Visiting the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta

My family enjoys visiting zoo, wildlife parks and aquariums when we travel. We're big fans of learning about conservation and how we all can help to save the beautiful animals who call our planet home. It's important that we educate ourselves, our families and the children within them. 

Last month we visited the Georgia Aquarium in downtown Atlanta. I have to say...this is one of the best aquariums that we've ever visited! It's huge and we could literally spend all day there seeing the exhibits. The aquarium is open 365 days a year. Check their website before planning your visit. Hate crowds? Try to visit during off-peak hours. 

On the day that we visited we spent almost 3 hours there. You'll want to wear comfortable walking shoes as you'll be doing a lot of walking! There are places that you can sit down to rest if needed. Strollers, cameras, cellphones and water bottles are allowed. Just know that security can check out any items you bring at any time. Try to go in with as little as possible!

Here's a partial list of some of the animal exhibits that we had the opportunity to see:

Sea Otters
Penguins
Seahorse
Piranha 
Stingrays
Bowmouth Guitar Fish
California Sea Lions
Clown Fish
Bottlenose Dolphins
Coral
Butterfly Fish
Eels
Octopus
Sharks
Sea Turtles
Puffins
Seals
Spider Crabs
Jellyfish
Geckos
Frogs
Sea Stars and Star Fish

In addition to the self-guided tours throughout the aquarium you can participate in various Encounters, Shows and Educational Experiences. You can learn more about those directly on their website. 

While you're there you can grab a bite to eat in the brand new Coastline Cafe found on the upper level at the Georgia Aquarium. They serve your classic family-friendly foods such as burgers, hot dogs, pizza, chicken nuggets, french fries, mac and cheese, sandwiches, etc. You'll find various non-alcohol and alcoholic beverages. 

We enjoyed a late lunch while we were there. The food was good but expect to pay moderate prices for it. They were crowded, so we did have to wait quite a bit to receive our order. Overall though, it was a good dining experience. 

You can learn more about the Georgia Aquarium by visiting their website and connecting with them over on Facebook and Instagram. You can sign-up for their email newsletter HERE.

Visiting the Coca-Cola Space Science Center in Columbus

The Coca-Cola Space Science Center is located in Columbus, Georgia, a division of Columbus State University. The center opened in 1996 to help educate students and the public on astronomy and space science. There are four major sections: the Challenger Learning Center, the Exhibit Gallery, the Omnisphere Theater (planetarium), and the Westrock Observatory.

Hours of Operation

Monday through Friday 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Saturday 10:30 AM to 6:00 PM
Sunday and Major Holidays - Closed
Daily Children's Show (Monday-Friday 3:00 PM and Saturday 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM)

Admission: $4.00 to $6.00 depending on age. Military Discount Available.

Address: 701 Front Avenue, Columbus, GA 31901 (free parking located in front of the center)
Website: https://www.ccssc.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CocaColaSpaceScienceCenter/

When visiting the center you'll want to allow 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 hours in your schedule. This will allow you plenty of time to see all of the exhibits, to participate in activities and to take in a show. Afterwards you can visit the gift shop to pick up souvenirs and gifts. You'll want to wear comfortable walking shoes and please leave all extra bags locked up in your vehicles. Only bring in what you need during your visit.

The center houses the large collection of NASA Space Shuttle Artifacts in Georgia and a state of the art planetarium. Throughout the year they host a wide variety of educational programs that visitors can participate in. You'll want to visit their website for a complete list of programs that are open to the public and ones that are set up specifically for groups.

Our family really enjoyed our visit to the Coca-Cola Space Science Center. There were plenty of activities to keep the entire family entertained from adults to children. You really learn a lot. If you're going to be visiting the Columbus area...we highly recommend that you pay them a visit, especially if you have an interest in NASA, the Space Shuttle Program and/or Outerspace.

Spend the Day at Stone Mountain Theme Park

Stone Mountain Theme Park is located outside of Atlanta Georgia and attracts over 3 million visitors every year. It sits on over 3200 acres of natural beauty and offers a variety of fun, family-friendly activities. You can come for the day, weekend, or week! Lodging and camping is located nearby.

While you're there you can try your hand at miniature golf, check out the laser show, get on the Summit Skyride, check out the Geyser Towers, take a trek on the treetops on Sky Hike, check out the Dinotorium, visit the Stone Mountain Museum, kids love visiting the Farmyard, explore the Mega Bugs exhibit, take a guided Land & Lake Tour, take a 5 mile train ride through the area via a 1940's era locomotive, go boating, and enjoy dining and shopping nearby.

During a day trip to Stone Mountain Park we spent time at Geyser Towers, took a ride on the Summit Skyride, explored the Mega Bugs exhibit, and enjoyed a fun round of miniature golf. If we had known ahead of time that they offer so many different activities, we would of planned ahead and spent the weekend. However, we were just passing through and heading to Florida, so we were limited on time.

One of the main highlights while we were there was viewing the granite carving that was carved on the mountainside. Here's some information about it from Stone Mountain Theme Park's website.

"The entire carved surface of the Memorial Carving measures three acres, larger than a football field. The carving of the three men towers 400 feet above the ground, measures 90 by 190 feet, and is recessed 42 feet into the mountain. The deepest point of the carving is at Lee's elbow, which is 12 feet to the mountain's surface."

Who are the three men on the Carving on the mountain?

"The Memorial Carving depicts three Confederate heroes of the Civil War: Confederate President Jefferson Davis, General Robert E. Lee and Lt. General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson."

If you're going to be in the Atlanta, Georgia area or just passing through...we highly recommend that you stop in to Stone Mountain Theme Park for a visit. You can check out their website for a full list of activities that are offered, a current schedule of operation, driving directions, and ticket prices. If you plan on spending the night, their website will give you a list of resorts, hotels, and campgrounds that are nearby.

Top 7 Activities while Traveling on a Limo Service in Atlanta

It’s little wonder why a lot of tourists choose to visit Atlanta. With its great exposure on TV shows and movies as well as great reviews about the fun activities you can do there, who wouldn’t be thrilled to take a tour while on a limo service in Atlanta? If you find yourself booking a trip to Atlanta, be sure to jot down your itinerary. Otherwise, you might miss out on the best things to do there. You might also want to check out our list to get you started as you plan your trip:

Revisit history at the Underground Atlanta
A primary tourist attraction, Underground Atlanta gives you a feel of historic storefronts. If you are a fan of those, do not forget to include this in your itinerary. You can also buy souvenirs and have a bite to eat while you’re at it.

Have a feast at The Varsity
The Varsity goes hand-in-hand with your quest to revisit history. This well-known restaurant has been around for eons – it will surely pique your interest. Aside from eating to your heart’s content, the place also offers a number of must-see spots to make your short stay even more enjoyable.

Visit the Coke Museum
Atlanta is best known for the World of Coke, so don’t you dare leave the city without taking a look at what it has to offer. Here you’ll find a beautiful museum while getting more familiar with the history of Coke. You can also experience tasting Coke from cities all over the world – definitely not something you can get to do on a daily basis.

Enjoy shopping and watching at the Atlantic Station
If you ever need to buy anything while you are on your trip, why not take a tour of the Atlantic Station? This place is an open shopping center where you can buy anything and everything under the sun. It also boasts of regular programming that you can watch and enjoy for that extra entertainment.

Stroll at the Lenox Square Mall
The Lenox Square Mall is another destination that many tourists visit, not only because of the designer stores but also because of the celebrities who frequent the place. If you like that kind of stuff, go ahead and take a look at what this mall has to offer. You just might bump into your favorite celebrity while having a stroll.

Enjoy the sights at the Skyview Atlanta
If you’re up to more beautiful sights while traveling, make a stop at the Skyview Atlanta. The place offers amazing sceneries. You will surely love it there.

See marine life up close at the Georgia Aquarium
The Georgia Aquarium takes pride in being one of the largest single habitat aquariums in the world. It is for this reason that you shouldn’t miss visiting this place when you get to Atlanta. You’ll be amazed at the aquatic resources you’ll see up close.

Nothing beats leaving your daily grind for a while enjoying life aboard a limo service in Atlanta. Make the most out of that experience by putting together your itinerary and including all these wonderful activities and tourist destinations in your list.

Smithsonian Channel: Aerial America Southeast Collection DVD

Several weeks ago I had the chance to review a Smithsonian Channel travel DVD and today I am back with another one. We love to travel and traveling through the Southeast is one of our favorite travel destinations. It is a really beautiful are of the country.

Title: Aerial America: Southeast Collection
By: Smithsonian Channel
Release Date: August 19th, 2014

Take off for a first-class, window-seat view of the South's most-beautiful sceneries in this brand new DVD release from Inception Media Group.

Aerial America: Southeast Collection takes you soaring over the South's breathtaking landscapes and landmarks while exploring its compelling, complex role in American History.

In North Carolina, witness the barrier islands and learn about first in flight history. In South Carolina you can experience elegant charms and extraordinary past and in Georgia's hot cities and haunted graves. Flights over Mississippi and Alabama reveal where Civil War battles were lost and the civil rights movement was born. Florida shows off its stunning beaches, lavish lifestyles and what makes the state so magical.

My Thoughts: If you plan on visiting any of the Southeast states for the first time, this DVD is a must-have! You will learn about hot spots and spots off the beaten path that you never heard of before. Not only that, some of the areas they feature on the DVD will give you new travel destinations to check out, ones that you would of never considered visiting until you saw them on this DVD.

We are planning a big 2 week trip to North Carolina next spring so we really appreciated the North Carolina part of the DVD. The photography is just amazing from start to finish and we were amazed at all of the aerial views that we got to see.

Several times we have watched this collection and every time we watch it again we see something new or learn something new about each state that is featured. Thanks to this DVD...we are adding a trip to the great state of Alabama to our travel bucket list in 2015. We have never been there and thanks to this DVD...we will definitely be visiting!

Disclaimer: A free copy of this DVD was provided to me for this review. No monetary compensation has been received. My thoughts & opinions on this item are 100% my own and are unbiased. Your opinions & views may differ.

The Beautiful Hilton Garden Inn in Albany Georgia

Years ago I had the great pleasure of spending a week in Albany Georgia and totally fell in-love with the area. There are a ton of things to see and do in that area that I would need to vacation there at least a month to do them all. Several years have passed since our visit but we are hoping to return some day soon.

Anyway, for those of you who may be planning a trip to Albany Georgia, I wanted to share this information with all of you about the beautiful Hilton Garden Inn. When looking for affordable lodging, this is one place you will want to consider. Here is the information.

Hilton Garden Inn Albany Georgia Recognized as one of the “Best of the Best” in North America

Hilton Corporation has recently recognized the Hilton Garden Inn in Albany Georgia as one of its best performing hotels in North America for overall Product Quality, Service and Loyalty. In May this year, the hotel received its second consecutive Outstanding QA by Hilton’s Corporate Quality Assurance Department. The hotel now ranks in the Top 100 hotels out of 560 Hilton Garden Inns in North America in TQI – Total Quality Index.

“It’s quite a feat to get one Outstanding Quality Assurance rating now and then from Hilton, but achieving two in a row speaks volumes of the staffs commitment to service, cleanliness and product quality. I can’t be more proud of this team and the accomplishments they’ve achieved over the past year,” said Greg Winey, President and Principal of NorthPointe Hospitality Management, LLC. “We took over the management of this hotel in October 20012 and it’s been an incredible journey with the associates. It was a matter of believing in themselves; I think the staff just needed some encouragement, training, support and incentives to drive performance,” continued Winey.

Shelia Bartow, Front Office Manager believes the million-dollar renovation the hotel underwent last year is paying off, especially in the eyes of the hotel guests.

“We’ve worked hard to get where we are today and it’s been extremely rewarding to see our results with great Guest Service Scores,” said Bartow.

“Our goal now is to get in the Top 50 and stay there,” said Vickie Thomas, Executive Housekeeper. “We know an immaculate hotel will keep our guest coming back.”

“We’ve cracked the Top 50 in North America a handful of times, and it takes complete and total commitment from the entire team every day to stay in that elite group. That’s the goal in our sites today,” Winey said.

The Hilton Garden Inn is a full service, convention hotel with 122 rooms and over 13,0000 sq. ft. of meeting and convention space – the largest hotel conference space in Albany. The meeting space includes a 6,500 square foot ballroom that provides meeting and full catering facilities for groups from 10 to 800 people. For information or reservations, call 229-878-4861 or visit online at www.albany.gardeninn.com.

Old Town Trolley Tour in Boston, Savannah and Washington DC

My husband and I have 6 full vacations planned for this year with our very first one coming up the beginning of May. One of the cities we will be visiting on our vacation in May is the beautiful city of Boston and we are hoping to take the Old Town Trolley tour while visiting there. Have any of you taken the tour yet? We heard that it's gorgeous during this time of the year.

Since we are traveling on a budget with this particular trip, I got online to look around for an old town trolley coupon code and within a few minutes, I found one! Yeah!!! I love how you can save some money while traveling and doing the tourist thing with just a few quick clicks of your computer mouse!

I just had my hip replaced a few weeks ago, so this type of tour is perfect for me since I can't do a lot of walking. Not only that, I think it's fun to ride and tour...which is a lot better than walking miles upon miles to get where you are going.

While we are in Boston, we are hoping to take a tour of the Ghosts and Gravestones (heard it's a very popular tour) and at the top of my "must see" list is a visit to the New England Aquarium. I think our little grand daughter will love visiting the aquarium since she loves animals and loves to visit zoos. My daughter is going to babysit our grand daughter when hubby and I go out for our whale and dolphin watching cruise as I don't feel comfortable taking a 4 year old on a boat!

Then in late June we are going to head on down to Savannah Georgia and check out all of the Southern Charm that Savannah has to offer. We want to check out the St. Augustine Alligator Farm, have dinner and tea at the famous Savannah Tea House and I definitely want to check out all of the great shopping opportunities that downtown Savannah has to offer.

In July we will be heading down to Washington D.C. and visiting the D.C. Zoo. During one evening during our trip we want to do the Washington Monuments by Moonlight Tour and I bet that is beautiful seeing all of the famous monuments lit up at night. We are hoping we have enough time during our 4 day Washington D.C. trip to stop in to Madame Tussauds Wax Museum as hubby has that on his to-do list and has wanted to visit the wax museum for the past 15 years or so.

Since we will be visiting Boston, Savannah and Washington D.C. I need to find several old trolley tour coupon online to help us save money while we are vacationing.

I would love to know if you have visited any of those three cities and if so, what kind of tourist attractions do you suggest we try to do and/or visit?

Georgia’s Partridge Inn - Grand Hotel of the Classic South

From intimate, candlelit affairs to breathtaking celebrations, Georgia’s Partridge Inn guarantees the wedding of a lifetime with its impeccable southern hospitality

It’s where U.S. Presidents have visited -where world events have occurred and where brides dream of holding their perfect southern wedding. The Partridge Inn in Augusta, Georgia is the ultimate location for true southern hospitality with its luxurious accommodations, award-winning dining, personalized service, and beautiful designed wedding spaces.

Called the ‘Grand Hotel of the Classic South’ this legendary southern hotel, which opened in 1892, recently underwent renovations to make it even more elegant for weddings. The Partridge Inn features 145 updated guest rooms, luxurious venue spaces for nuptials, and more than a quarter mile of verandahs and wrap-around balconies. Key features of the hotel that are ideal for weddings include:

• More than 10,000 square feet of function space and offering the greatest variety of function rooms in the region, including multiple event spaces with private verandahs.
• Lavish Morris Partridge Ballroom, site of the 1923 Presidential Banquet for Warren Harding, featuring over 2,400 square feet of space, high ceilings, chandeliers, a baby grand piano, fireplace and private verandah.
• Second floor buy-out perfect for large weddings that includes the ballroom, bar, restaurant, Champions Suite and entire second floor verandah.
• Executive chef who can work with clients to design custom wedding menus.
• Expert event planners, helping brides and grooms create memorable receptions.
• Award-winning catering and cuisine named "Augusta's Best Brunch" and "Augusta's Best Outdoor Dining."
• Audiovisual equipment for rousing speeches and photo montages.
• Balcony guest rooms with one-of-a-kind views
• Special discounted guest room rates for wedding guests.
Additional wedding venues offered at the Partridge Inn include:
• Courtyard 10, private outside Charleston Style courtyard; perfect intimate receptions or rehearsal dinners of 40 guests.
• Magnolia Room, ideal for showers, brunches, luncheons, rehearsal dinners or receptions of up to 50 guests.
• Richmond Room, perfect for receptions and dinners for up to 60 guests.
• Penthouse, the hotel’s rooftop gem, featuring sweeping views of the city for up to 125 guests reception style.
• Summerville Room, the hotel’s newly remodeled room, perfect for receptions and rehearsal dinners of up to 80 guests.

The Partridge Inn also offers guests proximity to one of Georgia’s most beautiful cities, Augusta. During their stay, brides and grooms can enjoy numerous sights and attractions just minutes from the inn, including the wondrous architecture of beautiful antebellum homes; Augusta Canal built in 1845 and America's only industrial power canal still in use for its original purpose; and the Augusta Golf & Gardens.

For more information on The Partridge Inn and its lavish southern-style weddings, visit the inn’s Web site at http://www.partridgeinn.com/ or call 1-800-476-6888.

About The Partridge Inn:

The Partridge Inn is known for its distinctly southern details, including beautiful verandahs, classic columns, stately magnolia trees and unparalleled personal service. The hotel encompasses145 individually decorated executive rooms, studios and deluxe suites, a fitness center, an outdoor swimming pool and high-tech meeting facilities. The Partridge Inn’s signature restaurant, The Verandah Grill, offers fine dining and live jazz.

The Partridge Inn is managed by the Hostmark Hospitality Group, a leading hospitality management firm that operates upscale full service hotels, resorts, focused service hotels and restaurants worldwide.

In Savannah, Bed And Breakfasts Are The Way To Go

In Savannah, Bed And Breakfasts Are The Way To Go And Stay
By Jefferson Ross

Savannah bed and breakfasts are pure, old world magic. I have nothing against the hotels here but if you're a visitor to The Historic District or Victorian District in The Hostess City, do yourself a favor and go all out. Many come with their own ghosts at no extra charge.

Nothing sets the tone more perfectly than, when you arrive in the evening, for instance, a host will usually greet you, offer you a glass of wine or tea and tell you the story of the house. Most will give you a brief tour. These places are grand reminders of how the high life was lived in Victorian and Colonial era Savannah. They are filled with period antiques and are all within convenient walking distance from the sites and restaurants of downtown.

One of my favorites is the grande dame of them all, The Gastonian, on Gaston Street. This is has been the elite B and B for many decades. The inn is actually comprised of two adjoining Regency-Italianate mansions featuring 17 posh and elegantly furnished guest rooms. You may choose silver tray breakfast-in-bed service or dine with the others downstairs for a big family style morning feast. Across the street, cater corner, is the Palmer-Dresser House and we've stayed there a number of times. Each room is named after a famous Savannahian such as Johnny Mercer, Flannery O'Connor, Juliette Gordon Low, etc. There is a wine store nearby and we like to grab a bottle and sit on their back veranda overlooking the lane and sip and laugh.

If haunted accommodations are your thing, check out The Eliza Thompson House, complete with paranormal Confederate soldiers, The 1790 Inn, with their angry ghost maid, The Kehoe House, formerly a funeral parlor and home of Joe Namath, and Marshall House, which is a cross between a hotel and bed and breakfast and is considered one of the most haunted inns in America. All of these places are quirky, charming and staffed by friendly, knowledgeable folks. Most of the staff have their own tales of eery things that they have witnessed while on duty.

If small and quaint is what you are looking for, check out Joan's On Jones. It's located on my favorite street, the brick paved and oak canopied, Jones Street. It's a brownstone townhouse and they only have 2 guest rooms. I love this place. It's only steps away from Mrs. Wilkes' Boarding House and The Crystal Beer Parlor so you know you won't go hungry. And, The Six Pence Pub is only a few minutes' walk away as well.

South of Gaston Street and overlooking Forsyth Park is The Forsyth Park Inn, also haunted, and it may have the most beautiful view of any of the bed and breakfasts.

These houses are not just places to sleep but are rich with the experience of this city...the vibe, if you will. Nestle by a warm hearth, grab a book and a cordial. Sit back in a wing chair and relax. Until you see something scary.

Jefferson Ross is a performing singer songwriter and co-creator of the Savannah Georgia Vibe Guide.

The Gastonian Bed & Breakfast in Savannah Georgia

Several months ago hubby and I decided we needed a little get away so I went online and found The Gastonian, a lovely Bed and Breakfast in Savannah, GA. After a 6 hour drive we arrive at the Gastonian and we were greeted like old friends. There was a table with several wines, coffee and tea, and home made goodies like Pralines and cookies and other goodies. We had arrived during afternoon tea! The parlour was full of guests and there was lots of laughter and smiles coming from all! We were quickly introduced to our new friends and dinner plans were made! I knew I had chosen the right place for us!

Every room had a different theme and our room was the blue room. It was gorgeous with a huge 4 poster bed, a fire place, and antique furniture. I immediately hit the bed to try it out and I think it was a cloud from Heaven as it was so lovely and comfy. After exploring beautiful Savannah a little after eating dinner at a local rib joint we decided it was going to be an early night and went back to The Gastonian to get some rest. When we got back our bed had been prepared for the night and on our pillow tops were small pralines which I immediately nabbed as I love pralines. We also called room service (available 24/7) and asked for some sodas and they were delivered to the room by a friendly staff member.

After a wonder nights sleep we got up and headed for breakfast. I was curious what this B & B was going to serve us as I have not had much B & B experience. When we entered the main entrance we were invited into the kitchen for breakfast where the cooking was in full swing!
Oh the luscious smells that penetrated the room. Mu hubby is a pancake freak and ordered the pancake of the day, which was Lemon Pancakes. He loved them and asked for seconds!
I ordered Eggs Florentine which was a little twist on eggs benedict and that was also yummy.

We spent the days exploring Savannah while we were there for 3 days and love the history and the beauty of this historic town. We loved learning about Savannah and took a bus tour. I wished so much I could do more physically but I have limitations as there were some ghost tours at night that I would have really gotten in to!

If we ever go back to Savannah we will visit and stay with our friends at the Gastonian again.
They were awesome and the place was beautiful. I have my husbands favorite pancake recipe from the Gastonian to share! (I had to buy their recipe book)

Lemon Pancakes Recipe

1 cup all purpose flour
3/4 cup sour cream
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup milk
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 c. fresh lemon juice
1/2 tsp baking soda
3 tsp. melted butter
1/4 tsp salt
1 large egg
zest of 2 lemons
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

Pour the wet ingredients over the dry ingredients and gently whisk them together, mixing just until they are combined. Fold in: Finely grated lemon zest. The batter will be thick and bubbly - similar to a cake batter. Spoon 1/4 cup batter onto griddle for each pancake, nudging the batter into rounds. Cook until the top of each pancake is speckled with bubbles and some bubbles have popped, then turn and cook until the underside is lightly browned. Serve immediately or keep warm in a 200 degree oven.

I hope you all enjoy a little taste of The Gastonian and the lovely southern town of Savannah, GA!

This post was written by Guest Blogger Joan Penfold. Joan and her husband enjoy domestic and foreign travel.