Sites abound for all. Silver Dollar City is an amusement park, with water rides, roller coasters, and exciting shows. The food is delicious, the shows fantastic, and the rides thrilling. There is a water park nearby, where the kids can safely spend the day. Mom and Dad can shop in one of the three outlet malls located there, while they safely let the kids play in the waterpark.

Did I mention that there is a wonderful cavern located in Silver Dollar City which can be explored.  The temperature there is always a perfect 60 degrees. It is included in the park admission.

Silver Dollar City does not stay open at night, so if the adventurous want to have more amusement park, there is another park that opens only after Silver Dollar closes. It is called Celebration City and has some of the best food and rides in Branson.

Shopping is one thing that this city offers. Three outlet malls, The Landing in Downtown Branson, and other small unique shops are located there.

Shows are first class. There is a show there that is drawing crowds nightly. It is NOAH featuring live animals and a stage that is one of the technical wonders. Other acts include 50's music, country western music, and most other types of music. All are family orientated.  None would be objectional for even the youngest fan.

The weather there is comfortable, most times of the year. It sits on a hill and the view from any road is spectacular.

There is a fish hatchery that the kids would love.  The Titantic is a wonderful museum. Ride the ducks which go into

There are always different shows and performances that you can see. There are various singing and dancing groups. The diving show is always a crowd pleaser. You can hear a story being told by Santa Clause himself. The music shows vary from country, to gospel, to oldies, and even karaoke. You are sure to be entertained and have a few laughs no matter what show you decide to see.

Their wooden roller coasters consist of the Raven, the Legend, and the Voyage. The Voyage roller coaster has been voted number one wooden roller coaster in the planet. It's maximum speed is 67.4 miles per hour. The Raven is the first wooden roller coaster that was built at Holiday World. It was first introduced to the world in 1995, and has been loved by thrill seekers ever since. The Raven was named the number one wooden roller coaster on the planet from the year 2000 through 2003 and has remained a Top 10 coaster ever since. It is okay to scream, but be warned, there are hidden cameras that will take your picture and everyone can see after the ride is over!

Splashin' Safari is definitely the best water park that I have ever been to. There are many different water slides to go down. There are two large wave pools. You can be lazy and float around in an inner tube in the lazy river. You can race your friends by going down the Jungle Racer and seeing your times on a large screen. You will be able to slide, splash, laugh, climb, and "monkey around" in the new Kima Bay water fun park. The Monsoon Lagoon is similar. The Bahari is a larger wave pool with less intense waves than the original wave pool. The Zinga is a large slide where up to four people can ride in the same tube. You are in an enclosed slide, until you are slung into the large funnel. It is so much fun! The Zoombabwe, Watubee, the Bamboo Chute, and the Amazoom are other fun water slides. With the Otorongo, you have your choice of slides: the Oto, the Ron, or the Go.

The Raging Rapids and the Frightful Falls are two rides that will get you wet and cool you off outside of the Splashin' Safari. The Rapids will seat your eigtht and will take you around a little town that is full of suprises! The Frightful Falls is a log ride that goes up high, and drops you fast. Be sure to smile; your picture is taken in the middle of the fall. You will definitely get wet in both of these rides.

The Liberty Launch is like the reverse of other theme park's Hellevator. In the launch, hydrolics launch you up high into the sky. Paul Revere's Midnight Ride looks like a large spider or octopus. Your cart will spin in circles as you go around, up, and down. The Scarecrow Scrambler is a similar ride, but it does not go up and down. You can bump into someone you know, in the Rough Riders bumper cars, that is! There are also bumper boats. There are many different rides for the little ones to enjoy as well.

Be sure to visit one of the many gift shops. Hungry? You have many options of food, from Mexican, to pizza, to burgers, to chicken strips, dippin dots, funnel cakes, ice cream cones, and just about everything else you could crave.

Thrills, chills, sun, and fun: that is what you can expect by going to Holiday World. There is fun for the entire family, no matter what age or interests. There are shows, roller coasters, trains, the Holidog, rides, water, and yesSanta himself. The only thing missing is you! There are lifeguards and slide attendants on duty at all time for your safety. All of this fun, for one low price. What is better than that?! So what are you waiting for? Come on down to Santa Claus, Indiana and visit Holiday World and Splashin' Safari.

Solvang is a city dotted with windmills, quaint Danish shops, restaurants, antique stores, and more recently wine tasting rooms from local wineries. Some shops that I have always enjoyed visiting are Rasmussens, where you can find a variety of items for your home; Berengaria, a wonderful clothing and gift store where the staff is always friendly, helpful, and informative; Edelweiss, and Jule Hus, Inc., a year round Christmas shop filled to bursting with wonderful ornaments and decorations some of them handmade. One of my great, great, great grandparents opened the first bakery in Solvang. A great place to find out about Solvang's history is the Elverhoj Museum of History & Art . While in Solvang you should visit the Hans Christen Andersen Park and the Solvang Park , take a ride on the horse drawn trolley and browse the many stores while you stroll the streets.

Solvang - the name is a Danish word meaning "sunny field" - was founded in 1911 on 9,000 acres of former Spanish land grant. To the small group of Danish settlers, refugees from Midwestern winters, the area must have looked like heaven. It was a group of Danish educators who founded Solvang and they immediately went to work building a Danish folk school.

In 1914 the school moved to newly constructed Atterdag College, where students learned the basics and a love of Danish culture. Atterdag College is gone, but it's spirit still infuses the town.

In 1936, on Solvang's 25th birthday, the future Danish king and queen visited, sparking interest in the local colony and the local annual festival known as Danish Days.

Visit Solvang Sept. 19 th through the 21 st for Danish Days where you can enjoy a parade, music, dancing, traditional foods, folk art demonstrations, singing, games, aebleskive eating contests, akvavit tasting, and more. Visit the Solvang Visitors website for more information on this wonderful place to visit. Before you leave you must stop in to Gaveaesken (The Gift Box) and get yourself a handmade Nisser. Nisser are adorable little Skandinavian elves. Ask the clerk about the story behind these little guys and then take one or two home with you! I have 12 of them, myself! You may also want to visit the nearby Santa Ynez Valley while you are staying in Solvang. Enjoy your visit and hope you come back soon!

You don't have to drive! Hah, sit back, enjoy that margarita while you take in the great music and the warm sun, and let someone else get you to your next destination! Your biggest concern will be which deck do you want to sit on and what will you have at the buffet this time!

Almost everything is included in the price! So, now you look at the price of your cruise, factor in the length of time you will be cruising, then realize that your price includes, your stateroom, your food, your entertainment, and well, except on some shore excursions, your transportation! All you have to pay for are drinks, any gambling you do in the Casino, items you purchase in the duty free shops, and if you have the children with you and you want a night alone, babysitting services and spa treatments. Most cruise lines have a kids camp that is free for everyone during the day but charges a babysitting fee from around 9 p.m. to as late (or early) as 3 a.m. You get excellent food, live entertainment, the chance to meet new people, and a comfortable room for the entire length of your stay!

Wonderful destinations! This is an excellent opportunity to see places in the world that you might never see otherwise. Want to see Alaska? The Bahamas? The Mexican Riviera? How about Europe? Or, what the heck, take a world cruise! Okay, so the world cruise is a little excessive, unless of course you can get a whole year off of work. “Bye guys! I'm on vacation! See you in a year! I'll send you a post card from Italy!” I wish! Anyway, taking a cruise vacation gives you the chance to see areas of the world without the worry about international flights, car rentals, and everything else. Unless you are taking a European cruise, most cruises leave from ports right here in the United States. Go ahead, search for cruises online, you will find a large number of cruise lines and destinations that might even leave from your own backyard! So far I have been to Baja Mexico and the Mexican Riviera. We plan to go to Alaska in the next few years and I would love to take a Caribbean cruise sometime too.

Great for the whole family! It used to be when you thought of taking a cruise, you would think of shuffleboard, and sitting around doing very little. Well, not anymore. Cruise ships have developed some of the most exciting activities for the whole family. You can climb a rock wall, go down a waterslide, try out a surfing pool ( yes, you can actually surf in this awesome new pool!), play golf, tennis, run the track, play fun games with an activities director, and lots more! The funniest game I think I've ever watched on board was the men's hairiest leg competition! And that's only outside! Inside, you've got the Casino, karaoke, dance clubs, card rooms, internet cafes, forum shops, game shows that you can watch or participate in, live music, and more. Got the kids? Check out the arcade, the kids camps, some cruise lines even have a movie theater, for teens there are teen only dance clubs where no adults except the staff are allowed. You can rent Gameboys and strollers as well. Oh yeah, and then there is the spa. You can get your hair done, get a facial, get a massage, get your teeth whitened, or you can exercise in the sports club! Want to see some of these activities for yourself? Carnival Cruise Lines has a fun virtual website you can check out called Funship Island.

Last but not least, Towel Animals! You can have so much fun with these towel animals! Leave a pair of sunglasses in your stateroom in the evening and just see what those creative people with do with them! Have a favorite animal you want to see? Just ask your room steward, you just might be surprised when you turn in for the night.

Each night you cruise you get a different animal! We have had, elephants, snakes, dogs, cats, monkeys, and more! They even made a cow for our relatives staying next door at our request! Have fun with it but remember to leave out a pair of sunglasses and maybe even a hat.

Still not sure? Well, I guess you will just have to go on one. Take a short 3 or 4 day cruise for your first time just in case you don't like it. Remember though, if you do like it, go again and again and again. A little secret, repeat cruisers get higher status each time they cruise. With Carnival, when you get to Platinum status, you get priority everything! They also have this fun thing for repeat Carnival cruisers called a repeaters party. Free drinks, as many as you want, for a half an hour plus great entertainment! So what are you waiting for? Get out there and have fun! Maybe we'll run into each other sometime!

Gardens

The park is set in acres of beautifully tended mature gardens and for anyone with green fingers, the quality and variety of plant life is breath taking.

No matter how busy the park gets, you can always find a pretty secluded area in the gardens to eat lunch and enjoy the views.

So even if you have no interest in theme park rides, Alton Towers is still a wonderful place for a visit.

The Tower

The tower (which dates back to the 8 th century) looms impressively in the distance as you enter the park, it remains a semi ruin with the “Hex” ride being located in part of the ruin.

Top 10 Rides

1. Oblivion

   This is the most terrifying ride with a colossal vertical drop. Strapped in, you ascend the track slowly, the car then dangles you face first over the vertical drop before letting you go. I have never managed to keep my eyes open on this ride - the terror is just too great

2. Rita Queen of Speed

   A short ride with a long queue - but worth the wait with an indescribable buzz as the car reaches speeds of 100mph in 2.5 seconds. Tip - check your eye makeup when you get off this ride, it is likely to end up somewhere around your ears.

3. Air

   The most genuinely enjoyable experience - Strapped, and tipped forward to face the ground, the ride glides at high speed around the track - taking you high into the air, giving you the sensation of free flying. You cannot fail to feel exhilarated on this ride.

4. Nemesis

   Just a top class roller coaster - surrounded by imaginative, eye-catching enhancements, as you are swooped over the river of blood.

5. Duel

   Not the fastest of rides, but you are driven through a haunted house, full of creepy creatures, armed with a light gun which keeps score of your hits - enabling you to compete with your family and friends. Top fun.

6. Runaway Mine Train

   Fast, furious and great fun rollercoaster, fabulously adorned to inspire the imagination.

7. Congo River Rapids

   In a round boat, you are sent careering down the river, bashing the sides, spinning beneath waterfalls. Prepare to get wet.

8. Ug Swing

   A great favourite for the children. Individual swings which rotate and rise high into the air.

9. Hex

   This ride takes advantage of the towers history and genuinely spooky décor. Hex relates the tale of the curse of the old oak and you experience a disorientating and stomach churning ride at the end.

10. Submission

    A swinging boat which takes you that little bit further - before you know it, you are dangling upside down. Tip - Women in low cut tops - beware, you may expose more than you want to.

 

I challenge anyone not to enjoy a day out at Alton Towers!

We were not allowed around the embassies for the rest of the trip. After that exciting journey we arrived at Finfine Restaurant Fluha at 5:30p.m., and we had a great dinner. After dinner we went to Addis Ababa National Museum. The museum told stories from pre-historic times to modern times. My favorite part in the museum was the Lucy skeleton which was found in 1974 and is also said to be 3.2 million years old. Once we went to our hotel it was 8:30p.m. so we went down to the pool at our hotel. While we were at the pool an Ethiopian couple was there. We started talking with them about Ethiopia and its history. They told us how the population has been growing a lot so there are housing shortages. Also poverty is spreading all over now, and how Islam is trying to take over the government. Once we finished our great conversation it was 10p.m. so we headed up to our room to go to bed.

We woke up this morning at 7a.m. Colton felt a lot better after that long rest. We went down to Gazebo Restaurant which is inside our hotel. About 7:50a.m. we rented a car at the Bole Airport Car Rental.

We drove down to the Awash National park and Game Reserve. It took us about 2 and half hours to get there. Once we got there we reserved a camping ground, and set up camp. At 10:20a.m. when we finished unpacking we started hiking. Our first hike we took was to Filwoha which has hot springs oasis in its groves of palm trees. While on the trail we past so much wildlife. We saw some gazelles, wild pig, and even a cheetah out in the distance. On the second trail we past the Awash River gorge in the south of the park which had some amazing waterfalls near the park headquarters.

Once we finished with the hikes we went to a museum to look around, and then to a small bar to have some lunch which were both by the campsites. Once we finished there we went to some hot springs we heard about from these other tourist group. Once we finished up with that long hard day we learned that Awash National Park is the oldest and most developed wildlife reserve in Ethiopia. We got back to our campsite around 8:30p.m., and went to bed. Tomorrow morning we will have to get up pretty early to catch our flight to South Africa.

We woke up at 9a.m. and drove Hotel Aloe Ridge where we had a great breakfast. While we ate we had a great view of a river gorge with a pleasant-sounding little waterfall. Once we finished breakfast at 10:30a.m. we went to a Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve. We drove throughout the reserve on a tour van with about 5 other people. We saw a bunch of rhino, lion, buffalo, hippo, wild dog, cheetah, and crocodile. Once we finished exploring the park at 3p.m. we stopped at the picnic tables at the park and we had lunch a great lunch. After lunch we drove around Johannesburg and neighboring cities for a while. While we were driving we were amazed at how in some places there were nice expensive homes, but then we went to another place where people had basically nothing at all. We were shocked at all the poverty. Once we got back to our hotel we got all showered and cleaned up because we got really dirty at the reserve. Once we were all cleaned up it was 6p.m., and we drove to Le Canard where we had dinner. Le Canard was a French Restaurant we discovered while we were driving around Johannesburg. When we finished dinner at 7:30p.m.we wanted to see what Johannesburg looks like at night. So we went to Carlton Panorama. Carlton Panorama is the 50th floor of the tallest building in Africa. It was amazing to look over the city at night. We could see forever it seemed like. Being at Carlton Panorama we should really see how Johannesburg has developed over the years. We finished looking around at Carlton Panorama at 8:30p.m., and then we drove to our hotel. We finally fell asleep at 9p.m. at our comfortable hotel.

We woke up today at 9a.m. to the sound of someone talking really loud in some weird language outside of our hotel room door. Later we found out that they were speaking Amarigna, and 32.7% percent of the population speaks it. Once we finished getting ready we walked to a small pub to grab breakfast. Then off we were around 10a.m. to go to Tiya witch is a little south of Addis Ababa. What we learned about Tiya was that it is among the most important of the roughly 160 archaeological sites discovered so far in the Soddo region. The site contains 36 monuments, including 32 carved stelae covered with symbols.

They are the remains of an ancient Ethiopian culture whose age has not yet been determined. We had such a great time. Neither of us has been to an archaeological site before. When we finally got back to our hotel it was 6p.m. While we were on the Tiya trip Colton drunk some water from a water fountain, and tourists aren't supposed to drink they're water or food. So Colton felt pretty sick, and we stayed in the hotel for the rest of the night. During that time we were in our hotel room we read books about Ethiopia, and we learned how Islam is the region's main religion. Also Orthodox Christianity being another main religion in the region. We finally fell asleep around 9p.m.