7 Tips for Collecting Seashells While on Vacation

When I was 5 years old I visited the beach for the first time during a family vacation. During that summer vacation I fell in-love with collecting seashells. I'm now 51 years old and currently have over 400+ shells from all over the world in my collection.

Collecting seashells is a fun hobby and won't cost you a lot of money. You'll need just a few basic supplies and then you can hit your favorite beach. Going SHELLING has become more and more popular over the years and seashell collecting continues to grow.

7 Tips for Collecting Seashells While on Vacation

1. Collector's ID Guide: If you're serious about collecting shells I recommend picking up a collector's ID guidebook to help you identify them. I personally recommend the The BEST North American Seashell Identification Guide if you're traveling around North America.

2. Collection Bags: You'll need a few mesh (netted) bags to place them in while walking the beach. These types of bags allow the sand to fall out and the water to flow through. Once they're in the bag you can rinse them in the surf or rinse them once you return back to your hotel room. 

3. Collecting Gear: In addition to the bags I recommend that you take along a small shovel and a strainer. You'll need the shovel for digging into the sand and the strainer is helpful when you're collecting the small shells for your collection. You can scoop them up and let the sand & water flow out.

4. Know Where to Look: Some shells are best found around rocky areas, in low-tide pools, along the low tide or high tide lines, in marshy bays, etc. Some will be easily visible and other's will need to be dug up from the sand. You can find out information on where to look via ID guides, online shelling websites and/or talk to the locals. 

5. Transportation Materials: You will need to transport your newly found treasures home. I recommend packing them into boxes, old pillowcases, sticking them into old socks, wrap them in your beach towels, use bubble wrap, paper towels, etc. Never wrap them in newspaper (the ink will transfer onto your shells). 

6. Cleaning: Once you get home you'll want to thoroughly clean-up your treasures! Wash them in warm soapy water and rinse clean. If they have debris on them...lightly scrub them with a soft sponge. Don't use steel wool which will scratch them. It's important to remove the salt water, sand and fishy odor from all shells before storing or displaying them. You can find detailed steps and tips on how to wash and preserve your seashells by checking out a previous article that I published.

7. Display: You will need to decide how you wish to display your collection. You can find display cases and boxes out in the retail marketplace or make your own. If you're only going to collect a few shells, you can just display them around your home as decor accent pieces. If you're going to place them in cases and/or boxes...I recommend labeling them with the name of the shell, collection location and the date.

Collecting seashells while on vacation is a fun activity to do and it won't cost you any money. Once you arrive back home you'll have some beautiful treasures to display around your home to remind you of your trip. 

Official Gettysburg National Military Park Guidebook

The Official Guidebook to Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center is a MUST-HAVE guidebook if you plan on touring the Gettysburg Battlefield. This book will help you understand the history and importance of the Battle for Gettysburg.

Book Synopsis: Inside the pages of this guidebook you'll find the history of the Battle of Gettysburg; maps that illustrate critical events during the battle; rare artifacts and archival images from the Gettysburg Museum Experience; background information for each stop on the battlefield tour; photographs of the battlefield today; historic quotes; and vital information for planning your stay. With this book you'll get a better understanding of the heritage and legacy of the Battle of Gettysburg, as well as the importance of preserving, protecting, and honoring this hallowed ground.

Title: Official Gettysburg National Military Park Guidebook
By: Gettysburg Foundation
Publisher: Beckon Books
ISBN: 978-1-935442-07-3

We personally own and use the Official Gettysburg National Park Guidebook every time we visit the Gettysburg Battlefield. If you've never visited the battlefield before, it's quite vast in size...taking up approximately 6,000 acres. The 24 mile self-guided auto tour starts at the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center.

The tour goes all over Gettysburg and you'll come across approximately 1,400 monuments and memorials. This guidebook includes a battlefield map and what I really like is the in-depth history that you get when you read this book. It takes everything that you learn during your trip and it expands that knowledge even more.

The book is broken down into color-coded sections, so that you can easily find what you're looking for. There is a great 2-day suggested itinerary at the beginning of the book to help you get started and to help you schedule in your time. It's jam-packed with information and beautiful photographs to help tell the story.

The Official Gettysburg National Park Guidebook is available for purchase at the museum gift shop and book store or you can purchase it directly from the Gettysburg Foundation website online. We highly recommend this guidebook if you plan on visiting the Gettysburg Battlefield.

The Top 5 Travel Coffee Makers To Own

If you are like us and can't function without a perfect cup of coffee first thing in the morning, you will require a coffee maker. And, if you travel frequently, you will require a portable coffee maker that is lightweight and excels in the functionality department. There isn’t a dearth of portable coffee makers available for purchase on the market with each claiming to be better than the other. Unfortunately, the ones worth purchasing are very few and far between. Fortunately, you need not lose your sleep over decision-making as we have listed the top 5 travel coffee makers to own in 2017! The list isn't in any particular order.

1. Hamilton Beach 49981A Single Serve Scoop Coffee Maker

The Hamilton Beach 49981A Serve Scoop Coffee Maker is capable of making coffee in a brisk couple of minutes. It also helps that the product is extremely versatile, allowing you to use whatever brand, flavor, or grind of coffee to water ratio. And, since the parts of the product are easily removable, the coffee maker is also easy to clean.

2. KitchenAid 12-Cup Coffee Maker

The Kitchenaid 12-Cup Coffee Maker boasts a sleek design and allows you to make 12 cups of regular coffee at a time. And, you will be able to brew coffee all with the touch of a button. It also features a ¨pause and pour¨ option that lets you stop the brewing process temporarily. Hence, you need not wait for your roommates or family members to enjoy your coffee, allowing you to go about your day with minimal fuss.

3. Ninja Coffee Bar Thermal Carafe System

If you enjoy drinking single-serve and carafe-style hot and iced coffee, you must consider acquiring the Ninja Coffee Bar Thermal Carafe System. Whether you like it done rich, iced, or the classic way, this maker allows you to have the freedom of adjusting the amount of grounds used which means that you will be able to customize your coffee to your preference. The product also largely benefits from its Auto-iQ One Touch Intelligence Technology that allows it to draw the right amount of water from the reservoir, based on the brew type and brew size you choose.

4. KRUPS KM9008 Programmable Coffee Machine

The KRUPS KM9008 Programmable Coffee Machine largely benefits from its precise warming technology that keeps the taste of the coffee consistent for a period of up to 4 hours! Therefore, even when you are on your third cup, you will notice that the taste of the coffee is exactly as it was on the first cup. The product is programmable for large and small cup sizes; you are also provided with a wide range of aroma selection for more intense extraction.

5. Bonavita BV 1900TS

If you're looking for a coffee maker that brews coffee rapidly, you should consider acquiring the Bonavita BV 1900TS. The product boasts of a 1500-watt heater that does a stellar job of maintaining brewing temperature of 200 degrees. The product also features an optional pre-infusion mode that allows you to wet the freshly roasted ground coffee, giving way for degassing before brewing.

3 Tips to Using a Rideshare While on Holiday

If you’re going on a holiday, you know that one of the things that you need to plan for is the mode of transportation that you will be taking. While some places may be near enough that you can take your own vehicle, there are times when that is impossible.

While mass public transport can be used, there are times when it might be too full or it might not be dependable. There’s nothing worse than missing out on a scheduled tour just because you were late. It’s a good thing that ride-share has become more popular nowadays.

By just going to a website or downloading an app, a passenger is able to arrange for private car owners to give them a ride to their destination. Of course, you need to make sure that that particular ride-share service is available in whatever city or country you will be going to.

Once you’ve confirmed that, follow the tips below to make the most out of your ride-share experience.

1. Schedule your trip – make the trip more convenient for you by scheduling ahead of time. To make sure that you are on time for an event that you really wanted to see or to just meet up with a friend while on holiday, it’s better to book in advance. Check with the place you’re going to and find out how early you can book the ride. This is especially convenient when you are traveling to another country. If your hotel does not offer airport transfers, it might take a while for you to line up for a cab, and it would be hard to use public transport if you have a lot of luggage.

2. Split the fare with a friend – when you’re on a holiday with friends, the usual practice is to split the fare between all of you. Ride sharing apps make it easier as some include a Split Fare Tool so that the payment can be divided equally among all the friends who shared the ride. There are some apps where even up to five friends can split the fare.

3. Be smart with the timing of your booking – while ride-sharing apps are cheaper and more convenient than taking a cab, commuters still need to be smart about the time they book as there are instances when the prices are higher than usual. This depends on a lot of circumstances, such as the weather, traffic or even the demand of the service. If more people are looking for a ride, expect higher prices. Try to do your research and check on the times when the price is the highest and book in advance if need be. Sometimes, you can just wait for a few minutes to pass and the price will go back to the usual fare without any surcharge.

Enjoy your holiday by taking advantage of all the benefits that ride sharing can bring. If you want more information, check out this site https://rideshareapps.com/https://rideshareapps.com/. They have compiled a lot of details and even a list of promo codes for new and existing users to enjoy.

USB Rechargeable Power Bank LED Camping Lantern

How many of you love to travel, more specifically, love to go camping? I know we do, but honestly, we don't get to do it as often as we would like. Sigh. When we do head out for a weekend of camping fun, we always take along the BEST camping lanterns that we have and all of them have come from Dorcy.

One of our favorite camping lanterns is the USB Rechargeable Power Bank LED Lantern from Dorcy. This battery-operated lantern has some amazing features and really gives off bright LED light. I love all of the different lighting settings that you can get with just this one lantern! Check out all of these cool features with it.

* Input/Output Charging Capabilities
* USB Output for Emergency Cell Phone Charging
* Area Light
* 3 Settings: Bright, Normal, Low
* 5 Hour Run Time
* IPX 4 Water Resistant
* 250 Lumens
* Includes Emergency Battery Back-Up Feature
* Push Button Switch with Power Indicator
* Folding Carry Handle
* USB Ports Compartment (Micro USB & USB Port)
* Runs on 4 AA Batteries

One of the things I like about the lantern is it's slender-tall shape. It doesn't take up much space at all, unlike the typical fat-round lanterns that you often see in the retail outdoor stores. Second, it's very light-weight and has a carrying handle, so you can carry it around, hang it up or sit in on a solid surface, like your favorite table.

Next...I love the easy push-button function which is located right on the front of the lantern. Push once...you get bright light. Push twice...get normal light and push a third time and get low light. Hold the button down for 2-3 seconds and the lantern will shut off. It's extremely easy to operate!

Finally, I love that we can use this lantern to recharge our cellphones which is absolutely vital to do during a power outage or while you are spending some time outdoors camping. If you are rugging it, you already know there won't be any electrical power sources nearby. This is one way that you can recharge your smartphones!

Head on over to Dorcy and take a look at all of their lighting products. We've always been very pleased with all of the lanterns we've received from Dorcy. They're powerful, durable and have some of the greatest features available.

Disclaimer: Shelly H. has personally reviewed the product listed above. Shelly has not received any monetary compensation for her review. Shelly did receive a free product to try out so she could evaluate and use it for her review. Her thoughts & opinions in this review are unbiased & honest and your opinions may differ.  Thanks!

BYBLight Portable Camping Lantern

My family loves being outdoors. We spend a lot of time hiking, walking, going camping, boating, fishing, hunting and all sorts of other things that families typically enjoy in the great big outdoors! Luckily for us, we live in an area of the country that we can typically enjoy outdoor activities for 7 months out of the year.

Over the years we've reviewed quite a few different camping lanterns and in our opinion, you can never have enough! They're great for outdoor people like us...but they are a must-have item for every home in the world. Why you might ask? Well, during power failures and emergencies using a portable camping lantern is a LOT safer than burning candles! Think about all of those summertime thunderstorms and wintertime blizzards & ice storms when you lost electrical power for several hours or even days at a time! Having a variety of battery-operated lanterns on-hand is a must for everyone!

Recently we received the BYBLight Portable Camping Lantern to review for all of you. This lantern features 300 Lumen and is water-resistant. One of the things I appreciate about this particular camping lantern is that it's light-weight and super compact in it's size. It's great for travelers who don't have a lot of extra space available to them and great for apartment dwellers and RV'ers too!

It features the latest in COB technology and specular reflection design. It's small in size, but gives off super bright and powerful light! It can be used indoors and/or outdoors. When not in use...it collapses down to a very compact size for storage.

When you want to use the lantern you simply pop it open. If you open it the full way up...you get the brightest light. You can open it up halfway and get less-bright light. There are two metal carrying handles which double as hanging hooks so you can hang it up while using it. In other words, you can carry the lantern, sit it on a table-top or hang it up from a hook or tree limb.

I think it makes a great gift for anyone and if you love to go camping, hiking or just love to spend time outdoors, this portable lantern is for you!

Disclosure: Shelly and Sam received a complimentary lantern from the sponsor of this post. No monetary compensation was received. Regardless of receiving a complimentary item, their thoughts, words and opinions on this product are 100% honest & unbiased. Your thoughts and opinions may differ. 

Must-Have Travel Essentials for Children

Spring is here and it's time to sit back, relax, and try to survive traveling with children. Luckily, we have compiled a list of travel apps and travel accessories that are helpful for parents and entertaining for kids. Whether flying long distance or taking a road trip, be sure to download and pack the items below:

Roadtrip Bingo
iOS + Android (free)
Roadtrip Bingo allows kids to check off things they spot while on a trip. Similar to the old licence plate spotting game, this app also includes options for airplane travel as well.

FamilyTime Dashboard
iOS + Android (free)
Kids have a tendency to wander off. Better to be safe than sorry, and download FamilyTime Dashboard. Prior to leaving the house, install the app on your mobile device and their phones or tablets. The app safely monitors your child’s location, as well as any Internet or smartphone activity.

GetBeen
iOS (free)
Rather than trusting on an unreliable restaurant reviews in unfamiliar cities, GetBeen to see your friend’s restaurant, hotel, and amusement kid-friendly suggestions on all of your travels! Using GetBeen you can explore what’s nearby, and discover what your friends recommend, and share your experiences. No more frantic Facebook statuses asking for restaurant recommendations in the middle of nowhere, with GetBeen you'd have your friends opinions at your fingertips.

TravelOn Hand Soap Sheets
$10.00
These pocket-sized biodegradable sheets are a must-have when traveling with children. Easier to carry than a bar of soap, these paper-thin soap sheets dissolve almost instantly in water, giving you a handful of cleansing suds anywhere. TSA compliant and biodegradable, the palm-size container holds 50 sheets.

Here WeGo
iOS + Android (free)
Toddlers can be the most impatient road trip buddies ever. Avoid hearing the common phrase “are we there yet” by downloading Here WeGo. Rather than wasting all your data getting directions to your travel destination, this app provides detailed turn-by-turn directions for over 100 different countries that you can download and access offline, making it a great app to help avoid data fees. Here WeGo also offers directions for various forms of transportation, including car, bike or public transportation and updates prices, traffic conditions, where to park, for any drive.

Activity Bags
Another great idea is to make your own child-theme'd activity bag that is filled with coloring books, colored pencils, crayons, word search puzzles, crossword puzzles for kids, handheld electronic games, books, writing paper, dry erase board (tic, tac, toe and hangman games) and of course...non-messy snacks!

Luci Inflatable Solar Lights - Great for Travelers

We do a lot of traveling and when we travel, we like to take extra lighting along with us. Hotels & motels have power outages often and even with generator back-up, you don't get the lighting that you need. If you're traveling by car or going camping, you can always use additional lighting for emergencies or during the dark nighttime hours.

A few months ago I received a complimentary portable solar light to review for all of you. One of the things we love about the Luci Inflatable Solar Lights is that it's indeed inflatable! You collapse it when not in use (takes up very little room in your backpack or luggage) and then inflate it when you need it.

When we are traveling outdoors...we will set the inflatable lantern/light outside during the daytime hours so that it charges up via the sun. Then when evening rolls around, you can turn on your portable lantern when you need additional light. This particular inflatable light has 3 different light settings (low light, high light and a flashing light) and it super easy to operate with the push of a button.

When it comes to inflating it...it took me less than 2 minutes to blow it up and trust me, my lungs aren't too great at my old age, so I bet you could get it inflated in less than one minute. The top of the light has a little carrying strap or you could use that strap to hang it up. Since it's made out of plastic, it's water resistant which makes it great to use at the lake, poolside, while boating, fishing, etc.

These solar lights are perfect for those of us who travel a lot, go camping and/or hiking, spend time out on a boat, at the lake, etc. When we aren't traveling, we like to use it poolside! It floats nicely on top of the water and gives us additional lighting during the evening hours. Finally, I love that the kids can use these solar lights and I don't have to worry about them dropping them and breaking them. They're as light as a small beach ball, so they weight next-to-nothing!

You can find the Luci Inflatable Solar Lights available for purchase at Gander Mountain retail stores and online. Personally, I think this product is fantastic and now we want to get a few more!

Disclosure: We received a complimentary product to feature in this blog post. No monetary compensation was received. Regardless of receiving the product, our thoughts and words are 100% our own unbiased opinion. Your thoughts may differ.

Must-Have for Travelers: Powramid Air Power Center and USB Charging Station

Whether you’re traveling for business or pleasure, or may have an important meeting or conference to attend, chances are you’re going to need to power up your electronic devices. Fortunately, Accell has some great power solutions that are absolutely perfect for those who love to travel.

Let me introduce you to the Powramid Air Power Center and USB Charging Station by Accell. Before I get started with my review, I want to openly state that we received this product (complimentary) to try out and feature here on our travel blog.

Powramid Air Power Center and USB Charging Station Features:

* Ideal for home, office or travel.
* Round, flat design, featuring 6 adapter-spaced outlets.
* 2 USB charging ports feature smart chips to provide a combined 2.4A of fast charging for USB powered devices, including mobile phones, tablets and portable music players.
* Skid & Scratch Resistant Base.
* Green LED Power Indicator Light.
* Blue LED Surge Protection Indicator Light.
* 1080 Joules Surge Protection.
* 15 AMP Circuit Breaker.
* 5 Year Connected Equipment Limited Warranty.
* Available in white or black.
* Affordable with a MSRP: $35.99

When we travel, we travel with a lot of electronics! We always have at least one laptop and one tablet along with us. Then we mix in our video camera, our digital camera, 2 cellphones and an iPod. We travel with no less than 6 devices at a time! When we arrive at our destination, we're lucky if we can find two empty outlets in our hotel room and rarely do we find any USB charging stations. Yes, USB charging stations are becoming more common, but 80% of the time, we don't find them in our hotel rooms.

We recently took a weekend trip and took along our new Powramid Air Power Center and USB Charging Station along with us. We plugged it into an outlet in our hotel room and at the end of each day, we plugged our electronic devices into it. I really like how well this thing is designed and it was able to easily fit our power-packs that are attached to our charging cords. I also like that it's shaped flat like a flying saucer and I was able to slide it underneath the desk, so it was out of the way.

Another great thing is that it's fairly light-weight and compact in size. You can easily tuck it into an overnight bag, piece of luggage, a briefcase or a backpack when traveling. Each of the 6 adapter outlets are adequately spaced out, so that you can get 6 devices plugged in and charging. On the side of the unit is where you'll find the two USB charging ports which are fantastic for charging up our digital camera and our video camera. This thing is amazing!

We travel a lot and let me tell you, we won't be leaving home without our Powramid Air Power Center and USB Charging Station! Now that we're home again, we plugged it into an outlet in our home office and really love that we can charge up our devices quickly and that everything is charging up in one particular place, instead of all over our house. Now that's what I call being organized!

You can learn more about ACCELL by visiting their website online. You can connect with the company on Facebook too.

Disclosure: We received a complimentary Powramid Air Power Center and USB Charging Station from ACCELL to feature in this blog post. No monetary compensation was received. Regardless of receiving a complimentary product, our thoughts, words and opinions are 100% our own.

Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier for Traveling

We do a lot of traveling all year long. Often times when we are traveling...we get stuffed up noses and sinus congestion just because we are in a new location or suffering from seasonal allergies. Hotels, motels and lodges never have any humidifiers in our room, so we always make sure we bring one along.

Let me introduce you to the new Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier from Crane. This one product will help provide moisture in the air for easy breathing and give you a good night's sleep while you're traveling. It's perfect for use at-home, in a dorm room, or at the business office too. It has a versatile power source which runs on USB or via electrical wall outlet. It's compact, light-weight and totally portable! You can pack it in your luggage or carry-on bag and it won't take up much room at all.

The Mini Travel Humidifier comes with everything that you need except for the water. It includes the portable water tank, 3 wick filters, the ultrasonic humidifier, AC adapter, travel base, carry bag and the operating manual.

How to Use: Soak the wick filter for 5-10 minutes in water before using. Stick the humidifier into the provided portable water tank (or any standard size cup). Fill the water below the power indicator line. Do not fully immerse the humidifier under water. Plug it in and let it go! We find that we refill the water every night before we go to bed and we let it run all day long while we're out and enjoying the sites.

One of the things I love about this compact cool mist humidifier is the simple fact that it's whisper quiet! It does NOT disturb you in any way while you are sleeping. Second, you can use it with any water, including tap water and you can use it with the included water tank or with any standard cup if you are traveling and want to tote along less supplies with you. You can read all about the various options directly on Crane's website.

We use a regular-size humidifier at home and we wouldn't be without it, so why be without one when you're traveling? Well, now you don't have to be thanks to this handy, dandy Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier from Crane.

If you're looking to buy one, you can find it at Bed Bath & Beyond, Best Buy, Target and Toys R Us and check out the company's website for additional locations.

Disclaimer: Shelly H. has personally reviewed the product listed above. Shelly has not received any monetary compensation for her review. Shelly did receive a free product to try out so she could evaluate and use it for her review. Her thoughts & opinions in this review are unbiased & honest and your opinions may differ. Thanks!

The Perfect Solar Lantern for Traveling and Camping

Today I would like to introduce you to the lighting company called Dorcy who sells hundreds and hundreds of indoor and outdoor lighting products. When you shop at Dorcy you will find motion sensing lighting, flashlights, flood lights, path lights, battery operated ceiling lights, camping lanterns, headlights, spotlights and so much more!

For this review we were sent the Solar USB 100 Lumens Lantern which is one of the coolest lanterns I've ever seen! The base of the lantern is made out of a soft, flexible and collapsible rubber or silicone type of material...so you can collapse down the lantern for space-saving storage. If your a hiker...you can easily collapse it down and fit it in your backpack. If you do a lot of traveling, it will fit into your luggage too!

A few months ago we took this Solar USB 100 Lumens Lantern down with us to the Jersey Shore. We like to sit out on the deck at night and watch the waves roll in. In addition, we like to sit out there and play a game of cards or just chat with our neighbors. Lighting is an issue, so we took 3 of these lanterns along with us & they worked out perfectly!

One of the things I love about them is that flexible silicone base! We can use these lights out by the swimming pool, on the deck, out on the boat, taken them camping, hiking and all sorts of different things and we don't have to worry about them breaking if we drop one. The top unscrews from the base so you can store your hotel key, car keys, some cash money, lip balm, your jewelry or whatever small items you have along with you in the base for safekeeping.

These lights can be charged with the sun (they are solar) but they also come with a USB cord, so that you can charge them up via your computer too. That's great if you have a super cloudy day and need to charge them up for later use.

If you love to go camping or spend a lot of time outdoors at night, you can use the carrying strap to hang them up on a tree branch, hanging hook or just set them on the table top. If you need to walk to the bathroom or down a trail and it's dark, you can carry your lantern along with you. At home we hang them on garden hooks around our back pathway that leads to our swimming pool. I don't have to worry about the kids knocking them over!

I absolutely LOVE these solar lanterns! I think they are fantastic for use at-home or while traveling. You can pack them in your luggage, a backpack, a carry-on bag or take them along with you in your RV (travel trailer). They're light-weight and compact in size. In my opinion, the perfect little solar lanterns to take along with you!

Disclosure: Shelly H. was given complimentary product samples to feature in this review. No monetary compensation was received. Regardless of receiving samples, her thoughts, words and opinions are 100% her own and unbiased. Your thoughts may differ.

Book Review: Lassoing the Sun - A Year in America's National Parks

LASSOING THE SUN (Thomas Dunne Books; on-sale June 14th, 2016), Mark Woods’ account of his incredible, year-long journey visiting America’s National Parks. In 2011, Woods won the Eugene C. Pulliam Fellowship, a $75,000 award given annually to one writer in the country with a proposal to spend on year in America's national parks, looking ahead to the centennial and beyond. In 2012, he visited one park a month, starting with a sunrise in Acadia and ending with a sunset in Haleakala.

What was intended to be a book about the future of the national parks turned into something much bigger. LASSOING THE SUN is more than just a memoir – it is a book about family, the parks, the legacies we inherit, and the ones we leave behind. With the backdrop of America’s parks, Woods has given readers an immensely profound story about life and what it truly means to be alive.

The National Park System will turn 100 on August 2015, and with LASSOING THE SUN, Mark Woods has written a wonderful homage to the parks, the legacies they leave and the future they hold. Ken Burns acclaims, “in this remarkably journey, Mark Woods captures the essence of our National Parks: their serenity and majesty, complexity and vitality--and their power to heal."

Title: Lassoing the Sun
ISBN: 978-1-250-10589-9
Author: Mark Woods
Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books

My Thoughts: Most of the travel related books that I review on this blog are picture books and/or travel guides. The book "Lassoing the Sun" by author Mark Woods is so much more than that! It's a hardcover book with 312 pages. The book is about family, traveling, travel memories with the family, the national parks and the legacies that we all inherit.

The book is beautifully written. It's the type of book that I enjoy reading right before I go to bed, it's a relaxing and educational read. There are two sections within the book that has some gorgeous travel photographs of various parks that Mark had visited. For the book, Mark visited Redwood National & State Parks, Acadia National Park, Saguaro National Park, Grand Canyon National Park, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Dry Tortugas National Park, Yellowstone National Park, Gateway National Recreation Area, Yosemite National Park, Flight 93 National Memorial, Olympic National Park, Big Bend National Park, Gulf Islands National Seashore, Haleakala National Park, Timucuan Ecological & Historic Preserve and Cumberland Island National Seashore.

I've been fortunate enough to have visited Saguaro National Park, Grand Canyon National Park, Yosemite National Park and the Flight 93 National Memorial. I really enjoyed reading Mark's thoughts on those areas and compared them to my own. What really excited me more was reading about all of his travels & memories to the other national parks & recreation areas that I had never been to. Some of them are on my travel bucket list and others...well, they've now made it onto my bucket list thanks to reading Mark's book.

If you love travel books that are expertly written that share an author's personal experience and their emotional feelings...you'll love this book! When reading it, I do recommend that you read it slowly, so that you can let all of the information sink in. It's not the type of book that you want to speed through it, because you'll definitely miss something important. Take your time!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: MARK WOODS is the Metro Columnist for the Florida Times-Union, the daily newspaper in Jacksonville, FL, and recipient of the Eugene C. Pulliam Fellowship. He lives in Jacksonville, FL.

Disclosure: Shelly H. received a complimentary copy of this book to review & feature on her blog. No monetary compensation was received. Shelly's words are 100% her own thoughts & opinions. Your thoughts & opinions may differ.

The Perfect Toiletry Travel Bag by Caboodles

When you travel, you have a lot of things you need to take with you. You've got clothing, shoes, accessories, toiletries and if your a woman...you've got cosmetics too! It's important that our items be organized, protected and packed in as little space as possible.

Let me introduce you to my favorite travel bag that is perfect for packing your toiletries and/or cosmetics. The style of this bag is called the "Doctor's Bag" and it's made by Caboodles. I received this bag several months ago and I've been using it ever since!

Once of the things I love about this bag is that it's very light-weight and it's big enough that it will hold my toiletries, my husband's toiletries and all of my make-up too! It features two carrying handles and has a large zipper closure pocket on the outside front.

When you enter the bag through the top zipper entry, you'll find that the bag is beautifully lined. I love that there are gusseted reach-in pockets that go around the interior of the bag to hold my items securely in place. You can use them to hold bottles of shampoo, conditioner, hair spray, body wash, suntan lotion or anything else you are taking along with.

On the opposite interior walls you'll find some attached elastic bands which are perfect for securing your smaller items like lipsticks, mascara tubes, eyeliner pencils, lip liner pencils, make-up brushes, tweezers, etc. You know, those smaller items that you don't want to get lost, but yet want to find them quickly and easily.

The bottom of this bag is flat, so it will stand upright when you set it down. Perfect for sitting on top of a counter, vanity top, table, etc. In addition, I love that I can easily wipe down this bag with a damp cloth, should anything get spilled and if it needs a little cleaning. Not only that, this entire bag looks stylish and totally in-fashion!

As you can see, I have a LOT of room still left in my "Doctor's Bag" by Caboodles and when my grand daughter travels with us, I do add her things into the bag...again, still plenty of room left! You could use this bag for all kinds of different things, but I love using mine for when we travel.

You can find this bag wherever Caboodles bags are sold. I love mine and I highly recommend it to all of you!

Disclaimer: Shelly H. received a complimentary Caboodles Doctor's Bag to review for her blog. No monetary compensation was received. Shelly's thoughts, opinions and words are 100% her own. Your thoughts and opinions may differ.

Book Review - 101 Things to do in Martha's Vineyard

As a person who loves to travel, I'm a big fan of travel-related books. I like to pick up books on a new area that we are traveling to, so that I can plan ahead on all of the things that I want to see and do while visiting there. Over the years, I've amassed quite the collection of travel books and today, I get to introduce you to a new addition to my collection.

Title: 101 Things to do in Martha's Vineyard
Author: Gary J. Sikorski
ISBN: 978-0-7643-4953-9
Publisher: Schiffer Publishing

Book Synopsis: This photographic guide to Martha's Vineyard features 101 specific ways to enjoy the island, whether you're looking for the freshest seafood, a secluded beach, or a day of adventure. Packed with tips, useful information, and a handy map, this will be your go-to vacation reference. 

My Thoughts: About 20 years ago I had the pleasure to visit Martha's Vineyard for a few days during a mini vacation. As a newbie to the island...I wasn't aware of all of the things that I could see and do. Matter of fact, we didn't venture too far away from where we were staying and basically just hung out on the beach and did some shopping nearby. Now that our 30th wedding anniversary is approaching we've been talking about visiting Martha's Vineyard again and this time...we really want to experience everything that the island has to offer. 

101 Things to do in Martha's Vineyard is a beautiful hardcover book that is jam-packed with all kinds of information. The author does a great job in pointing out the best places to eat, the best beaches for sunbathing, the best beaches for shelling (a hobby of mine), great places to shop, great places to grab a beer, where to go to the movies and everything else in between! It's comprehensive and I love that the author has visited all of these places and knows exactly what to recommend to others.

The photography throughout this book is amazing! There are hundreds of photographs in the book with great descriptions of what each photo is about. Each place that the author recommends to you (there are 101 of them) includes the location/address and website (if applicable) so that you can easily find these places too. Not only that, he tells you exactly why he recommends each and every place! On pages 14-15 you'll find a Martha's Vineyard maps to help you get around during your trip.

I absolutely LOVE this travel book! It's comprehensive and really easy to read. Plus, it's the type of travel book that you'll want to sit out as a coffee table book, so that others can "leaf" through it too.

Disclaimer: Shelly H. received a complimentary copy of this book for review on her travel blog. No monetary compensation was received. Shelly's thoughts, opinions and words are her own 100% unbiased opinion. Your thoughts may differ.

Book Review: Pittsburgh - A Renaissance City

Pittsburgh is located in southwest Pennsylvania and has a lot to offer to travelers. You can take in the art scene, fabulous cuisine & fine dining, amusement parks, zoos, sporting events, concerts and a whole lot more! There is something for everyone in Pittsburgh!

Recently I had the opportunity to review a fabulous travel book which I'm excited to tell you about today.

Title: Pittsburgh: A Renaissance City
Author: Michael P. Gadomski
Publisher: Schiffer Publishing, Ltd.
ISBN: 9780764349232

Book Synopsis: Discover Pittsburgh today through 163 stunning photographs showcasing its sports venues, museums, businesses, universities, and cultural landmarks, all of which prompted The Economist magazine to name Pittsburgh “the most livable city in the United States.” Once regarded as part of the industrial rust belt whose glory belonged to another century, Pittsburgh today is renowned for its economic emphasis on education, research, health care, professional services, and advanced technology industries. The area is also a thriving cultural mecca. See popular landmarks, such as Heinz Hall Plaza, Allegheny County Courthouse, and Carnegie Mellon University, and visit Point State Park, Fort Pitt Museum, the original Primanti Bros. restaurant, and much more. Complete with detailed captions, this book celebrates Pittsburgh’s heritage, beauty, and diversity and is a must-have for tourists, history buffs, architects, and anyone who wants to see why it is a city for the twenty-first century.

Book Review: I love to review travel books, especially books that focus on my home state of Pennsylvania. When people typically think of Pittsburgh, they think of the professional sport's teams that play here...like the Steelers, Pirates and Penguins. However, the city has so much more offer than great professional sporting venues.

Pittsburgh - A Renaissance City by author Michael P. Gadomski highlights all of the special things about the city using beautiful photographs! It's a hardcover book containing 172 pages with oodles upon oodles of gorgeous photography. Along with the photos you'll find fun educational facts like: There are 446 bridges in the city of Pittsburgh, that's three more bridges than the city of Venice in Italy. This officially makes Pittsburgh the city with the most bridges in the entire world. Wow! Who knew? Now you do!

If you love looking at old buildings and monuments...this book is a treasure trove for you! You can check out the photos of Saint Mary of Mercy Roman Catholic Church, the Romanesque designed Allegheny County Courthouse, the iconic Fulton Building in the cultural district and so much more! Each photo is beautifully done and gives you a little bit of information about the subject matter and it's location within the city. From cover to cover, this book is jam-packed with gorgeous photography and information.

If you're planning a trip to Pittsburgh and really want to take in all of the sites and sounds that the big city has to offer, this book is a must-have! It will show you places that are well-known and places that are less visited. From the art scene to museums & zoos....along with everything in-between, this book will take you there!

Visit www.schifferbooks.com to learn more about this particular book and to explore other books that the publisher has to offer.

Disclosure: Shelly received a complimentary copy of this book to feature on her travel blog. No monetary compensation was received. Regardless of receiving a complimentary product, Shelly's thoughts, words and opinions are 100% her own.

Portable Personal Safe for Traveling from Master Lock

If you do any type of traveling, securing your irreplaceable belongings is a must. Gone are the days when you could leave your passports, cash money, travel documents, mobile phones, iPods, credit cards, photo ID's, keys and jewelry lying around in your luggage. Using a hotel safe is not always a great option either since you don't know how many people have access to the code.

We do a great deal of traveling and have experienced theft a few times while vacationing. Two of these instances happened in our hotel room and the other one happened at the airport when a thief stole the valuables out of our luggage but left the clothing & personal items behind. Ugh!

Master Lock is a company that makes a variety of products that can help protect your important documents, keys, money, passports and other valuables. These products can be used in your home, place of business or while you are out traveling.

The company sent me a complimentary Portable Personal Safe to review for all of you and to feature here on our travel blog. This portable safe is perfect for those who go out camping, traveling, hiking, for use at the office, gym or even at your home. Its small, light-weight and very compact in its size. It measures almost 9 1/5" wide by 2.2" high.

You can use this safe to secure your cellphone, keys, travel documents, iPod, credit cards, debit cards, jewelry, etc. It has rigid hard sides so you don't have to worry about your items inside becoming crushed. It is great for protecting and securing all kinds of important small things.

You lock up your valuables inside it with the set-your-own-combination lock. There is a removable cable that is wrapped tightly around the personal safe and you use that cable to lock down your personal safe to a fixed object within the room.

It's durable and has water-resistant construction. There is an ear bud/charging cable access port for your electronics. I love that inside the personal safe is a shock absorbing foam so that if you accidentally drop it, your items inside will still be protected. I can toss it into my overnight bag, my luggage, tote or even use it in a gym locker! It is extremely well-made!

You can learn more about this particular product and many others by visiting the Master Lock website online or by connecting with them on Facebook or Twitter. We give this product a big 2-thumbs up!

Disclosure: We received a complimentary sample of this product to review and feature on our blog. No monetary compensation was received. Our thoughts, opinions and words are 100% our own and were not influenced by the sponsor.

Cute and Practical Travel Luggage for Kids

Every family travels at one time or another. It can be yearly summer vacations or a weekend trip to see family. When we all travel we need luggage that functions well and it needs to be tough. Luggage takes one heck of a beating when we travel.

Let me introduce you to TrendyKid.com where you can find some of the cutest luggage I've ever seen for kids! Their luggage options are perfect for the wee ones and they have Tween styles too! Not only does this luggage look cute but it functions well too!

For our review we received the Penguin Travel Buddies Set which includes the wheeled upright luggage case and the matching penguin backpack. Both pieces are hard-shell luggage pieces but super light-weight! My 6 year old grand daughter had no issues wheeling or carrying either piece while we were on vacation.

The Wheelie Case has an adjustable handle so that it can be wheeled around easily. It has a carrying handle should you or your child prefer carrying it. The heavy duty zipper is really easy to operate and once inside it's lined in a polyester fabric. It's an 18" case so it meets all regulations when traveling.

The matching Penguin Backpack is the perfect size for the extras or for a weekend stay at Grandma's house. It features adjustable back straps, an inner zip compartment to keep things better organized and the velcro sides keep things from tumbling out. Your child can wear it as a backpack or carry it around via the carrying handle.

Each piece is extremely durable and well-made.  One of the things I like about it is that I can easily wipe down the outside of each piece with a damp cloth or towel when it gets dirty. It cleans right up!

On top of that is the cuteness factor and everyone who sees her luggage has to stopped us and asked us where we got it. Trust me...every time she uses her new luggage she gets all kinds of attention & loves it!! I have to admit...I like her new luggage set too!

You can learn more about TrendyKid and all of the adorable travel luggage that they have to offer by visiting their site online. These luggage pieces are well-worth the price and make excellent gifts for the little one's on your shopping list!

Disclosure: Shelly H. received a complimentary set of kid's luggage to review on her blog. No monetary compensation was received. Regardless, Shelly's thoughts and opinions on the products featured here are 100% her own opinions and were not influenced in any way by the company.

TSA Approved Luggage Lock from Master Lock

Traveling. It's something I love to do and have become quite the seasoned traveler over those past 15 years or so. I travel a lot for business but I also manage to squeeze in some personal travel too. After all, we work hard to make a living and we need to make time for fun too!

One of the things I've had hassles with in the past is the TSA slicing open my luggage during their mandatory inspections at airports. Not only is this a hassle but it's time consuming, costly and embarrassing at times too! Finally I've found an easier way of securing my luggage when I travel and it's all thanks to the great folks at Master Lock!

For this review I received the 4680DNKL Luggage Lock from Master Lock. This luggage lock is TSA Accepted and Travel Sentry Approved.  The TSA screeners can open, inspect and relock bags locked with the TSA-Accepted lock. What does this mean to you? Well, it means that you can lock your checked baggage with this luggage lock and those screeners won't cut it off.

What is really cool about this luggage lock is that you can easily re-set the combination for every trip that you take while the TSA screeners use an universal code that only they know to open up your luggage during screening. Furthermore, I really like the compact size of this luggage lock because other's that we've owned in the past were large, heavy and just too bulky to use. You can also use this on your carry-on bags, backpacks, computer bags, etc.

We used our luggage lock while on a recent 3-day business trip down to Florida and it worked perfectly. Our bag was protected and the TSA had easy access to our belongings inside during the screening process. Matter of fact, one of the screeners told us that he wished all travelers would use something like this! Once we returned home from our trip we went out and purchased 3 more of these luggage locks so that all of our bags will be protected & secured while we are traveling.

Master Lock makes all kinds of great products for travelers. We own their travel safe and won't leave home without it! We use it to secure our cash, credit cards, passports, photo ID's, etc. when we are traveling. I will feature that product in another review over the coming weeks. It's fantastic!

You can learn more about all of the products that Master Lock makes by visiting their site online or connecting with them on Facebook and Twitter.

Disclosure: Shelly H. received a complimentary Luggage Lock from Master Lock for her to review, use and feature on her travel blog. Shelly received no monetary compensation and her words, thoughts and opinions are 100% her own.

Book Review: Philadelphia Perspectives

Philadelphia...the city of brotherly love and rich in culture and history. Philadelphia was the center of political & commercial activity before the formation of the country and for many years after. The city is strategically located between the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers and always alive with all kinds of activities.

I love Philly and am I'm fortunate that I only live 2 hours away and get down there several times a year for visits. There is something always going on from some type of festival, music concert, sporting event, foodie events and more!

Today...I am sharing a book with all of you who want to learn more about Philadelphia and see some gorgeous photographs of the things you can see & do while visiting.

Title: Philadelphia Perspectives
Author: Antelo Devereux, Jr.
Publisher: Schiffer Publishing
ISBN: 978-0-7643-4844-0

Like most travel-related books...this one is jam-packed with beautiful photography inside. However, I think the book is unique because it has more photographs than most other books I've seen. It's less of a history book and more a photographic journey throughout the city of Philadelphia.

You will find gorgeous photographs and a little bit of history about:

* Liberty Hall
* Pennsylvania Hospital
* The Head-House
* Philadelphia's Magic Gardens
* Philly's Chinatown
* Jeweler's Row
* Boathouse Row
* Rittenhouse Square
* JFK Plaza
* The Cathedral Basilica
* Logan Square
* The "Rocky" Statue
* Eastern State Penitentiary
* Fairmount Park
* The Philadelphia Zoo
* Plus many, many more!

This book really does a fantastic job of taking you on a tour of the city with beautiful photographs! I am a resident of Pennsylvania and get to Philly several times a year. Some of the places featured in the book I've been to and others I've never heard of. As a seasoned traveler to the city...I now have some new places to check out!

You can find this travel book and many others by visiting Schiffer Books online.

Disclosure: Shelly H. received a complimentary copy of this book to review on her travel blog. No monetary compensation was received. Shelly's thoughts and opinions about the book are 100% her own and were not influenced in any way. Your opinions may differ.