopping Online to Save Time and Money

Gnomo online shop 2012 abajo
Gnomo online shop 2012 abajo (Photo credit: álvarozarzuela)
Copyright © 2009-2013 Janet Davis

Human progress has been as much a quest for convenience and efficiency as it has been for raw achievement. Shopping has been an important, integral part of human culture since the beginning of organized agriculture and the formation of communities of people. Greek agoras, open air markets, dry goods shops, supermarkets - as civilization has advanced there has always been a place people could go to purchase their needs. Large communities often develop around collections of these markets, giving them the well-deserved title of shopping centers.

However, there is a certain convenience in shopping from the comfort of one's own home, a convenience that has been met in the past through mail-order catalogs, shopping television channels, and home-delivered grocery services. With the advent of the Internet and the World Wide Web, this trend has reached its culmination and most elegant expression yet.

A Matter of Convenience

The Entrance to the World Wide Web (HDR)
The Entrance to the World Wide Web (HDR) (Photo credit: jmtosses)
The advantage to online shopping stems from the same advantages of the mail-order catalogs and the televised infomercials or shop at home channels - the goods are purchased, ordered, and then delivered without the necessity of a special trip. Online shopping goes further in that it allows for more complete control over the shopping experience. With previous methods of shopping from home, users were limited to the selection presented to them. Catalogs had a finite inventory that subscribers could select from, and audiences had to wait on the shopping channels to present the items that they wanted. In fact, this was a fairly clever ploy to encourage impulse buying, as subscribers would inevitably come across something nifty in a commercial or advertisement that they simply had to have, beyond what they originally intended to search out.

Online shoppers don't have to settle; search engines allow users to locate exactly what they're looking for, or come as close as is possible. Looking for books? A quick search for online bookstores brings up a list of names big and small. Are you curious about food delivery in your neighborhood? Dozens of restaurants are a few searches away from anyone with a web browser. No waiting, just quick and convenient searching for exactly what the customer wants.

Additionally, online shopping is not an antisocial or lazy behavior. Indeed, having the speed and convenience of scheduling a delivery allows shoppers great chunks of free time that they would otherwise have spent out in town shopping. Instead they can take time to be with friends, or schedule important appointments. It also provides a way for the disabled or recuperating to get the things they need without having to arrange elaborate travel accommodations.

A Matter of Savings

World wide web
World wide web (Photo credit: patrikneckman)
With the convenience of online shopping comes the flexibility to search for savings. In most shopping circumstances, purchasers are limited to the specific deals offered by various shopping outlets, be they local supermarkets, catalogs, or other means. With the web, shoppers can quickly look up inventory sales, coupons, and other bargains with a few minutes of research, and easily compare the costs side by side. The user and their ability to do a little research, not just the stores and the coupons they choose to offer at a particular time, determine the best deal.

One cost that does come up in the matter of shopping online is the cost of shipping. However, this is not necessarily the fly in the ointment. First of all, it can simply be substituted for the cost of gasoline inherent in many shopping trips, or in time and energy for those who walk or bike to a physical store. Every trip to the store burns gas and takes time, just as every delivery requires shipping costs. However, there are ways to eliminate shipping and handling fees, yet no one has come forward with a way not to burn gas while driving a car.

Many sites offer special deals, such as free shipping on orders above a certain cost, or discounted delivery for customers in a certain geographic area. Consider a family that shops at the market twice a week, traveling five miles each way, spending perhaps a dollar in gas each way, and thus four dollars in the week. By waiting to shop once in the week, and doing the shopping online, they eliminate the extra trip, save the cost of the shipping, the wear and tear on the car, and the total time spent shopping. This equates to more money in their pockets to spend on the things they want, when they want them.

A Matter of Thought

Like everything relating to the web and online conveniences, online shopping requires a little bit of planning and thought, but pays off in big ways. As mentioned above, the biggest advantage is the ability to compare. Users should hunt for deals and compare prices to get the best offer they can. But the web offers so much more - consumer advocacy websites can warn users away from unethical dealers, and social networking sites can promote awareness of high quality, low price alternatives to other items. The web is a very powerful tool, and its advantages will reward users who take the time to look through the myriad of options available. So spend a little time shopping around online, and let yourself be surprised by the savings and the convenience.




About the Author:
Janet Davis and her husband are health and nutrition entrepreneurs and founders of Mark And Janet, a website with uncompromising, premium products for your health conscious family. For more on going green -- Visit us at http://www.MarkandJanet.com/ or check out our blog at http://www.MarkandJanetBlog.com/


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Thursday, 9 May 2013

Are you lipstick ready for the summer?

Woman applying cosmetics to her lips.
Woman applying cosmetics to her lips. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Are you getting ready for the Summer? Or has your summer already started?

It probably has and you've already got your your summer clothes, jewelry and accessories.

What's in your make up bag? The summer essentials or just something you've thrown together?

What color lipsticks? - deep pinks, fuschias and bright reds and also light pinks, orange, beige.

Lipstick and lipgloss
Lipstick and lipgloss (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Top with some clear shiny lip gloss or a colored lip gloss, maybe one with glitters.

Or a gold or silver gloss over a beige color?

What for the day and what for the night?

It depends what you're doing?

Working? How about a beige or pale pink?

Going to a summer event? A tea party? How about bright red or fuschia

Or going out for the night? How about any of the colors with gold or silver glitter.

An orange color based lipstick is good for day or night as well depending on what you're wearing and what kind of look or effect you want to create.

It was still cute though... And don't worry, y...
It was still cute though... And don't worry, yes, I know I'm pathetic sucker for Hello Kitty. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
HOT TIP:
Use a lip liner to outline your lips as well and make putting on your lipstick easier!

ELF
ELF (Photo credit: Wikipedia)



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Friday, 26 April 2013

What are the summer make up colors this year?

your never alone ... rely on yourself.
your never alone ... rely on yourself. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Here are some ideas for Summer Make Up Colors and Day and Evening Make Up Styles

Summer make up colors

Pinks, Green, Blues, Gold,

Day Makeup

Light pink shades, light blue

Evening Makeup

Green eyes hadows, Gold eye shadows and glitter bronzer for cheek and shoulder highlighting.
Turquoise eye shadows, Eye crayons and pencils with flick at side,
Fake beauty spot on your upper lip right or left corner
Large eyelashes, either use lash building mascara, or fake lash effect mascara or use false eyelashes. Get them done at a beauty salon with your nails, for evening nails use nail art, gems and jewelry or glitter polishes.

HOT MAKE UP TIP

Use pink blushers and if you have a glitter highlighter brush on your cheekbones and also on the outside of your eyes, your shoulders and chest.

What about lipstick?

Red and pink lip liner filled in with a color lip gloss in a matching shade.
Or red lipstick with a layer of clear lip gloss and lipstick
Use a lipstick sealant as well to stop your lip stick and lip gloss from running.

HOT MAKE UP TIP

For a natural tanned and glowing look using a matching color foundation with bronzers and highlighters for the eyes and your cheeks.

Use a gold lip liner and beige lip color with clear or tinted lip gloss over the top.

Any more ideas?

Leave comments and links to useful articles, magazine entries and blog posts.

Thanks for reading again.



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