A Few of Our Favorite Places
By
Sharon
McKarns and Kendra Thornton
With all the great options
available for travel these days it can be difficult to choose where to go and
what to do when you get there. Some of the best places I have visited were
recommendations from friends, fellow bloggers, and travel experts who have been
through the trenches looking for that perfect trip or outing. Travel expert
Kendra Thornton and I thought it would be fun to share some of our favorite
places with you.
Family Fun on the Strip by Kendra Thornton
Las Vegas is both a great place
to live and a spectacular destination for a family vacation. There is literally
so much to do here that you might find yourself feeling a little torn about
what to experience next. Don't waste a single minute of your trip trying to
decide.
Learn to Golf Like Tiger Woods
When my husband and his buddies
tried this, they had a great time! Tiger’s swing coach, Butch Harmon himself,
teaches the Butch Harmon School of Golf
in the Rio Secco Golf Club. While his expert staff heads most classes, Mr.
Harmon teaches in person once per year in three-day stretches. This activity
can be purchased along with a stay at Caesar's Palace, and transportation is
included. It's an ideal surprise for the man in your life, and it gives you an
excuse to hit the spa!
Unique and Interesting Museums
Despite the plethora of casinos
and bars, Las Vegas isn't lacking in the finer things. With a variety of unique
and interesting museums to visit, you'll find it easy to get your culture fix.
My kids really enjoyed the Discovery
Children's Museum. I particularly enjoyed the Neon Museum downtown, which
is an outdoor attraction designed like an artistic junkyard. It features
walkways, ramps and stairways that do a great job of highlighting the city's
neon tradition. Another great place to visit is the National Atomic Testing
Museum, only 65 miles from the Nevada nuclear test site.
Rock Star Mini Golf
My children are huge fans of
miniature golf, and I love taking them to new and interesting courses. Although
Myrtle Beach features pirates and dinosaurs, Las Vegas is home to Monster Mini
Golf's KISS course, a tribute to one of America's greatest rock bands. Here,
you'll find 18 holes of KISS-themed glow-in-the-dark indoor mini golf. The
course consists of monstrous electric guitars, an animated imitation of the
group and a 12-foot Gene Simmons head to putt the ball into.
Family Vs. Food
Las Vegas affords ample
opportunity to engage in your own version of Man vs. Food, so be sure to come
very, very hungry. In the BRAND Steakhouse at the Monte Carlo, you can choose
to take on a whopping 7.5 pounds of steak, which comes with two special sauces
and a side dish. At a staggering $250, you have every incentive to finish it
all, because it's free if you do. The Monte Carlo also offers another
challenge: an 8-pound burger. It's so much fun to watch people test their
mastication mettle with these delicious challenges!
Las Vegas is truly a unique place
with one of a kind attractions and restaurants. Even the hotels are unique and
new ones are being built seemingly everyday. With so many options of places to stay,
sites like Gogobot make it easy to read user reviews so you can find the
perfect hotel for you and your family.
Beauty and Adventure in the Red Rocks
by Sharon McKarns
As one of my favorite
places to visit, Sedona, Arizona has something to offer everyone. There is plenty to do to keep you amazed,
entertained and challenged during your visit to this unique, world class
destination. You can bask in the glory of a beautiful sunset as it reflects off
the majestic red rocks of Sedona, or you can enjoy one of these great
activities:
The
Verde Valley Wine Trail
Sedona is a great
starting point to indulge your passion for wine in Northern Arizona. You can
visit one of several exceptional wineries in the region including Alcantara Vineyards, Page Springs Cellars, Oak Creek Vineyards, and Javelina Leap Vineyard and Winery. All four stops offer a unique variety of
wines to satisfy any taste. Consider
taking a tour with your girlfriends, or quench your palate with that special
someone in your life. The Verde Valley
Wine Trail makes for a great day or weekend!
The
Verde Canyon Railroad
 |
| Verde Canyon Railroad |
Slide Rock State Park
Beat the heat as you experience the exhilaration of cool mountain water thrusting you down the natural rock water slide at Slide Rock State Park, in Oak Creek Canyon, Arizona. Just a short drive from Sedona, Slide Rock is a thrilling way to spend the day with family and friends. Pack a picnic and enjoy the picturesque surroundings of northern Arizona. Don’t forget to take your bathing suit and a pair of water shoes. You’ll be glad you did. If you go, plan to arrive early as the park often fills to capacity.
Sedona is a scenic, extraordinary destination with noteworthy resorts, restaurants and activities. Visitors from all over the world savour the beauty of the red rocks and all that northern Arizona has to offer.
Now that we have shared a few of our favorite places, feel free to comment and share some of your favorite places. We would love to hear from you.
Contributing writer, Kendra
Thornton, appears as a travel expert on television stations across the country
to offer travel tips and deals to millions of people every year. She makes regular
appearances on ABC, NBC and CW stations in major cities such as New York, Los
Angeles and Chicago. She has also made special guest appearances on The Nate
Show, Fine Living Network and The Tyra Banks Show. Her firm, Thornton Public Relations LLC,
is an independent,
boutique public relations firm providing personal service and proven results.
The agency’s distinguished work ethic and deep industry knowledge have earned
it credibility with the media and respect from industry leaders. Contact Kendra
Thornton at:mail@thorntonpr.com
Sharon McKarns is a travel
writer eager to explore the world and share her travel experiences. Her goal is
to pack her blog with interesting stories, beautiful pictures and useful travel
information. Guest bloggers/contributing writers are encouraged to contact
Sharon at travelpacked@gmail.com. She is also on twitter: @travelpacked1.
