More Places To Add To Your Itinerary This Summer - H - L
Hawaii - Waimea Canyon
Located on Kauai, West side, Waimea Canyon is also called "The Grand Canyon of the Pacific."
The have River Cruises and Helicopter Tours as well as hiking tours.
You will get to enjoy their beautiful rain forests, sandy beaches, cliffs over looking the ocean.
The various landscape is due to thousands of years of earth quakes, volcanic activity.
There is different levels of look out points where you can take in the beautiful views of deep valley gorges, crested buttes, and rugged crags. Not to mention the plunging water falls!
Thousands of years of volcanic activity, earthquakes, and erosion have created a dramatic variation in the landscape.
Surely an adventure you don't want your family to miss out on!
Idaho - Silverwood Theme Park
Located in Northern Idaho, Silverwood Theme park is a great way to spend the day. They have rides such as one of their roller coaster called "After shock", Antique Cars that you get to drive with out an adult as long as your at least 48" tall, Bumper Boats, Sky Diver, Spin Cycle to name a few! Whether you are a thrill seeker or like the more subdue rides, they have it all including kiddie rides. They also have a steam engine train where you might even see a train robber! If water is more your thing, you can stay cool at one of their water attractions....Including a beach!
What ever you choose to do you are sure to have a great time!
Illinois - Pere Marquette Riding Stables
From May through October Pere Marquette Stables is open from Wednesday through Monday to the public.
You can go on a 45-50 minute horse back riding tour where you might catch a glimpse of the local wildlife like deer, red tail hawks, and wild turkeys.
They have two trails for people who have their own horse. There is also Hayrides.
You can also bird watch or just go on a hike.
They also have camping and lodging in the area. Sounds like a nice way to enjoy nature.
Indiana - French Lick Scenic Railway
Who doesn't love trains? French Lick Scenic Railway is a great place to take the family.
They have many different train events depending on the month of the year. Train rides from Wild-West Hold-ups, Chuggington: A Traintastic Adventure, Day Out With Thomas (yes Thomas train!) and The Wizard of Oz Train Ride, even a The Polar Express Train Ride! just to name a few. Want to take a pizza train? They have one of those too!
During the ride you will ride through Hoosier National Forest and through the Burton Tunnel.
Iowa - Riverboat Twilight
While children are allowed on these cruises, you might just want to take a 2 day cruise just you and your honey. They offer 1 1/2 hour - 1 day and 2 day cruises.
You will see Pelicans and depending on the time of the year you will most likely see some Eagles as well.
The TWILIGHT is described as being elegant and able to handle herself quite well and can make a 360 degree pivot nearly on a dime. It is also pretty fast for her type of boat but she slides through the water quietly.
Unfortunately there is only one downfall, it is not completely handicapped accessible, unless you plan on only taking the hour and a half or 1 day cruise where everything you need is on the main deck. But not bad considering it is a small river boat and not a huge ocean liner right?
Kansas - Oz Museum
Located in Wamego, Kansas, The Oz Museum holds over 100 years of history. It was built with a grant from the State of Kansas and with the volunteer help of people in the community.
It has over 2,000 artifacts. It not only has memorabilia from the 1939 MGM Movie, it also has early silent films with one such actor as Oliver Hardy as the Tin Man!
And of course it has the Wiz with Diana Ross and Michael Jackson. You might even hear Judy Garland singing "Some where over the rainbow".
As you make your way down the Yellow Brick Road's memory lane you will learn detailed facts about "The Wizard of Oz".
If it has anything to do with The Wizard of Oz then you will more than likely find it here.
They also have Oztoberfest downtown if you happen to be their at the right time! They have different foods and wines named from references from the movie. What fun!
Great place to go if you are a fan of the movie like I am!
Kentucky - Newport Aquarium
Newport Aquarium has the only rope suspension bridge in North America. It is a 75' long V shaped bridge suspended just inches over the aquarium's exhibit of sharks and shark-rays and the other fish. The shark exhibit tank hold 385,000 gallons of water. It holds the largest exhibit of shark-rays in the world. They also have a 200 pound turtle named Denver.
Other gallery exhibits they have are:
Gator Alley - Be sure to say Hello - but don't get too close to their 800 pound - 14 foot long gator named Mighty Mike who is said to be the biggest and baddest Alligator in the country except for Florida.
Another is Kroger Penguin Palooza, there you will see five different species of cold-water penguins.
Next is Frog Bog. Here they have almost 20 species of exotic frogs. They even have "secret" frog tanks that children can see when they climb through their kids only jungle gym in the Frog Bog.
Jellyfish Gallery In reviews this seems to be a favorite of their guests along with the Sea Horses.
They even do sleep overs. It would be cool to look above you and count the fishes instead of the stars!
Louisiana - High Delta Safari park
Ok not quite as adventurous as driving through the Safari's in Africa but fun just the same and most of these you can actually touch!
Here you will learn about animals from all over the world. You can either drive through or take their tour. You will be able to feed and pet the animals. They have a petting zoo and play area for kids.
Along this safari you will see Zebras - Camels - Water Buffalo are just to name a few.
