Discovery Map Travel: Canada Discovery Map iconic sites Niagara Falls summer travel top reasons to go USA
by maribeth
Comments Off on Top Reasons to Go to Niagara Falls U.S.A. and Canada
Top Reasons to Go to Niagara Falls U.S.A. and Canada
Niagara Falls
School is almost out and that means VACATION for many families. Why not go to an iconic North American site such as Niagara Falls? And when you go, be sure to hit both sides because as you’ll see in my Discovery Map Niagara Falls write ups, there are great reasons to visit Niagara Falls U.S.A. and Niagara Falls Canada. Do click through to check them out; read Niagara Falls Facts, The Almost Complete Guide to Niagara Falls USA and The Almost Complete Guide to Niagara Falls Canada.
Have fun!
The Great Niagara River and Falls
Arizona Discovery Map The Southwest: Arizona Carefree Cave Creek Discovery Map Flagstaff Grand Canyon North Scottsdale Sedona Southwest
by maribeth
Comments Off on Top Reasons to Go to the Grand Canyon and Flagstaff, Arizona
Top Reasons to Go to the Grand Canyon and Flagstaff, Arizona
The Mighty Grand Canyon
Happy 100th birthday to you, Grand Canyon! February 26, 2019 marked the 100-year anniversary of when the Grand Canyon was designated a national park, however, events to commemorate this great milestone are taking place all year long. Find out more at the Grand Canyon National Park Centennial page of the National Park Service.
I’ve been twice and was awestruck each time. My most memorable visit was with my parents in 2010. It was always my father’s dream to see the Grand Canyon before he passed and he sure wasn’t disappointed. You can read about that trip and also our travels to Monument Valley at Touring the Southwest with My Parents.
Dad Flanked by Mom and Me at the Grand Canyon
I revisited this magnificent site (in my mind this time) when I wrote it up recently for Discovery Map. Check out Historic Highlights of the Grand Canyon and Historic Highlights of Williams to find out why you should plan a good amount of time for traveling in this part of the Southwest.
Only about eighty miles from the Grand Canyon, people often combine a trip to Flagstaff with one to the Grand Canyon. It’s a must for lovers of the outdoors! Read Flagstaff Outdoors and Flagstaff History to learn about some of the highlights that I think are noteworthy.
Discovery Map Shopping: alpenschatz alpinetreasures autographeditems champagne charmingonlineshopping chocolates collectibles discounts discoverymap freshsoapcompany giftsfortravelers henri'sreserve holidayshopping johnpetach mapart mapgifts notecards onlineshopping pettoys purrfectplay pushpintravelmaps roysteele ruth'stoffee soaps toffee
by maribeth
Comments Off on Last-Minute Online Shopping for Holiday Season 2018
Last-Minute Online Shopping for Holiday Season 2018
The Best Gifts for Your Fur Babies from Purrfect Play
Authentic Swiss Cowbells from Alpen Schatz
Fresh Soap Company Holiday Goods
Time to throw down the gauntlet on wrapping up your online shopping. This weekend is the deadline (OK, some say early next week) for placing orders for Christmas delivery. So let’s get ‘er done!
Discovery Map Travel Trip Planning Writing & Books: Discovery Map Exciting Destinations Fun Reads Great Resource Helpful Information Travel Trip Planning writing
by maribeth
Comments Off on Discovery Map and Me
Discovery Map and Me
Using My Discovery Map in Southampton
You may have noticed that I’ve been posting links to Discovery Map stories here at my blog for just over a year. Wait, don’t tell me you’re not familiar with Discovery Map? I bet many of you are–either through my blog posts–or having actually used one of these cheery, hand-drawn maps on your travels. If you’re not familiar with Discovery Map, I suggest you become acquainted with them. They have a presence–yes, in the form of super cute and handy foldout maps–in some 125 destinations across the U.S. and abroad.
Good news is that Discovery Map is actively developing their web presence. That’s where I come in. They are expanding their website in a variety of ways, including showcasing written descriptions about their destinations. There’s not much room for that on the actual maps but the sky’s the limit on their website.
Discovery Map Travel: beaches Cape May Dewey Beach Discovery Map great seaside resorts historic towns Lewes Maryland New Jersey Rehoboth
by maribeth
Comments Off on Top Reasons to Go to Cape May and Rehoboth
Top Reasons to Go to Cape May and Rehoboth
Cape May
Rehoboth
It’s Friday afternoon and unless you’re in the path of Hurricane Florence, it feels like it’s time to hit the beach here on the east coast. I’m still in upstate New York typing in a tank top, barefooted and breathing easy outside on my Mom’s patio perched on a lounger. Yessirree, I plan on milking this sweet summer feeling until the snow flies.
Paddling Out for Fun in Cape May
And if I wasn’t so tied up with what life is currently throwing my way right now, I’d be planning a trip to the beach. Indeed, I feel that September is one of the best times to hit a beach destination, even if it isn’t way down south. The weather is typically beautiful (currently 80ish) and the crowds have gone home. The water still warms the body and soul, especially if you’re visiting destinations farther south such as Cape May, New Jersey or Rehoboth, Delaware.
Art & Culture Discovery Map Travel: art Artists Guild San Francisco Discovery Map John Petach map art maps Travel
by maribeth
Comments Off on Crafting Vacation Memories with Maps
Crafting Vacation Memories with Maps
Map of Florence by John Petach
The Brush Used for the Map of Florence
John’s Napa Valley Map
Napa Brush
How many of you still use maps? I mean the old fashioned kind that you can actually hold in your hands and spread out on a kitchen table. You know, the maps that you can rarely fold up exactly how you found them. It is hard sometimes to line up the creases but when you do it’s oh-so gratifying. And when you don’t, you hopefully let it go, shrug and feel content with the big overall perspective that the map you just looked at provided.
Artist John Petach
You definitely don’t achieve that perspective or level of satisfactory map studying from an electronic map on one of your devices. No matter how much you zoom in and out, it just isn’t the same. And plus, that zooming business only works properly a fraction of the time. No, it’s nice to have something to hold in your hands, particularly since there’s so much beauty to be found in maps.
Through my work with Discovery Map, I even found someone that possesses a sort of map fetish. Artist John Petach loves travel and maps so much that he was inspired to create a collection of works that uses maps as canvas. I think they’re marvelous and I hope you’ll check them out here. You’ll see that he thinks Discovery Maps are great, so he created a number of pieces using their maps as the background.
Discovery Map Outdoor Adventures Restaurants The Northeast Travel: Block Island Discovery Map Narragansett Newport Outdoor Adventures Providence Restaurants Rhode Island The Northeast top reasons to go
by maribeth
2 comments
Top Reasons to Go to Newport, Narragansett, Block Island and Providence, Rhode Island
Seaside Summer Dinner
Beautiful Block Island
Historic Block Island Southeast Light
Fishing in Narragansett Bay
The Breakers in Newport
Yay, it’s summer! It’s almost the Fourth of July and that means barbecues, lobster dinners, boating and toes in the sand for many. With the sweltering heat wave seizing most of the East Coast this weekend, the beaches will be packed. You might just as well pick the best ones around. In writing for Discovery Map, I discovered that the little New England state of Rhode Island boasts some of the most beautiful beaches within the United States. It’s no wonder the wealthy industrialists of the nineteenth century chose to build their summer homes, or rather mansions, here!
Not surprisingly, Newport, Narragansett and Block Island are incredibly scenic and in addition to their natural beauty, all three of these destinations will woo you with their proliferation of fine food and drink establishments, history and Old World charm. I’ve summed up the highlights in my write ups entitled Dine and Drink Your Way Through Newport, Historic Newport, Outdoor Life in Gansett, Instagram-able Narragansett, Outdoor Fun on Block Island and Instagram-able Block Island. Check them out and let them point you in the direction of a fun summertime getaway to the Northeast.
You might just want to plan a vacation to all three and loop in Providence, Rhode Island as well. As I write in Providence Eats, this beloved city offers a vibrant food scene, one largely dominated by Italian cuisine–delizioso! There’s also a lot to do in this historic town as I’ve documented in The Almost Complete Guide to Providence.
Have fun exploring Rhode Island, even if it’s just through my written word.
Happy Fourth of July! Happy summer!
Thank you to Discovery Map, Amy Newman and Margie Hans for some of the above photos.
Arizona Discovery Map Hotels & Lodging Restaurants Shopping The Southwest: Arizona Carefree Cave Creek Discovery Map North Scottsdale top picks
by maribeth
1 comment
Top Reasons to Go to Carefree, Cave Creek and North Scottsdale, Arizona
Desert Owls
Last week in my story Feeling English at Teatime in Arizona, I highlighted the English Rose Tea Room in Carefree, Arizona. This spurred me into thinking about this destination, one of my favorite places in the Southwest. If you’re going to Phoenix or Scottsdale, you must add on a few days and spend some time in Carefree, Cave Creek and North Scottsdale. Or, you could make it a destination in and of itself–there’s that much to do there. From the natural beauty of the Sonoran Desert to terrific dining, lodging, shopping and spa-going, this area enchants me in so many ways and I’m sure you’ll feel the same.
Picture Perfect Sonoran Desert
Sonoran Desert
It was the first destination I wrote up for Discovery Map; check out Embrace the Desert and Desert Dining and Shopping to find out the top reasons why you should visit this part of America. I also chose to start with this destination because Discovery Map Carefree, Cave Creek and North Scottsdale is owned by Margie Hans, a childhood friend. She lives in Carefree, practically across the street from the breathtaking Boulders Resort & Spa (more on this fabulous place later). She became involved in the map business via her brother, Peter Hans, another old friend of mine, who is the owner of Discovery Map International. Yes, it’s a franchise business with well over 150 maps across the U.S. and beyond.
