Best of...Winter Carnivals
This winter, when you need to get out of the house for a little excitement, make plans to visit one of our country's winter carnivals. A winter carnival is an excellent place to experience unusual winter activities and festivities. Get ready for the ice-sculpting contests, dog sled races, sleigh rides, parades, and terrific, warm-you-up winter foods. Here are just a few winter carnivals you could visit this winter.
The Saint Paul Winter Carnival, Minnesota, Jan. 21-31, 2010
This carnival has 122 years of history and approximately 350,000 visitors annually. The Saint Paul Winter Carnival has ice carving and snow sculpting. You can to see all of these unique pieces of art, only available at this one time every year. Throughout the 10 days of this carnival, you can enjoy music, parades, food, sleigh rides and many other interesting and fun winter festivities. Of course, no Minnesota celebration would be complete without a feisty game of hockey.
The McCall Winter Carnival, Idaho, Jan. 29-Feb. 7, 2010
This 10-day carnival in McCall, Idaho is a fantastic event that will add some cheer to your winter. Your whole family will love this winter carnival. Here you will enjoy local snow-sculptures and the Idaho State Snow Sculpting Championships. The kids can play on the tubing hill or participate in the Kids Snowman Building Contest. There is comedy and music for entertainment, as well as snowshoe golf and fireworks over the lake. The Mardi Gras Parade is always a big hit as well.
Saranac Lake Winter Carnival, New York, Feb. 5-14, 2010
In 2010 this winter carnival will be celebrating its 113th year. Each year the carnival is opened with the crowning of the Winter Carnival's King and Queen, selected for their exemplary service to the community over the past year. Another special feature of this carnival is its ice palace, built each year and highlighted with a fireworks show over the palace. This carnival also has a lot of fun winter sporting events, including cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, inner-tubing, snowshoeing, curling, winter rugby, snowshoe softball, winter volleyball and even a frying pan toss.
Brattleboro Winter Carnival, Vermont
The Brattleboro Winter Carnival has lots of fun winter activities. You can enjoy the figure skating and watch some of the Junior Olympics events, including cross-country skiing races, downhill races and skating. Your family is sure to enjoy the shows and family activities, one of which is a petting zoo. In addition, you will find hockey, ice fishing and sleigh rides. The real highlight of this winter carnival is the sugar on snow treat. This specialty involves clean snow drizzled with hot maple syrup, served with doughnuts and pickles.
Whitefish Winter Carnival, Montana
Whitefish, Montana is a beautiful winter destination. Whitefish Mountain Resort has great skiing and hosts a terrific winter carnival. If you can make it to Montana for the winter festival, you will have the chance to see the Winter Carnival Royalty slope-side and watch the torchlight parade and fireworks. Even better, while you watch the events slope-side, you can enjoy hot chocolate and schnapps.
Burlington Winter Festival, Vermont, Feb. 6, 2010
The Burlington Winter Festival has all of the tried-and-true winter festival activities. You will find a snow sculpture competition, the winners of whichh get to represent Vermont at the National Snow Sculpting Competition in Wisconsin. If you are looking for a little bit of adventure, you can take the Penguin Plunge for the Special Olympics.
Wassail Weekend, Vermont
Wassail Weekend is a fabulous opportunity to enjoy the beauty of Woodstock in winter. You can see the holiday decorations, take a sleigh ride, or tour some of Woodstock's historic homes, or enjoy the music from the singers that parade the streets. The real highlight of Wassail Weekend is the Wassail Parade, featuring over 50 horses and riders in holiday dress.
Middlebury College Winter Carnival, Vermont, Feb. 19-22, 2010
The Middlebury College Winter Carnival is a student-run festival, and it is particularly unique because it is carbon neutral. This festival has a whole range of winter sporting events including Nordic and alpine skiing. The events include a bonfire and fireworks as well as broomball games and, of course, snow sculpting. If you visit this festival, you won't want to miss the ice show presented by the Middlebury Figure Skating Club.
Red Lodge Mountain Winter Carnival, Montana, Feb. 19-20, 2010
This winter carnival draws all sorts of skiers and snowboarders to the resort for the weekend. The list of events includes fireworks, a parade, and all sorts of other winter activities. Be sure to check out the Cardboard Classic race, where each participant uses only cardboard decorated by that participant.
Stowe Winter Carnival, Vermont
At the Stowe Winter Carnival you will find a wide range of amazing winter events. Perhaps you are looking for some wacky winter sports, like the Snow Volleyball Tournament. If you love ice sculpting, watch the professional ice carvers at work throughout Stowe. For an unforgettable great winter party, check out the Village Night Block Party.
Best of...Harvest Festivals
Throughout history people have given thanks for bountiful crops by celebrating with harvest festivals. Most regions of the world have some form of celebration which occurs around the time of the year’s largest harvest. Here in the United States, we still celebrate the harvest in the fall, especially during September and October. We even have a national holiday celebrating the harvest, Thanksgiving.
Your community is likely to have some sort of harvest festival, whether it's celebrating the berry harvest, an apple harvest, or even a bountiful grape harvest for the production of delicious local wines. Below is a list of ten U.S. harvest festivals celebrating different crops at different times of the year in locations across the country.
Pennsylvania Maple Festival - March 20 - 21 and March 24 - 28, 2010
The 2010 Maple Festival will be the 63rd annual festival. The festival is held in Meyersville, Pennsylvania each year and celebrates the harvest of maple syrup. The festival has many different events and attractions and fun. There is a pancake breakfast, an auto show, a parade, a dance and even tractor games.
Parker County Peach Festival - July 11
Celebrate the sweet taste of peaches at Weatherford, Texas's annual Parker County Peach Festival. At this festival you can enjoy many different peach delicacies, from cobbler to fresh peaches. You will also find many fun events and activities.
Sweet Corn Festival - September 2
The citizens of Millersport, Ohio celebrate their annual corn harvest at the Sweet Corn Festival every September. At this festival you can enjoy excellent foods, dancing, tractor pulls, and music. The main attraction of this festival is the sweet, buttered corn served on the cob, still hot.
Seattle Tilth's Harvest Festival - September 12
Seattle Tilth hosts an autumn harvest festival in the city of Seattle. This festival celebrates local growers, giving you the opportunity to look at the livestock and enjoy the locally grown and produced food. The festival also emphasizes organic food production. In addition to the tasty treats, you can also watch and learn from the workshops throughout the day.
Jackson County Apple Festival - September 22-26
The Jackson County Apple Festival takes place in Jackson, Ohio. This festival celebrates the yearly apple harvest. It is packed with fun activities in addition to its apple theme. You can watch the parades, or try the many different types of food, participate in or observe contests and shows, and enjoy plenty of live music.
Arroyo Grande Valley Harvest Festival - September 25-26
The 2009 Arroyo Grande Valley Harvest Festival was the 72nd annual harvest festival held in Arroyo Grande, California. This festival celebrates the agricultural history of this farming community and brings together the entire area to celebrate the past year. The festival is put on entirely by volunteers from the local area.
Bayfield Apple Festival - October 1-3, 2010
Next year will be the 49th Bayfield Apple Festival in Bayfield, Wisconsin. This festival's activities include a parade, a carnival-like atmosphere, rides, arts and crafts booths, music, boat cruises and food. Some of the food includes all sorts of apple creations, including a pie contest. You can also enjoy the products from many local orchards.
Bethlehem Harvest Festival - October 3
Visit Bethlehem, Pennsylvania to experience their annual harvest festival. This one-day festival has many fun activities for the entire family. You can get fresh produce at the produce market, find lots of delicious foods, and take home some incredible desserts. The festival also features beer sampling and brewing demos for the adult attendees.
National Cranberry Festival - October 10-11
The National Cranberry Festival in Carver, Massachusetts celebrates the cranberry harvest in the northeast U.S. The Edaville USA Park puts on this festival each year. At this festival you can enjoy some of the live music or other entertainment options. The really exciting aspect of this festival is watching the cranberry harvest from the train.
Sycamore Pumpkin Festival - October 21-25
This festival celebrates the annual pumpkin harvest and Halloween. At this festival you can enjoy rides and food, a parade, breakfasts, luncheons, music, and arts and crafts. To celebrate the pumpkin harvest, the festival holds a pumpkin display and a giant pumpkin contest. The Sycamore Pumpkin Festival in Sycamore, Illinois is the perfect way to help your family celebrate and give thanks for the year's harvest.
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Top State Fairs
Whether you're close to home or are visiting a state on the opposite side of the country, you'll find plenty of fun, good food, and festivities at the local state fair. Learn about foods that are grown and raised in the state, see livestock competitions, and get to know 4-H kids and their animals. With all the rides and amazing food, the whole family will love a trip to the state fair!
1. Minnesota State Fair - St. Paul
Considered by many to be the best state fair in the nation, this one has all the classic elements. Held in its traditional St. Paul location, the fair has amazing rides, superb food (including friend cheese curds, corn on a stick, and flavored milk), and really great livestock presentations. Late August, early September.
2. Ohio State Fair - Columbus
This fair includes roving entertainers, sporting events, and great bands on the big stage. This family-friendly fair has plenty of rides for the little ones as well as screamers for the bigger kids. Late July, early August.
3. Iowa State Fair - Des Moines
This is the nation's oldest state fair. Iowa hosted the first state fair in 1854 with a budget of less than $400. The event has grown quite a bit since then! You'll see some of country music's biggest names, the famous butter sculpture competition, and a singing contest. Mid to late August.
4. Expo New Mexico - Albuquerque
With incredible rodeo action, horse shows, and cattle auctions, the New Mexico state fair gives its visitors a true Old West experience. Don't miss the art gallery and bucking broncos! Mid to late September.
5. California State Fair - Sacramento
One of the most diverse states in the nation puts on a truly memorable state fair. With dozens of competitions, a wine tasting, and karaoke championships, there's plenty going on at this Sacramento event. Late August to early September.
6. Vermont State Fair - Rutland
The land of cows, cheese, and world-famous ice cream has a truly delicious state fair. Don't miss the helicopter rides, bike races for the kids, racing pigs, and magic shows. This fair has a special focus on animals, letting visitors see everything from bears to snakes. Early to mid September.
7. Eastern States Exposition - Springfield, Massachusetts
Grab one of the famous cream puffs and head out to the ESE! You can join a cooking contest, walk the Avenue of the States to take a mini tour of New England, or get a great seat for the Mardi Gras parade. Late September to early October.
8. State Fair of Texas - Dallas
Texas does things in a big way and its state fair is no exception. From hand-crafted cowboy boots to amazing livestock shows, you'll see it all at this Dallas fair. Don't miss the Chevy test drive, the aerial tramway, and the annual Starlight Parade. Late September to early October.
9. State Fair of Virginia - Mechanicsville
Since 1854, Virginia has hosted a terrific event full of contests and competitions, concerts, and rodeo fun. Judge the livestock and baked goods competitions and root for your favorite entry! Late September to early October.
10. Greater Gulf State Fair - Mobile Alabama
Rides, rides, and more rides make this a terrific family destination. The sunny gulf coast puts on one heck of a fair, offering everything from traditional fair foods to gulf coast specialties. Late October to early November.
Top Amusement Parks
From water parks and theme parks to city centers and zoos, amusement parks are the perfect place for a family vacation. What better way to keep the kids focused on fun than to plan a trip to one of the greatest parks in the country? The list below will give you plenty of ideas for your next adventure. Whether you love rides, slides, or that extra-special touch of magic, these parks have it all.
1. Disney World - Orlando, Florida
This is the queen of all theme parks, and for good reason. Disney World not only features Walt Disney's Magic Kingdom, but it also has the ultra-modern Epcot Center, water parks, a zoo, shopping areas, concert halls, and much more. In just one day, you can go from the Cinderella Castle to the freaky Twilight Zone Tower of Terror at MGM Studios.
2. Cedar Point - Sandusky, Ohio
This massive park is packed with rides and slides. Cedar Point has over 300 acres of fun, with 75 rides, a water park, and 17 roller coasters. Be sure to catch a ride aboard the Magnum XL-200 (once the tallest and fastest steel coaster in the world), Mean Streak (a wooden coaster), and Top Thrill, a roller coaster with a 400 foot drop.
3. Kings Island - Mason, Ohio
Ohio leads the list with a second incredible amusement park. Kings Island has over 80 rides, including 15 roller coasters. The park specializes in wooden coasters, featuring Beast and Son of Beast, the longest wooden coaster in the world. Smaller kids will love exploring the water park and Nickelodeon Universe.
4. Six Flags Magic Mountain - Valencia, California
With more than 100 rides and attractions, Six Flags Magic Mountain is a natural for this list. Rides are rated from moderate to max, and include such winners are the Viper, X2, Thrill Shot, and Goliath.
5. Busch Gardens - Tampa Bay, Florida
Set in beautiful, sunny Tampa Bay, Busch Gardens has far more than fantastic rides. From the wild animals at Jungala to the late-night Summer Nights fun, you'll find plenty going on. Don't miss the lions, tigers, and bears a the zoo, or the famous shows and acts they have going on year round. 6. Disneyland Resort - Anaheim, California
This classic theme park is absolute perfection to many people. Parents who visited when they were young love brining their own kids to Disneyland for the chance to visit the Pirates of the Caribbean, Space Mountain, and Cinderella's Castle. This is the park that started it all - and it now entertains more than 20 million people each year.
7. Schlitterbahn - New Braunfels, Texas
The king of water parks is the perfect place to cool off on a warm day! Schlitterbahn is actually three parks in one, offering over 40 rides, 17 water slides, three lazy rivers, and mile after mile of tube rides. Whether you take the uphill water coaster or vault out of one of the 9 tube chutes, you're sure to have a great time splashing around this Texas park.
8. Sea World - Orlando, Florida
From animal friends to terrific shows, Sea World is a star attraction. You'll see dolphins showing their stuff, Orca whales splashing around, and you can even take a ride aboard the Kraken, the tallest, fastest, longest, and only floorless roller coaster in Orlando.
9 - Knoebels Amusement Resort - Elysburg, Pennsylvania
This historic park opened in 1926 with a steam-fueled carousel and swimming pool. Since then, it's blossomed into a park that has a little bit of everything. Catch the great rides, eat at the amazing restaurants, and enjoy their warm hospitality. Knoebels offers free admission and parking, and a low rate for each ride.
10. Busch Gardens Williamsburg - Williamsburg, Virginia
This gorgeous park is a joy to explore. With ten individual hamlets inspired by European villages, this park would be fun even without its heart-stopping rides. You won't want to miss the Griffon, the world’s tallest and fastest dive machine coaster, or one of the internationally-flavored shows and concerts.
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