Anyone seeking a romantic destination would be hard pressed to find a more suitable location than the historical city of Savannah in America’s “Deep South”. Here you can find the beauty and “old south” charm and hospitality comfortably married to modern living in the form of renovated cotton warehouses which have been converted to bistros and small stores along the river side. The main historic remnants of the city can be found in the Garden District. Here you will find beautiful homes and parks that capture the imagination and soon have you picturing the Southern Belles holding court with their beaux – not to mention Sherman marching his troops through the streets as they traversed Georgia.

After checking into your accommodation, why not start your weekend of romance with a horse and carriage ride? Experience life in the slow lane and let the relaxed pace life synonymous with the Southern States seep through your soul as you listen to the gentle clip-clop of the horse’s hooves, and the locals exchanging pleasantries as you and your partner travel by. Perhaps your driver will entertain you with a commentary about the various buildings you pass, or a general history of this fascinating city. For example, you may be surprised to learn that one of the beautiful Christian-looking churches is actually a Jewish Synagogue – the story of how that came to be is an interesting insight into the way that Savannah was settled.

All the fresh air in the carriage will make you hungry and so supper must be next on the itinerary. How much more romantic can it get than to step back in time with a dinner and entertainment cruise on the Savannah River with the Savannah Riverboat Cruise company. Enjoy the freshly prepared supper buffet and the sounds of live entertainment under the stars. Visit their website at http://www.savannah-riverboat.com for prices and reservations information – be sure to check out their moonlight entertainment cruise for that extra bit of romance!

Next morning, take a trolley ride for a little more of Savannah’s cultural and historic past, or perhaps take to the water again on the Dolphin Magic dolphin watching cruise. Alternatively you could spend the day wandering through the City Market – a four block courtyard comprising shops, galleries and restaurants. The afternoon might be a great time for a visit to Tybee Island Light Station and Museum, or alternatively the birthplace of the Girl Scout founder Juliette Gordon Low. Sporting couples may prefer to spend their day playing a relaxing round of golf, or fishing for snapper or bass.

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Tonight do you dare to leave the real world behind and step into the underworld on a ghost tour? A tour, such as that offered by the Historic Tours of America will give a light-hearted narrative of the spirit world that lives in Savannah. Alternatively, take a moonlit walk along River Street – see the statue of the “Waving Girl”? Legend has it that the girl waved her boyfriend off as he left on a ship looking to make his fortune, and promised she would wait for him to return. Every time a ship came into the port, she would go down and wave a cloth to the ship so he would know she was there. He never came back and she died a spinster - a sad tale and just one of the many folk stories surrounding history of Savannah. Finish your evening with a touch of Hollywood – have a nightcap at Churchill’s Pub on Drayton Street. The English themed pub was featured in the movie “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil” – based on the novel by John Berendt about murder in a historic Savannah mansion.

Before leaving Savannah tomorrow, take the opportunity to just walk around the parks in the Historic District. Capture the serenity of ages past as you wander through trees laden with Spanish moss, or sit beside one of the many statues or fountains that grace these beautiful reminders of a bye-gone age.

The friendliness of the local people, the beautiful lovingly restored buildings, the well tended parks, and the never-ending feeling of sharing a part of history make Savannah a romantic place never to be forgotten.

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On the way back from a trip to Florida with our grandsons, my husband and I decided to stop in Washington, D.C., so the boys would be able to see the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial. The oldest boy had recently been interested in war and soldiers, so we thought this would be a great opportunity for the boys to see the reality of war.

The day we arrived in Washington, there was a cold wind blowing. We found a place to park and began our trek across the Mall to visit the Memorial. The oldest grandson had asked several times why the Memorial to those who died in Vietnam was called “The Wall.” As we walked towards it he could see that it literally was a wall of granite.

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As we approached, a woman and her two sons were standing by The Wall. They had laid flowers at the base under a list of names. She heard our grandsons asking questions about the men whose names appeared on the wall of granite. She turned, smiled and explained to our grandsons that her father had died in Vietnam. The oldest asked her which name was her father’s and she ran the tips of her fingers across one of the names. Brandon looked her in the eye and said, “I’m sorry that your Dad died in a war.”

At his words, tears flowed. The woman patted his shoulder and told him that her Dad had died a very long time ago and that she had never really known him. She had been only a baby when her Dad was drafted and sent across the ocean to fight.

As we walked along the wall, the boys expressed concern that there were probably many other kids that had never known the men whose names were etched on the wall. The expressed sadness that such a thing would ever happen. They couldn’t believe that there were so many men that had gone to a foreign country to fight and never returned home.

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Along the way were notes, flowers and objects that had been left for the men whose names were on The Wall. One elderly lady laid a single red rose at the base and wiped her tears. I shook my head and indicated to the boys that they shouldn’t ask any questions and how grieving is a very private thing that should not be intruded upon.

We visited the other memorials in the park and the boys were especially impressed with the Vietnam Women’s Memorial and also the Marine Corps Memorial. They thought it was great that all of the men and women who participated in the war were honored.

The boys talked to the son of a man who is an MIA. The man explained that his father went missing in Vietnam and he was never heard of again. The boys asked him if his father was dead and the man explained that no one knew. His father could be alive or he could be dead. There was no way of knowing.

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The wind picked up as we made our way along The Wall and back towards the car. It had been quite a learning experience for two young boys who had never been affected by war. It brought the reality of war to their attention having spoken to people whose lives were so greatly affected.

The boys realize that Grandpa and I grew up in the area of the Vietnam Conflict. They’ve both expressed that they’re glad that they didn’t have to fight in such a war. They believe that world peace is the answer. However, whether they realize it or not they are growing up in a world that is just as affected. Today, instead of having Vietnam, we have Afghanistan, Iraq and terrorist attacks.

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Cypress Gardens is a place Ive visited several times, so when my husband and I took our grandsons to Disney World, we decided to take them to our old haunt. The Gardens have changed a lot since we last visited. There were lots of new attractions, so we all enjoyed ourselves.

The boys enjoyed seeing the Southern Belles who were walking the grounds greeting and talking to visitors. The oldest couldnt believe that ladies at one time had to dress in those full skirts with stiff petticoats and a hoop underneath. He wanted to know how they sat down with all that stuff on. It was definitely a learning experience for him. One of the ladies stopped to talk to the boys and they enjoyed answering her questions about Canada. They both know a lot about their homeland and answered the questions with gusto.

After speaking to the Southern Belle, we proceeded to the water ski show. The boys were in awe of all the stunts that could be done on water skis and enjoyed the comical antics of the team.

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On our way toward the rides, we strolled through the Living Garden and it is aptly named. The fountain there includes a statue that comes to life. Sparkling, clear water cascades from her fingertips and the top of her head while she sings beautiful songs. This is an awesome attraction for both adults and children. It
s amazing to see a living person encased in what appears to be cement. The woman who was inside the costume couldn t walk under its weight and her headpiece was removed immediately when the show was over.
We watched the Gardens staff wheel her away on a moving dolly.

There are several shows available that we were unable to take in because of the damage from the hurricanes. This part of the Park that was hit was closed when we visited and the boys are anxious to return to see Pirates of Cypress Cove, Farmyard Frolics and Cypress Gardens on Ice, as well as the Plantation Gardens.

After seeing the spectacular performance in the Living Garden, we meandered along the Topiary Trail. The flowers and lawns here are magnificent. The boys lived watching the swans glide over the water with grace and beauty. The highlight of the Trail for me was the beautiful waterfall that cascaded over a rocky bluff into a tranquil pool that sparkled in the Florida sun. Flower gardens surround the waterfall and they are exquisite.

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Much to the boys delight, we arrived at the rides in Cypress Gardens Adventure Park. They enjoyed stepping into rubber rafts, traveling up a 50 foot conveyor belt and zooming down a gigantic waterslide. When they hit the bottom, water sprayed everywhere. They loved it and didn t get too wet. While in the Adventure Park the boys rode this ride four times and hated to lea
ve. The view of the Gardens from the top was breathtaking. They also enjoyed the roller coaster, bumper cars and a variety of other midway styled rides. Paradise Pier, where rides are found along an old fashioned boardwalk was also a favorite.

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Then it was off to see the animals. The boys gazed in wonder at Tarzan, a 75 year old alligator. They also loved the jaguar, Sheba, the Bird Aviary, the crocodiles from the Nile and a variety of other mammals and birds.

To make the day complete, we browsed through a few shops, picked up a couple of souvenirs and took our time walking toward the gates. The sun was sinking low on the horizon and it was time to leave the Gardens. The boys talked excitedly ab
out the wonders of the day on the trip back to our motel room.

Cypress Gardens is located between Orlando and Tampa in Winter Haven, Florida. Take Highway 4 to Highway 27 and head toward Winter Haven. Watch for signs. Cypress Gardens is a major tourist attraction and directions are well marked.

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Though reservations are not required, we bought our tickets in advance. We were asked to arrive an hour before the show, which seemed like a bit early with a nine and seven year old in tow. However, as soon as we got to Arabian Knights, we were able to go into the ring where we were greeted by the horses and their riders. The boys talked to the actors, petted the horses and asked for autographs, which were given without hesitation. The boys enjoyed themselves immensely, as did we.

An announcement over the PA system let us know when we were to take our seats and the horses and actors left the ring to pree for the show. All seats but a few VIP tables are bleachers with long tables installed. We sat in the front row of the bleachers where we were given menus. We had a choice of beef, chicken or a vegetarian meal. Everyone except the youngest boy chose the beef. He is a lover of chicken and that is what he ordered. Drinks were ordered and arrived promptly. We were all thirsty after a day in the hot Florida sun.

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When the lights dimmed, a mist rose over the arena and the Black Stallion galloped his way into the hearts of the audience. He is a magnificent specimen of horse flesh and you could tell that he is well loved and cared for.

Arabian Knights dinner show is a fairy tale re-enacted on horseback. The show includes the wedding of the Prince and Princess after the Prince summons the Black Stallion to protect them from an uninvited guest who crashes and threatens the wedding. The beautiful horse performs beautifully and saves the day. Invited guests to the wedding include gypsies with draft horses, a unicorn, Arabian horses with mounted Bedouins, a horse villain that has glowing eyes and a beautiful Native America Paint. A wide variety
of horse breeds are used in the show and everyone especially loved the American quarter horses. The group raced and lassoed their way into the hearts of the people.

Colorful costumes, beautiful horses and great actors combine to make the show a spectacular event. Small comical skits, square dancing on horseback and special visual and sound effects impressed the adults and were a source of delight to the kids.

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The food was a bit long in coming and the boys were getting impatient, as it was well after 7 pm and dinner had not yet been served. However, when it arrived it was well worth waiting for. The dinner is included in the admission price and drinks are constantly re-filled at no extra charge. Service was excellent once all of the meals were served. The dinner club is a very large venue and the amount of staff was incredible.

After the show actors sit on their horses and pose for photos or chat with the crowd. The finale is spectacular.

If you are in the area of Orlando, Florida, take a small side trip to the Arabian Knights dinner show. I highly recommend this venue for all ages and the grandsons rated it on the same level as Disney World. The show has won several prestigious awards over the years and I can see why. Itrquote s one of the best dinner shows Irquote ve ever seen.

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Arabian Knights is located at 6225 Irlo Bronson Highway, Kissimmee, Florida, about a mile from the entrance to Disney World, just off Highway 4. If you wish further information, call toll free 1-800-553-6116. Show times and ticket purchases
are available at this number.

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Colonial architecture dots the landscape offering a sampling of what the town looked like before its transformation into sophisticated resort life. Today, the landscape also includes a variety of European style hotels, small villas, and luxury condos available for vacationers.

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Water aficionados will love Puerto Vallarta and its myriad of opportunities to play in the water under the warm gaze of a bright sun. Surfing, sport fishing, and swimming are only some of the highlights of this gorgeous city. Whale watching and dolphin sighting provide a taste of native sea life while jungle tours provide a visit to the native wildlife found on the land.

Authentic Mexican cuisine featuring quesadillas, tacos, and more add to the experience of this gorgeous resort town. Fine dining can be had in a number of restaurants, cafes, palapas, and castles. In fact, Puerto Vallarta is known as the culinary capital of Mexico. Every November, fine dining connoisseurs descend upon the city to attend the annual Gourmet Dining Festival.

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The world famous Bay of Banderas, a horseshoe-shaped bay partially protected by the Sierra Madre Mountain Range, is home to forty miles of scenic coastline and pristine beaches, elegant resorts, luxury hotels, and more than a thousand restaurants. The South Side of the Bay of Banderas features a newer section of hotels and resorts known as the “Romantic Zone,” a veritable hot spot for honeymooners.

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The Marina Puerto Vallarta offers the European style hotels along with an 18-hole championship golf course, Mexico’s largest marina, luxury yachts, and sailing vessels. This modernized area is only about twenty years old and offers smooth roadways, an oceanfront boardwalk, sailing charters, fishing charters, and more.

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Tlalpan is located near one of the largest stadiums in the world, the Estadio Azteca where soccer games draw in tons of fans. At Perisur & Tlalpan, you’ll find the Montreal, Finisterre, Royal Pedregal, Via Veneto, Continental Plaza Pedregal, and the Radisson Paraiso.

Condesa, home to Mexico City’s middle class, provides daily opportunities to join the pedestrian traffic at a leisurely pace. It also contains a blend of family parks and activities with an exciting nightlife that includes cantinas, bars, and lots of music.

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Once upon a time, this area was home to the mansions of the well-to-do and now it is home to Art Deco buildings, tree-lined streets, and young artists. Col. Roma & Condesa includes a nice assortment of hotels such as the Roosevelt, Marbela, Lisboa, La Casona, Bonampak, California, Ambos Mundos, and the Parque Ensenada.

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Paseo de la Reforma includes hotels and resorts like the Four Seasons, Imperial Reforma, Jena, Casa Blanca, Aristos, Corinto, Emporio, Marquis Reforma, and Crown Plaza. This area is home to an amazing conglomeration of art galleries, awesome monuments, and fashionable shops.

Norte & Tlalnepantla includes such glamorous hotels as the Best Western Marнa Barbara, Fiesta Inn Perinorte, Fiesta Inn Naucalpan, Fiesta Inn Tlalnepantla, Holiday Inn Naucalpan, Plaza Lancaster, and the Holiday Inn Lindavista. The Airport area offers fine hotels such as the Aeropuerto, Aeropuerto Plaza, Hilton Aeropuerto, Holiday Inn Oriente, and the Marriot Aeropuerto.

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Insurgentes Sur & WTC features the Gran Sol, El Cid, Flamingos Plaza, Suites Batia, Vermont, Royal Pedregal, Suites del Parque, and El Diplomбtico. Chapultepec & Polanco features the Nikko Mйxico, Del Bosque, Polanco, J.W. Marriot, Park Villa, Residencia Polanco, and the Presidente Inter-Continental.

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The very size of Mexico City leads to an extremely diverse array of hotels, resorts, Bed & Breakfasts, and villas to vacation in while there. In fact, depending upon which of the locations you select to book your stay, your opportunities for leisure activities and dining pleasure will vary.

Centro Histуrico is the original downtown section of the city and it is located near Zona Rosa. It is a city with architectural styles ranging from baroque to neoclassical to Italiante to Art Deco to contemporary. In addition to the government buildings located there, one will find cultural opportunities as well as shopping activities.

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This section features such fine hotels as the Metropol, Ritz, Gillow, Fontan, Holiday Inn Zуcalo, Catedral, Majestic-Best Western, and the Gran Hotel. Each of these fine hotels offers luxury accommodations and excellent service.

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Zona Rosa, located close to the downtown area, is a place of streets with European names, French-style architecture, popular bars, street vendors, unique jewelry stores, and antique shops. Its name means the Pink Zone or Rose Zone as it is sometimes called. During the late 1960s, a number of fashionable shops and restaurants, all painted in varying shades of pink, began to appear in this area beginning what was to become a posh commercial district.

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This area offers a number of 4 and 5 star hotels for a stay of any number of days. Some of these hotels include such places as the Royal Zona Rosa, Plaza Florencia, Four Seasons, Galeria Plaza, Fiesta Americana Reforms, and the Sheraton Maria Isabel. In fact, the luxury of these hotels is so grand that you might find it difficult to pull yourself away long enough to get out and do a bit of sightseeing or shopping.

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An interesting historical highlight involving the cardуn cacti took place in 1992, when Mexico sent a 45-foot tall 150 year-old living cardуn cactus from the Valley of the Giants on a transatlantic voyage to Seville in Spain to honor the 500th anniversary of the “discovery” of the Americas in 1492 by Cristobal Colуn (also known as Christopher Columbus). Oddly enough, the journey of this impressive ambassador cactus was far from easy and its trip to Spain was initially plagued by such problems as: its lifting cranes breaking cables and getting stuck in the sand, and its transport truck breaking down and waiting days on the highway for repairs.

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Nevertheless, despite the obstacles, the cactus eventually made it to Seville, roots and all, where it was installed in a place of honor, although reportedly its information plaque incorrectly stated its age as 1,500 years old!

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Those who have enjoyed seeing the California redwoods will most certainly find the Valley of the Giants an interesting place to visit. Excellent photographic opportunities of the spectacular scenery and towering cacti abound for a modest entrance fee of only $10 per vehicle. While a conventional car and a pair of hiking shoes make several interesting parts of the attraction accessible, a four-wheel drive vehicle has access to a rough circular drive where more many of the giant cacti can be viewed and photographed against the impressive backdrop of the Baja Mountains.

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The younger cardуn cacti have more spines to protect them from foragers, but the spines eventually fall off with age leaving a gray, fluted woody bark that somewhat resembles the legs of an elephant, hence one of its common names “elephant cactus”. The cactus is supported by tough, light and woody vertical ribs that expand and contract in accordion fashion, depending on its water supply. This rib system allows the cardуn to store large amounts of water (up to a ton of water for especially large individuals) and to adjust to changing desert water conditions. These woody ribs often remain as an impressive standing monument many years after the plant itself dies.

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In the spring, the cardуn cactus displays white trumpet flowers on its upper arms, especially on the warmer southerly side. The flowers last from the afternoon until the middle of the following morning so that nectar-loving bats can pollinate them. The cacti rely upon such bats for reproduction in order to produce their fruits and seeds in the late summer. Birds and bats enjoy the ripe, fuzzy fruit, which is around two inches in diameter and contains hundreds of black seeds.

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The seeds start to grow in warm, wet conditions such as those following the late summer desert rains, but they need the shade of another plant and to be scarred for successful germination. Even when conditions are just right for their growth, thousands of germinating seeds might only produce one cactus in the harsh desert conditions where foragers consider the cardуn seedlings a tasty morsel.

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When they do survive, the cardуn seedlings grow at the very slow pace of only one inch per year, often taking ten years or more to emerge from the shade of their nurse plant. When mature, the larger cacti are threatened mainly by cattle grazing, human predation, and “flat top decay”, which primarily affects and withers the top of the cactus.

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The giant cacti’s common name Cardуn arises from the Spanish word “cardo”, meaning “thistle”. Interestingly, the massive spiky cacti inspired Baja California’s first Spanish name of “Isla de Cardуn”, given by Hernando Cortйs when he came to the Baja peninsula in the early 1500’s at the time when he mistakenly thought that Baja was an island. The first word of the cacti’s Latin name “Pachycereus pringlei” comes from “pachy” meaning “thick” and “cereus” meaning “waxy”, while the second word of the Latin name was given in honor of the American botanist, Cyrus Pringle who named the species.

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The deserts of the Baja California peninsula are the primary habitat of these spiny, gray-green, thick-armed, waxy-skinned giants, and the San Felipe Desert is the northern-most extent of their range. The cardуn prefers soil such as that found in the mouths of arroyos and grows between sea level and up to elevations of about 3000 feet throughout the Baja peninsula deserts, although it is confined to the regions that remain relatively free of frost. While a few forests of cardуn can be found across the Sea of Cortez in mainland Mexico, these primarily Baja California natives should not be confused with the superficially similar but botanically distinct saguaro cactus (carnegiea gigantean) that does not live in Baja, but instead commonly inhabits the more northerly Sonoran Desert of Arizona.

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The cardуn’s characteristic shape of tall branching columnar arms based on a shorter, thicker trunk is well adapted for the cactus to present more surface area to the cooler early morning and late afternoon sun, while minimizing exposure to the stronger midday sun. The multi-arm structure increases the cacti’s efficiency in collecting the sun’s rays. Since the cardуn has no leaves, it instead uses its skin to perform the vital function of photosynthesis, making it a “cladophyll”. To preserve precious desert water, the cardуn’s stomata open to the cooler air after sunset to take in the carbon dioxide that is needed for its photosynthetic metabolism.

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