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How to Travel the World by Cargo Ship
I have always wanted a collection of brown leather trunks with brightly colored stickers from all the world’s corners. They remind me of travelers in the early 1900s who spent days on the ocean in order to reach their destinations. Back then, arriving at the destination was as much a part of the trip as the destination itself. This story has some pointers for researching and planning your own adventure on the high seas… read more | digg story
For a family vacations, we decided to head for the beach. There are many beach options along the eastern coast; Myrtle beach, Ocean City, Virginia Beach and many others. 
We chose to go to the Outer Banks (OBX) in North Carolina. Now that we decided where to go, we needed a place to stay. Instead of picking a typical hotel to stay at, we chose to rent a house for the week. The house rental went smoothly over the Internet and we were able to easily check into the house once we got to Kitty Hawk. The house was spacious and well supplied with all the necessities for living. We just needed food and alcohol.
In 1903, the Wright Brothers went to the Outer Banks and made the first successful flight of an airplane. In Kill Devil’s Hills, there is the Wright Brothers National Memorial Park that is built on the exact site they made their historic flight. The park consists of a visitor’s center and pavilion. Atop the hill is a stone monument dedicated to the Wright Brother’s amazing feat.
When you think of the beach, you usually think of water sports. The Outer Banks is no exception, there are the beaches of course. But more then that are the many places you can rent Jet Ski’s Sailboats, surf boards, kayaks and many other things to do on the ocean or in the sound. Kitty Hawk Water Sports offered sailing lessons, so we jumped at the change to learn to sail. The lessons lasted for 2 hours and cost $99/ person or $149 for 2 people. The lesson was a great introduction to sailing and was very easy to learn for beginners.
The Outer Banks also offers many different cultural experiences. Roanoke Island was the first attempt by the British to found a colony in the New World. You can visit Roanoke Island Festival Park or watch the The Lost Colony outdoor drama. There are also many shops and galleries all along the island.
Other activities that you can do on the Outer Banks is Miniature Golf, Go-Karts, 4WD Off Road Adventures and Lighthouse visiting just to name a few.
The Outer Banks is a great place to spend a little time relaxing and getting away for awhile.
Useful Links:
The Coastal Explorer
http://www.thecoastalexplorer.com/
Great resource for finding out where to stay and what to do on the Outer Banks.
Kitty Hawk Water Sports
http://www.kittyhawkwatersports.com/
Wright Brothers National Memorial Park:
http://www.nps.gov/wrbr/index.htm
A Day or More at Catalina Island
“Twenty- six miles across the sea. Santa Catalina is a-waitin’ for me”. As the song goes, Santa Catalina Island is 26 miles off the coast of Southern California. There are a few shuttles that will take you from various harbors to the Island; Catalina Express and Karmel Shuttle are the major ones. 
Catalina Express offers over 30 daily trips to and from Catalina for about $60 round trip. The 1 hour 30 minute trip is the best way to visit Catalina. Catalina offers you to do everything… or nothing at all. For some it is snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking and fishing. While others may enjoy shopping, relaxing on the beach, horseback riding, or golf.
Departing the boat onto the pier, you will notice the many little shops and restaurants that line the shoreline. This is a great place to start for those who want to spend a little cash. Spend sometime browsing the stores before you begin off on your adventures.
Catalina offers much more then just shopping. There are many tours available for trips around the island. There is a glass bottom boat and a yellow submarine tour provided by Catalina Adventure Tours. These tours offer you a great view of the sea life that surrounds the waters of the Island.
Spend the Day at Kinzua Dam in the Allegheny National Forest
The Kinzua Dam is located 6 miles east of Warren, PA. The Kinzua Dam hold backs the water on the Allegheny River, which forms the Allegheny Reservoir. It is one of the largest dams east of the Mississippi River. The Allegheny Reservoir is a hot spot for outdoor recreation. We visited the Kinzua Dam in the late summer. Driving there, you see the wonderful wilderness that surrounds the road in the Allegheny National Forest. The forest is covered with many trees, it seems like millions. If you live in a big city, it is a sight not to be missed.
We arrived at the boat dock on the Allegheny Reservoir where we had planned on taking a boat out for the day. The dock is relatively small, which allows for not too much of a crowd. On the water, there is plenty of room to let the engines out, very little boat traffic. After a while, we decided to do what they call “tubing“. Tubing consists of an inflated tube attached to the back of the motor boat. The boat takes off and you just hang on for your life. The advice I was given, was to hold on tight. It was a great rush having the waves splashing against the tube and bouncing you from side to side and over the wake produced from the engines. After tubing, we anchored the boat and went swimming in the water. The water was a great temperature for a swim. We also were able to walk ashore and adventure. When the sun started to set, we headed back.
The Kinzua Dam is not only a place for boating and water activities. It also offers camping, hiking, ATVs, climbing and biking. In the winter, it also offers snowmobiling and skiing. It you like the outdoors, this is one place not to be missed.
