Comments on Vacation Spots

Earlier, I wrote about being stuck in the Atlanta airport and suggested that instead of trying to rush through the airport you instead spend the night and enjoy the city.  But where to stay? You might consider The Glenn Hotel.

Sure, you could stay at the standard chain hotels but they will look the same as the ones in your own hometown and all you will really get is a decent bed (maybe). The Glenn Hotel is different. It is designed to be a "boutique" hotel and is not like any chain hotel that you ever stayed in.

The Seas with Nemo & Friends is one of the few pavilions in EPCOT that is so obviously themed after a Disney brand.  The pavilion was originally called The Seas but the success of the Nemo movie put a strong brand on the property even to the point of changing the name. Other pavilions in the park will feature a Disney character or brand but only this pavilion has taken the branding to this edge.

Depending on the day that you visit EPCOT, The Wonders of Life Pavilion may not be opened.  The last 2 times my family vacationed in Orlando, we were unable to enjoy this exhibit so I am hesitant to write much about it. Evidently, the pavilion is only open during particularly busy times or perhaps when other pavilions are closed for renovation.

I also suspect that the pavilion is used for more corporate events where a visiting company or association will rent out the pavilion for an evening after the park has closed.

The Land is on the west side of the FutureWorld part of EPCOT. It, traditionally, has not been the most highly sought after pavilion but due to its new remodeling it has re-emerged as a "can’t miss" property.

The big reason to make sure your day includes The Land is the attraction Soarin’ which was added just a couple years ago. The attraction sends you on a sweeping flyover above California for a birds-eye view of the rich landscape and topography.  The unforgettable experience combines cinematic artistry and state-of-the-art motion base technology. You are lifted inside a giant projection screen dome and completely surrounded with the beauty and wonder of the state of California as you fly over the Golden Gate Bridge, the Redwood forests, Napa Valley, Yosemite and more. The free-flight experience intensifies as you feel the sweeping winds and smell fragrant orange blossoms and pine trees.

Okay, no one really wants to visit the Atlanta airport but the saying still stands that whether you are going to heaven or hell, you have to transfer in Atlanta.

So what do you do if you are stuck in the Atlanta airport for a layover? If you are a frequent flier, then you should probably invest in a membership at one of the airline clubs. That is easily the most comfortable way to deal with a 4 hour layover.

When you are done visiting the Statue of Liberty, continue your tour by going to Ellis Island. While not as majestic and inspiring as Miss Liberty, your heart will likely be touched by the humanity of the museum.

Ellis Island is a symbol of America’s immigrant heritage. From 1892 to 1954, this immigrant depot processed the greatest tide of incoming humanity in the nation’s history. Nearly twelve million landed here in their search of freedom of speech and religion, and for economic opportunity.

Today, over 40 percent of America’s population can trace their ancestry through Ellis Island.

There are few places in the US that speak to the soul of the country like the Statue of Liberty. It must be one of the most recognizable statues in the world and American citizens are proud of what the statue stands for.

Located on a 12 acre island, the Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World was a gift of friendship from the people of France to the people of the United States and is a universal symbol of freedom and democracy. The Statue of Liberty was dedicated on October 28, 1886, designated as a National Monument in 1924 and restored for her centennial on July 4, 1986.

If you are visiting Palo Alto, CA and want to stay at a beautiful hotel that is not modeled after the multiple chain hotels that dot our country, then the Stanford Park Hotel is a great place to stay.

The hotel has a significant amount of character. The lobby is very comfortable featuring a massive fireplace and overstuffed furniture. In the evenings, you may be blessed with a glass of fine wine and delicious cookies.

Walt Disney’s various parks in Orlando are obviously the big attraction in town but they are seeing real competition from this park. Islands of Adventure is a much more active and has more thrill-seeking, adventure loving appeal to offer its visitors.

When you enter the park you will walk through the required shops and stores. You will have to dodge the photographers that want to catch the magical day on film. Once you have crossed through this wallet-emptying gauntlet, you are confronted by a choice:

• Go left for thrill rides that will rival any park in the US (yes, even Cedar Point in Ohio) OR

The Universe of Energy pavilion is one of the simplest attractions in the park, but this doesn’t diminish its ability to entertain and teach you and your family.

The main event starts in a large auditorium with multiple theatre screens. During this part, Ellen DeGeneres starts a dream sequence that stars Jamie Lee Curtis, Alex Trebek, and features Bill Nye, the Science Guy. This dream sequence has Ellen traveling back to the beginning of the universe, through the dinosaur age and then back to the present to learn about the creation of our present forms of energy.