Must Add These Attractions To Your Itinerary This Summer.

Alabama - US Space & Rocket Center

US Space & Rocket Center

Opened in 1970 and located in Huntsville, Alabama, this museum has rockets, and artifacts of the U.S. space program as well as two camps that it offers. U.S. Space Camp & Aviation Challenge. Each camp has its own unique learning programs. This camp is open to adults and children. Along with its interactive science exhibits, campers will also get to use simulators.

But you don't have to sign up for camp to enjoy this museum. It has many exhibits and attractions. For example it has interactive science exhibits, Space Shuttle and Army rocketry and aircraft. With more than 1,500 permanent rocketry and space exploration artifacts, as well as many rotating rocketry and space-related exhibits, the center occupies land carved out of Redstone Arsenal adjacent to Huntsville Botanical Garden at exit 15 on Interstate 565. The center offers bus tours of nearby Marshall Space Flight Center.

Some say it is "Earth's largest space museum".

Astronaut Owen Garriott says it's "a great way to learn about space in a town that has embraced the space program from the very beginning."

Alaska - Denali National Park

Denali National Park

With its 6 million acres of wild life, Denali National Park should definitely be on your lists of places to visit while in Alaska! It is also home to North America's tallest peak - Mt. McKinley - ...20,310-ft. high the largest of any mountain situated entirely above sea level at the summit point. It is Denali National Park center piece.

Chances are you will see at least a grizzly bear or a wolf or moose maybe even a caribou or Dall sheep, you might be lucky enough to see all of them and then some! Wood frogs also inhabit this park. Did you know that Denali's wood frog is different from others as it has learned to adapt to it's climate. The wood frog freezes solid during the winter. It does this by its heart stops beating and its lungs do not breath again until Spring thaw! Can you imagine?!

If you decide to hike it be prepared for predominantly treeless terrain. There are bus tours as well. Whether you choose to bike it or hike it on its maintained back country trails or take the tour ride you will surely enjoy its beauty and majesty.

Fun fact: Denali means "The High One" in language of the Athabascan tribe. Denali was the original name of Mt. McKinley

Arizona - Sugar Bowl

Sugar Bowl. Scottsdale, Arizona

This Ice Cream Parlor has been around since December 1958. It has authentic soda fountain & seats 10. Table seating seats 100 and they even have a party room which seats 40. The decor has remained pretty much unchanged - including its menu.

The Sugar Bowl Ice Cream Parlor is also on the Scottsdale's Historic Preservation Resister.

There is also a printed flyer that says;

Welcome to the Sugar Bowl!

The day before Christmas '58

was SUGAR BOWL'S glorious

opening date!

And the friendly persons

who own it and run it

Are the VERY SAME people who

that day BEGUN it!

SUGAR BOWL'S the ONLY spot they own.

Among ice cream parlors it stand alone!

it's open EVERY day, (even on Sunday)

And open each NIGHT, Monday thru Sunday.

Do come often, the food is just YUMMY!

We've all kinds of GOODIES

to TICKLE your tummy!

Arkansas - Thorncrown Chapel

A native of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, Jim Reed purchased some land to build his retirement home.

Many people would stop on his property to view the Ozark hills. One day he had an idea, he wanted people to be able to enjoy the view and relax.

He soon met professor Fay E. Jones from the University of Arkansas. He pitched his idea to him and Jones accepted the proposal to design the chapel. Jim was excited that his dream was going to become a reality, breaking ground on May 23, 1979. The construction came to a halt about halfway through when funding was running out. He began to believe it was the biggest mistake he ever made after many failing attempts to raise money to finish the chapel.

One evening he walked down to the construction site of the half finished chapel. Thinking that would be the last time he would go there. But while there he decided to pray. He said, "I am not proud of the fact, but the first time I ever got down on my knees was on the chapel floor. I prayed more seriously than ever before. All the trials and tribulations gave me the humility to get on my knees."

Things turned around for Jim and the unfinished chapel. With in days all the money needed to finish his dream became available to him. Thorncrown Chapel opened on July 10, 1980.

There is no admission cost and to date over 6 million people have passed through. The chapel has also won numerous awards like the American Institute of Architects Design of the Year Award for 1981 and AIA's prestigious 25 Year Award. Recently, members of the American Institute of Architects placed Thorncrown Chapel fourth on its list of the top buildings of the twentieth century. It has been featured in many television shows, even NBC's Nightly News and several magazines.

The chapel is located on Highway 62 West just outside of Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Every tour group will receive a presentation telling the story of the chapel followed by an inspirational song by one of the Thorncrown musicians. There is suitable parking for buses and RVs. It will be a visit you will not soon forget.

Donations are accepted.

California - Griffith Observatory

The Griffith Observatory sits on Mt. Hollywood in Griffith Park. Opened on May 14, 1935. In the first week it welcomed 13,000 visitors! It now has over 1 million visitors a year. Since it's opening in 1935 over 76 million people have visited. It has many exhibits, live shows in the Samuel Oschin Planetarium and visitors can look through the Observatory's Zeiss 12-inch refracting telescope to view the city or the stars - the ones in the sky of course! The Observatory is the best point for observing the world-famous Hollywood Sign.

Griffith donated the land for Griffith Park in 1896 and specified the location the building in his will in 1919. He was very specific about the purpose, location and features. Once completed it was given to the City of Los Angeles with the condition that it operated with no fee to the public. It was also the third planetarium in the U.S.

It closed for a short time in 2002 for a 93 million dollar renovation.

MISSION: Griffith Observatory inspires everyone to observe, ponder, and understand the sky.

"If all mankind could look thru that telescope it would change the world."

Griffith J. Griffith

Colorado - Red Rock Canyon

Red Rock Canyon Open Space is a 789-acre city park in Colorado Springs, Colorado. It has many trails that vary in difficulty.

Red Rock Canyon used to have industrial sites, like gravel pits, quarries, a land fill and gold refining mill. Which still shows it's scars from. The he most visible scars from past exploitation of the land are the remains of the Kenmuir Quarry, which produced Lyons sandstone in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and the Gypsum canyon landfill, which operated from 1970-1986 and remains off-limits to park visitors.

The park trails connect to the Intemann trail to Manitou Springs and the Section 16 conservation area to the south. Technical rock climbing is allowed with a permit.

It also leads to the Garden of the Gods. Another attraction you surely don't want to pass up! It's only a couple of miles north.

Connecticut - Stamford Museum & Nature Center

When visiting the Stamford Museum & Nature Center, you might want to allot 2 or 3 days at least if you want to see everything. The museum focuses on 5 main areas: the natural history of New England, American art, Native American art and culture, American history and culture, and farming implements.

They have a farm which you can experience first hand.

A small wild life area where they once house an American Bald Eagle.

A Hall of Mammals and the Hall of Geology & Mineralogy

The Hoyt Marine Hall

The Overbrook Nature Center, which contains an interactive exhibit area with small local animals and "Nature's Classroom,"

Walking trails that wind through the museums 80 acres. Woods Trail #7 is handicapped accessible.

A 4-story observatory with a research telescope.

The Edith and Robert Graham Otter Pond is the home of the SM&NC's resident river otters.

An Animal Embassy where children and adults can interact with wild life.

A large play ground that allows children to see things from wild life's point of view.

Plus many other activities and exhibits. So you see now why you might need a couple of days!

Delaware - Cape May-Lewes ferry

Cape May-Lewes ferry is a 17 mile, 85 minute boat ride. Oh board they have added WiFi, arcade games, and fancy deck chairs for parents to kick back in and enjoy the ride. They also have family fun tours and other events, some of which include live music.

Along this ferry ride you will certainly enjoy the views of the harbors, ocean vessels, seabirds, historic light houses and some have even had the pleasure of a dolphin escort!

Once on the other side of the Delaware Bay, among other things to see and do there is NASCAR races at Dover Downs or no-sales-tax shopping at outlets in Rehoboth.

They also have shuttle rides back.

Florida - The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum

The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum on Sanibel Island is the only museum in the United States that is solely devoted to shells and the mollusks that make them.

While there you will learn about the many sea creatures that make these shells and what they are used for once they die.

Not only do they have a big display of shells from around the world, they also have a gift shop inside. They will even ship your purchases for you so don't have to drag them around on your vacation!

Did you know that sailors would use shells to make these beautiful keepsake boxes to bring home to their sweethearts? Just like the ones in the picture.....beautiful huh?

Georgia - Callaway Gardens

There are many attractions at Callaway Gardens. One of the most peaceful places is the Ida Cason Callaway Memorial Chapel. Cason Callaway built this as a tribute to his mother. It was inspired by 16th century Gothic chapels. Atlanta artist Joel Reeves designed the six stained glass windows. They illustrate the seasons in a Southern forest. There are benches across the water that face the chapel that make for a relaxing view. It is a small chapel and many have been married there. It also have a beautifully custom built Moller pipe organ. They hold non-denominational services there on Sunday mornings during the summer.