1.  It’s fun and affordable. Who doesn’t like the thought of a road trip…leaving it all behind, going where the spirit takes you and not having to worry about finding a place to stay? There are motor homes (not to be confused with mobile homes) for every budget and style, ones you can tow or ones you can drive. Prices can range from $6,000 to $250,000 depending on how many people you need to sleep and how luxurious you want to be. You can choose an economical pop-up trailer and cook over a campfire or a state-of-the-art, true home away from home and cook in a gourmet kitchen. You can also rent, a good idea if you want to try before you buy. According to www.gorving.com, a family can save up to 59% and a couple up to 47% on expenses, depending on the RV they own.

2.  It’s hassle-free travel. There’s no schedule to keep to, no planes, trains, or buses to miss and no taking your shoes and belt off in the airport or having your hand lotion confiscated.  You don’t have to keep packing and unpacking and there’s never any question as to who slept in the bed before you or how clean the bathroom really is.  You can stop and see “The World’s Largest Ball of String” if you want or spend some time at the interesting fort you saw a sign for, one of my mother’s fondest pursuits.

3.  You can relax in nature. What better place to experience nature than in our National Parks and all of them are open to camping. You can have firsthand access to spectacular scenery and unspoiled wilderness. You can swim, hike, boat, birdwatch, nap in a hammock or whatever activity you like to do to revel in the outdoors. You can spend time just being with the family in an unhurried, healthful atmosphere. And to make sure the environment stays unspoiled, RV travel can be “green” when you use low-water toilets, take quick showers, put all waste water in the holding tank and properly dispose of it at a dump station, don’t tie anything to trees or bushes and recycle what you can.

4.  You can travel with your pet. If you’re a pet owner, you know the hassle of arranging for animal care while you’re gone, the expense of boarding, and the stress it puts on your pets when you leave them. With RV travel you can bring them along. Be sure to send us your pictures for our Travel and Pets blogs.

5.  You can pretend you’re a recording star or pro golfer. Ok, so I just made that up. But many celebrities such as Loretta Lynn, Michael Douglas and Matthew McConaughey are RV owners that use their vehicles for business and pleasure.

Your library has books to give you information and help you plan your RV trip. Check these out:

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Try these DVDs to help put you in the mood:

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Wooden roller coasters have been around since the late 1800s, while tubular steel track became popular in the 1960s.  Since then, coaster fans have been arguing which is better.  Roller coaster designers are always striving to create the longest and the tallest coaster…even coasters with the most inversions (points where the coaster trains are upside down).

Here is a list of some of the record-breaking coasters in the United States:

TALLEST STEEL COASTERS (also longest steel coaster drop)

Kingda Ka-Six Flags Great Adventure (Jackson, NJ)-456 ft high (418 ft drop)

Top Thrill Dragster-Cedar Point (Sandusky, OH)-420 ft high (400 ft drop)

TALLEST WOODEN COASTERS

El Toro-Six Flags Great Adventure (Jackson, NJ)-181 ft high

The Voyage-Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari (Santa Claus, IN)-163 ft high

LONGEST WOODEN COASTER DROPS

El Toro-Six Flags Great Adventure (Jackson, NJ)-176 ft drop

Outlaw Run-Silver Dollar City (Branson, MO)-162 ft drop

LONGEST STEEL COASTERS

Millennium Force-Cedar Point (Sandusky, OH)-6,595 ft long

California Screamin’-Disney California Adventure (Anaheim, CA)-6,072 ft long

LONGEST WOODEN COASTERS

The Beast-Kings Island (Mason, OH)-7,359 ft long

The Voyage-Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari (Santa Claus, IN)-6,442 ft long

AMUSEMENT PARKS WITH THE MOST COASTERS

Six Flags Magic Mountain (Valencia, CA)-18 coasters

Cedar Point (Sandusky, OH)-16 coasters

Kings Dominion (Doswell, VA)-14 coasters

Carowinds (Charlotte, NC)-13 coasters

Kings Island (Mason, OH)-13 coasters

Six Flags Great Adventure (Jackson, NJ)-13 coasters

Six Flags Great America (Gurnee, IL)-13 coasters

Be sure to visit the Travel Neighborhood for more information on these and other Roller Coaster vacations.

Do YOU have a favorite Roller Coaster or Amusement Park?

Cape Town Beaches

Cape Town is known for its beautiful beaches, including the False Bay Beach, the Atlantic Seaboard beaches, and the West Coast beaches. False Bay has a beach the runs the entire length of False Bay. The Atlantic Seaboard is known for its expensive homes due to its facing the west allowing residents to view the sunset from the comfort of their homes every day. The West Coast is known for its amazing conditions for surfing.

Victoria & Alfred Waterfront

The Victoria & Alfred Waterfront is located in Cape Town’s harbor and is the most popular tourist destination in South Africa. Construction of the harbor began in 1860 under the instructions of Prince Alfred and was named in honor of himself and his mother. It offers both sea and mountain views due to its being located between the Table Mountain and Robben Island and is a popular location for shopping.

Table Mountain

Table Mountain is a flat-topped mountain located near Cape Town, reaching an elevation of 3,558 ft. Visitors are offered the option of hiking the mountain or taking a cable car to the top. The mountain is a World Heritage Site and is home to approximately 2,200 different types of plants, with many of these species of plants being found only on Table Mountain and nowhere else.

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden

The Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden is located near the foot of Table Mountain and is known for cultivating only indigenous plants. The land on which the Garden is located was given to the country in 1902 and was studied in 1911 by Henry Harold Pearson to determine if it would be able to serve as a botanical garden. In 1913, the land was officially set aside to become a botanical garden with a budget of 1,000 pounds, but no funds set aside for a director’s position, so Pearson accepted the position without pay. When he passed away in 1916, he was buried in the Garden. the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden is one of nine National Botanical Gardens in South Africa. The Kirstenbosch has many trails that lead visitors up and along the nearby Table Mountain.

Want to learn more about South Africa? Simply search “South Africa” in your library’s catalog.

What sites would YOU like to visit in South Africa?

Photo credit for Cape Town Beaches

Photo credit for Victoria & Alfred Water Front

Photo credit for Table Mountain

Photo credit for Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden

Photo credit for featured photo

The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism is a great resource for those wanting to travel about Kansas looking for the perfect camping/fishing spot.  On their website you can learn about Mined Land Wildlife Area in Pittsburgh, Ks.  The majority of this land was surface mined for coal from 1924 all the way into the 1970′s.  So in addition to the fishing, camping, wildlife viewing and mushroom picking you can do at Mined Land Wildlife Area, you can also see Big Brutus, an eleven million pound coal shovel that is open to the public.

Another campground that’s said to be one of the best in Kansas is at Pomona State Park located in Vassar, KS.  The lake came into exsistence thanks to the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers and the park is in an area with historical connections to the Santa Fe Trail.  Pomona State Park is only 30 miles south of Topeka and has a great family atmosphere.  It has over 200 primitive camp sites and 142 utility sites.  While camping you can acess many recreational activities, such as three hiking trails, the swim beach, volleyball and basketball courts, horseshoe pits and a nine-hole disc golf course.

Depending on the individual parks and campsites, some will charge a daily fee for camping.  And if you are planning on doing some fishing, don’t forget to pick up your fishing permit.  If you are between the ages of 16 to 74, this permit will cost you about $20 and will expire on December 31st.  You can also purchase temporary or lifetime permits for a different price.  Go to http://www.kdwpt.state.ks.us/news/Fishing/Fishing-Application-and-Fees to find specific details about fishing permits in Kansas.

Hopefully you get to enjoy the summer, whether you are out of school for 3 months, or just making the best of the weekends.  Don’t forget to stop by the library to check out our books about camping and fishing, and to snag a few of your favorite novels to read while you’re waiting for the fish to bite!

Photo credit: Express-Times File Photo | Bill Adams

Heading out of town with your beloved four-legged companion can be a challenge.  Make your outing a little easier and check out AAA’s Traveling with Your Pet 2013 guidebook, a quality resource to help you locate pet-friendly lodging around the country.  If you’re doing your own research, read the pet policy details and contact the lodging facilities to ask specific questions before you book your reservation.  Some hotels proudly promote their pet-friendly accommodations but have weight limit restrictions, charge additional fees, and are strict about pets left unattended in the room while you cruise the town or backcountry.  And remember the Pets Neighborhood.  It’s where you can find great books to teach you how to train your pet.  Plan ahead and everyone will be happy!

photo: Kim and Anna on Cottonwood Pass in Colorado

http://susanpolgar.blogspot.com/2013/03/see-iceland-in-completely-different.html

Michael Clinton began his journey to globetrotter status in his teens and has been to 122 different countries, some of them multiple times. Currently he is the president, marketing and publishing director of Hearst Magazines, so he has lots of opportunities to further his travel experiences. This is his sixth book and it has garnered many great reviews from the travel community. A self-described “history buff and outdoorsy-type,” he brings a buoyant, enthusiastic quality to his writing that is interesting and uplifting.

The book is divided into lots of essays about places, experiences and topics like whether to travel alone or in a group and what to do if you leave something on a plane. One of my favorites is “Excuse Me, Have You Seen Indiana Jones?” where he reveals his hero worship of the adventurous archeological professor and the inspiration for a trip to Peru. Another is “Long Iceland Days” where he describes a beautiful country as well as a trip to the volcano and the puffin islands. Besides the super travel tips he sprinkles throughout his stories, there are tips from other World-Class Globetrotters after each essay.

www.icelandnaturally.com www.icelandreview.com

Michael Clinton photo credit:http://gotham-magazine.com/channels/personalities/insights/q-and-a-michael-clinton-talks-travel-savvy

Check out all these great travelogues:

Bay to Breakers-San Francisco, Ca May 19, 2013

Each year runners flock to San Francisco for this truly unusual footrace.  Since 1912, participants run 12 kilometers from east to west from the San Francisco Bay to the Pacific Ocean.  Although there are many serious participants (the course record being 33:31), hundreds embody the eclectic spirit of the city dressing in outrageous costumes (or, in some cases, no clothes at all!).  A memorable experience for both runners and bystanders.

For more information:  http://www.baytobreakers.com/

John Wayne Birthday Celebration-Winterset, IA May 24-25, 2013

This small Iowa town comes alive to celebrate the life of Hollywood Legend John Wayne. From tours of The Duke’s birthplace to pie contests to tours of his birthplace, there are plenty activities for the whole family.  Many of them free of charge!  This year, actress Maureen O’Hara (Wayne’s co-star in five films) will be on hand to meet fans and discuss her career.

For more information: http://www.johnwaynebirthplace.org/index.html

Chicago Blues Festival-Chicago, IL June 6-9, 2013

Originally organized to celebrate the life of the “Faher of Chicago Blues” Muddy Waters, this weekend festival has grown into one of the city’s largest music events.  Many of blues’ biggest names have performed at this event, entertaining thousands each year in both Millenium Park and the nearby Grant Park.

For more information: http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/dca/supp_info/chicago_blues_festival.html

National Strawberry Festival-Belleville, MI June 14-16 2013

Celebrate summer with a visit to this “strawberry wonderland”.  Things kick off with a parade, followed by a weekend of food, crafts, music and carnival rides.  Assorted strawberry treats abound, including the ever-popular Strawberry Shortcake.

For more information: http://www.nationalstrawberryfest.com/

Of course, you can find information on a variety of vacation destinations by visiting the Library’s Travel Neighborhood.  Happy Travels!

Museo Nacional del Prado

The Museo Nacional del Prado, known simply as the Museo del Prado, is the primary national art museum which is located in the central part of Madrid and is ranked first nationally and eleventh globally for visitors to the museum. Its construction began during the reign of Charles III, but was stopped at the end of his reign and was only started again by his grandson, Ferdinand VII.  This museum contains art from all over Europe from the 12th century to the 19th century. It contains works by Rembrandt, Raphael, Francisco de Goya, and Titian. The Museo del Prado currently has approximately 7,600 paintings, 4,800 prints, 1,000 sculptures, and 8,200 drawings.

Palacio Real de Madrid (Royal Palace of Madrid)

The Palacio Real de Madrid, or Royal Palace of Madrid, is the official residence of the Royal Family of Spain. The original palace that was built on the location was constructed in the 16th century. Among other things, it was home to an art gallery which housed artwork by such legendary artists as Leonardo da Vinci and Raphael, among other artists. However, this building was destroyed in a fire on Christmas Eve of 1734, which burned for four days. Some of the works of art were saved by people throwing them out the windows of the building. Also, shortly prior to the fire, the king had ordered a large portion of the art collection to be moved to another palace, thus sparing these priceless works from destruction. The new Royal Palace was planned and constructed beginning in 1760, with the Charles III moving into the palace in 1764. The building has been renovated and restored since the original construction. The Royal Palace contains the Sabatini Gardens, Campo del Moro Gardens, Royal Library, and the Royal Armoury. It is the second largest palace in Europe, second only to the Louvre Palace. In addition to the artwork located in the Royal Palace, it is also home to the only complete Stradivarius string quintet remaining in the world.

Puerta del Sol

The Puerta del Sol was originally one of the gates to the wall that surrounded the city of Madrid in the 15th Century. The area surrounding it has been an important place for people to meet as it was the destination for people going to the Post Office, where people were able to obtain the latest information and news. the Puerta del Sol contains the office of the President of Madrid , which is in the old Post Office, a statue of Charles III on a horse, and other famed locations. In recent years, the Puerta del Sol has also been a place of demonstrations for citizens to protest for democracy.

Auditorio Nacional de Musica (National Auditorium of Music)

The Auditorio Nacional de Musica, or National Auditorium of Music, was made up of several locations where concert are held. The Auditorio Nacional opened in 1988, as the city had decided that they needed to have a modern concert hall since they had not had one up to that point. The main concert all is the Sala Sinfonica, or Symphonic Hall, which can seat over 2,000 people and houses a large pipe organ. The smaller hall is called the Sala de Camara, or Chamber Hall, which can seat almost 700 people. There is also the Sala General del Coro, or General Choir Hall, which can seat over 200 people. The Auditorio also has several places were individuals and groups can meet to practice.

Let your Library help you plan your trip! You can find DVDs and books to help your plan for your trip by searching through the library catalog.

Photo credit for Museo del Prado

Photo credit for Palacio Real de Madrid

Photo credit for the Puerta del Sol

Photo credit for Auditorio Nacional de Musica

Photo credit for feature photo

Here are 10 ways to kick-start your long-awaited outdoor getaway:

1. Become an ecotraveler this spring.  According to the Nature Conservancy, ecotourism is “environmentally responsible travel to natural areas in order to enjoy and appreciate nature and accompanying cultural features (both past and present) that promote conservation, have a low visitor impact, and provide for beneficially active socio-economic involvement of local peoples.”  The spring edition of Prairie Fire has an excellent article about ecotourism in Nebraska and the Great Plains.
2. Pick up free copies of Kansas Outdoors and the official Kansas Travel Guide at the library.  Find out about lodging, hiking, camping, horseback riding, and where to take kids fishing.   While you’re in the library, check out a copy of Marci Penner’s 8 Wonders of Kansas Guidebook or the Kansas travel bag (both are in the Travel Neighborhood) and you’ll be set for your weekend getaway.
3. Go to Travel Kansas to find out when weekend festivals start.  Plan ahead–check for a Saturday morning farmer’s market in the area and arrive early.
4. Visit Kansas Cyclist to see a calendar of upcoming bike rides in the state.
5. Pack a picnic lunch and explore a state park or a National Wildlife Refuge you’ve not visited before.  Near Great Bend is the Quivira Wildlife Refuge and the Kansas Wetlands Education Center, which is across the highway from Cheyenne Bottoms.  KWEC offers educational programs and has a quality gift shop.  Take a detour on the way home and hike the Horsethief Canyon trails in Kanopolis State Park.  Across the border, Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge near Mound City, Missouri, and Weston Bend State Park are two superb wildlife viewing areas with hiking trails.
6. Enter the Kansas Birding Big Year competition hosted by the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism.  Take photos of your excursions (the towns you visited along the way, restaurants you liked) to share with friends and consider recording your wildlife observations in a journal.
7. Ask a friend to participate with you in one of the many 5K walk/run events happening in the region.
8. Stroll through the Overland Park Arboretum, Powell Gardens in Kansas City, or Wichita’s Botanica Gardens to get inspired to transform your own garden.   Arbor Day in Kansas is April 26, a reminder to plant a tree or donate toward ensuring a tree is planted where others will enjoy it.
9. How long has it been since you’ve seen the Kansas City Zoo or Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo?  Extend your zoological experience and check out the nature books in the library’s adult and youth sections (577-599), and mark your calendar for Zoo Animals Live, a fun, educational, and animal-focused event presented by Topeka Zoo staff the first Thursday of every month at 3:45 p.m. in the library.
10.  Challenge yourself to learn more about Great Plains ecology.  Visit the Flint Hills Discovery Center in Manhattan or the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve near Strong City and acquire a renewed appreciation of the unique and complex landscapes in our scenic state.

Enjoy the outdoors this spring, make an effort to travel with the environment in mind, and experience something new!

(photo credit:  bumblebee on buttonbush flower taken by author)

Schedule of Events | Cambio de horario
10:00 am & 1:30 pm – African-American Storyteller Rosalyn Carr, Native American Dancer Dennis Rogers & Hispanic Art and Culture with the Tonantzin Society | Narradora Africa-Americana Rosalyn Carr, Danzante Nativo-Americano Dennis Rogers y cultura hispana con La sociedad de Tonantzin

6:00 pm – Ballet Folklorico de Topeka, Phase Altered, Standing Bear Intertribal Brotherhood, Srividya Dasaraju/Middle Eastern Dancing, and Girasol, a local Mariachi Band | Ballet Folklorico de Topeka, Hermandad entre tribus “Standing Bear” (Oso parado), Srividya Dasaraju/Bailarinas Arabes y alegre Banda de Mariachi Girasol

This year El Dia is highlighting multiple cultures, including Mexican, Indian and Filipino, with performances and an assortment of booths, activities and crafts. There’s a free book to every family in attendance, while supplies last, along with a couple of door prizes to be awarded at the end of the program.

Someday, while on your long awaited trip to Mexico, you will want to take your English/Spanish dictionary. Make sure to learn several basic words such as help (ayudar), water (agua), and bathroom (bano) beforehand. Spanish is the most widely spoken language in Mexico, although the Mexican government does recognize 62 other indigenous languages. While preparing for your ”someday” trip to Mexico, come to the library to experience traditional Mexican folk dance and music through Girasol, a local Mariachi band and the dance group Ballet Folklorico de Topeka.

Maybe you’re dreaming of a trip to the Republic of the Philippines (customarily referred to as the Philippines). The Philippines is a chain of islands in the western Pacific Ocean.  The official languages are Filipino (sometimes called Tagalog) and English. If a trip to one of the thousands of miles of the Philippines beautiful coastlines isn’t in the budget, you can get a taste of one of the most popular and well-known of traditional Philippine dances, Tinikling. Tinikling involves two people tapping and sliding bamboo poles on the ground in coordination with dancers who step over and in between the poles in a dance. This performance is sure to draw a crowd.

Have you always been fascinated by the Taj Mahal, Hindi Cinema (commonly known as Bollywood), and the Hindu faith? India’s rich culture is quite the draw for travelers.  Being the second most populated country in the world, India has much to offer, including it’s traditional folk dance, which you can experience firsthand when you come to the public library on April 30 for El Dia de los Ninos!

Día was founded in 1996 by author Pat Mora to link children to books, languages and culture. Día means “day” in Spanish and is a family literacy initiative celebrated every year. It’s an opportunity for communities across the country to practice “DIA = Diversity in Action.” Learn more about this multicultural celebration here.  Hope to see you here April 30th!