Traveling with the Jones

I truly love to travel, although I do not get to do it very often.  While thinking about all the places I have been and all the places I still plan to go, I came up with this list of 3 places everyone should travel to each year.

1.  Go somewhere you love to be: Plan a trip to your favorite city, someplace that makes you happy.  Make it a family trip or take a few friends along for the ride.  We all have rough days and image getting away from all the troubles of the world.  Do yourself a favor and plan that trip, once a year go somewhere just for you, just for fun.  Go for no other reason but to make yourself happy.  I recently visited an Alpaca farm in Mora, New Mexico that I wouldn’t mind visiting again next year.      

2.  Go someplace you have never been: It may be to a different state or country, maybe it is just to a neighboring town, the distance doesn’t matter.  You learn more about yourself as well as your destination when you travel someplace new.  The mystery and wonder of the new town can be exciting.  Going somewhere different or unknown can push you out of your comfort zone, which does not have to be a bad thing.  This year I visited both San Juan, Puerto Rico and Fayetteville, Arkansas for the first time ever.   

3.  Go somewhere that has connections to your family: Whether it is where your mother grew up, where your father was born, or to the country that your great, great grandparents traveled from, going back to your family roots can be very fulfilling.  You get a sense of who your family is, what their childhood was like, and how they came to be in the place they are now.  Personally, I love learning more about my family history and actually seeing, in person, some of the places I grew up hearing about is incredibly exciting.  I enjoy visiting towns in New Mexico where my family has ties too such as Santa Fe, where my sister lives.

What is something you would add to this list? Where is one place you plan to visit this year?   

Taysha Ham hails from Truth or Consequences, New Mexico.

A student at New Mexico State University, Taysha is majoring in agricultural communications with a minor in journalism.

This summer she is completing a social media internship for Venture Time Travel.

Why not check out these other posts by Taysha “;.

•  Top 6 Fun Things To Do in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico
• Destination Discovery: Bioluminescent Bay in Vieques, Puerto Rico
• 7 Travel Apps You Need Before Your Next Travel Adventure
• Weekend Wanderings – Santa Fe, New Mexico

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Yesterday we flew from Kansas City to Portland, Oregon nonstop on Southwest Airlines flight # 3053.  The flight is scheduled for 3 hours and 35 minutes.

That flying time seemed to pass much faster than usual on this flight, thanks to the new “TV Flies Free” promotion between Southwest Airlines and Dish that allows airline passengers to use their  iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, or most other Internet-ready personal devices to access free live TV and  on-demand shows during their flights.

This limited time promotion just started on July 2, and is only available when flying on one of Southwest’s Wi-Fi-enabled aircraft.

To use the free programming, one simply pulls out their wi-fi enabled device –once cleared to do so by the flight attendants –and connects to the wi-fi on the plane. Wireless service becomes available generally 10 to 15 minutes into the flight.

Before you can watch the television shows, you have to watch a brief commercial about the Dish network. You also have the chance to earn 500 Rapid Rewards points by signing up for the promotion.  Note: it’s not until you’ve entered all of your contact information that you see fine print saying that you are agreeing to have a Dish sales rep call you.

The selection of live television is terrific: you can catch up on the latest news, sports or reality TV.  Or, you can catch up on multiple episodes of your favorite programs.

Multiple shows of Law and Order on our iPads made our flight seem shorter, despite an every-seat-full-packed plane.

Southwest is the first airline to offer programming that uses customers  own devices.

Plus, it’s free. (For now.)

We give the promotion two thumbs up!

Have you used the new  “TV Flies Free” promotion on a  Southwest Airlines flight?  What did you think? 

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This is a guest post by Morgan Large, a graduate student at the University of Arkansas.

Thrill seekers look no further! Along the coast of the grand, great Lake Erie rests the roller coaster capital of the world that is known as Cedar Point.

Sandusky, Ohio is where Cedar Point has called home ever since it opened all the way back in 1870. Yes, almost 150 years ago, making it the second oldest amusement park in the nation. The first roller coaster at Cedar Point was constructed in 1892 and called the Switchback Railway.

Cedar Point Beach looking toward Hotel Breakers with ride Twisted Sister on the right. Photo by daveynin.

About Cedar Point

 Since its early beginnings, Cedar Point has undergone an enormous transformation into one of the world’s best amusement parks.

Cedar Point now covers 364 acres with a whopping 16 roller coasters for guests to enjoy. Roller coasters are not the only attraction at Cedar Point as they are only a small percentage of the park’s 75 total rides. Other attractions include the thrill, kid, and water rides, a water park known as Soak City, and live entertainment

View of the Maverick at Cedar Point.  Photo by Craig Lloyd.

The Coasters

Some of the best and well-known coasters are the Millennium Force, the Top Thrill Dragster, the Maverick and the latest edition that opened in 2013, the Gatekeeper.

The Millennium Force opened for thrill seekers in, you guessed it, the year 2000. The 310 feet tall, 2 minute ride reaches speeds of 93 miles per hour with an 80-degree drop. With a thrill rating of 5, the highest on the scale, the Millennium Force coaster is sure to fill anyone’s need for excitement and thrill.

View of Sky Ride, Power Tower and Top Thrill Dragster from the main midway at Cedar Point. Photo by cryogenic666.

The Top Thrill Dragster is truly one of a kind — for all of 17 seconds — at least. Dragster goes from zero to 120 miles per hour in four seconds. If you are an adrenaline junkie, this is your ride.  The Dragster reaches 420 feet in the air, which was the tallest and fastest coaster when it opened in 2003.

Cedar Point still has the classic, old style amusement park feel with a plethora of wooden coasters like the Blue Streak, which has been open since 1964. My first coaster experience at Cedar Point was at the tender age of 7 on the lime green and purple Wild Cat, which sadly, Cedar Point took down a few years ago. I have ridden them all and have nothing to say, but this place lives up to its name. Cedar Point is the best of the best.

Sandusky, Ohio — Roller Coaster Capital of the World

Cedar Point is more than just an amusement park. It is a one-stop vacation destination with numerous hotels, beaches, and Lake Erie attractions in the Sandusky area.

Spend a few days at the park, one day at the beach and another touring Marblehead Lighthouse close by. Take your next trip to America’s Roller Coast!

Have you ever been to Cedar Point? What is the tallest and fastest coaster you have ridden? 

Morgan Large loves to explore the world. She’s traveled across the United States and to 11 countries.

Originally from Ohio, Morgan currently lives in Arkansas with her Australian Shepherd, Oxley.

A graduate student at the University of Arkansas, Morgan’s studies are focused in agricultural communications.  Her blog,  RazorBuck: A Midwestern girl living in a Southern world highlights her adventures in photography, cooking and travel.

To learn more about Cedar Point and the world’s best roller coasters, check out these books:

Cedar Point (OH) (Images of America) Cedar Point: The Queen of American Watering Places American Coasters: A Thrilling Photographic Ride

 

Other adventurous posts that you might enjoy:

• A 10-Year-Old Rates the Rides at Worlds of Fun
• Exploring the Kansas City Zoo With a 6 Year Old
• Photo Friday: Stepping out on the Ledge
• Video: Up Close with an Alligator in Honey Island Swamp, Louisiana
• Photo Friday: Big Guy, Little Car

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