Archive for: May 2010

Anyone who’s been to Cape Cod in Massachusetts can tell you just how beautiful a place it is. It has lots going for it, beginning with its charm, restaurants serving delicious food, and a great view over the ocean. And that ocean is full of wildlife, so if you’re up for a little adventure, this is definitely the place to be.

Charter boats are available to rent for a few hours or for the day. The two biggest ports are in Provincetown at MacMillan Wharf and in Barnstable Harbor. However, there are many other smaller harbors on the Cape that also charter boats for expeditions.

What you can see

The animals that migrate through the Cape vary depending on the season. Spring to fall it is common to see Humpback, Fin, and Minke Whales. Fin Whales are the largest and most abundant whales in New England’s waters. They reach 70 feet in length and weigh up to 50 tons.

You can also see:

• Northern Right Whales (though it’s uncommon to see them in the spring)
• Sei Whales
• White-sided Dolphins
• Right Whales

And if your trip extends to Hydrographer Canyon, you can see:

• Risso’s Dolphins
• Sperm Whales
• Short-finned Pilot Whales
• Common Dolphins
• Bottlenose Dolphins
• Beaked whales

What to wear and bring on your whale watching trip

Even on a summer day it can get cold on the ocean. Dress more warmly than you think you should dress. Layers work best so you can remove items if you’re too warm. Make sure your top layer is a water-resistant windbreaker for maximum comfort. Wear comfortable non-slip shoes so you can retain your footing on the boat even if the floor is a bit wet.

Also bring:

• A hat
• Sunscreen
• Sunglasses
• Camera or video recorder
• Binoculars
• Food and drink – check to see if your charter provides this
• Motion sickness preventative

While you can’t choose the weather, it’s generally better to plan your trip for early in the day. The waters are usually calmer and you may be able to see more. Additionally, if you’re taking an all-day excursion, you’ll want to plan ahead.

The ocean is teeming with marine life and just outside of Cape Cod you can see amazing creatures. Spending a morning or a day catching glimpses of whales and dolphins and getting up close to them is exciting and rewarding. It’s a trip you and your family are sure to remember for the rest of your life.

Lots of people just love rail travel – it’s great fun and it’s not as expensive as many other ways of traveling. But train travel, just like any other, can have its risks. This is especially so when you’re traveling in unfamiliar areas or in areas where tourists are known to be frequent victims of theft. The following are ten ideas to help contribute to your safety while riding the rails.

1. When traveling in your own car or compartment, particularly at night when you’re sleeping, always lock the door.
2. Keep your valuables hidden. Money, credit cards, expensive jewelry, and anything else you find valuable should be kept hidden away. It’s even wise to not flash your valuables in front of your compartment mates if they are strangers.
3. It’s also suggested if you’re traveling overnight to try to reserve the top bunk. Your belongings are more difficult to get to, as are you.
4. Never abandon your bags, even for a second. You could turn around and find them gone.
5. Keep a money belt, and consider sleeping with it on. Women, if you travel with a purse, make sure it has a zipper and that you keep it zipped. It’s much more difficult for a pickpocket to dive in if your bag is fastened.
6. If you’re traveling with children, be aware that the bathrooms on the train are public bathrooms and you should use the same precautions you would with any other public bathroom. Don’t let small children go in alone, ever.
7. When disembarking, be careful to stay clear of the train and if you have small children with you, make sure they’re on the platform with their hands and feet far away from the train.
8. Children younger than 10-12 should always have an adult with them when exploring the train.
9. Pack, and use, locks on your bags. People are victims of thieves every day on trains and in train stations.
10. Take great care to keep an eye on your belongings and your family members when you’re on busy platforms. Belongings and smaller family members can get lost.

Rail travel is generally a safe way to travel, but it always pays to be careful. Pay attention to where you are and what’s around you. Protect your loved ones and your belongings and you’ll have a much more enjoyable trip.

It sounds too good to be true: a family vacation that’s fun and educational at the same time. But it is possible. If you’re concerned to avoid the usual pools, beaches and amusement parks on your next family vacation, but still make things fun for your children, here are a few ideas.

1. Consider a theme. What type of educational experience would you like your children to have? For example, there’s an abundance of opportunities to learn about history throughout the country. Art history can be achieved in major metropolitan cities like New York and you can head to the beach for an education on marine biology. And a trip to our nation’s capital will be great for an education in both history and government.
   Starting with a theme can help you decide where to go, but you can also decide where to go first and then explore the educational opportunities present in that location. For example, if you decide to head to Orlando for a Disney vacation, you can explore nearby beaches for marine life, explore the behind-the-scenes engineering aspect of the theme park or explore the NASA facilities nearby and learn about space.
2. Cater the trip to the ages of your children. This may seem like an obvious statement; however, it’s important to consider not only what your children are likely to be interested in but also how long it’ll hold their attention. For example, a trip to the Smithsonian museums in Washington D.C. may seem like a fine idea for an educational trip; however, unless they’re older than twelve or even thirteen or fourteen, it isn’t likely to hold their attention long.
3. Don’t forget the fun. Like we said above, fun doesn’t have to be an amusement park or a swimming pool, but there does have to be a fun element to your trip or you’re going to have grumpy children. Fun can be a dinner at a theme restaurant, it can be swimming in the ocean and learning to surf, and it can be visiting a wildlife sanctuary and enjoying the things that interest your children.
4. What about volunteer vacations? Volunteer vacations can also be educational and fun. They’re a way for your child to feel as if they’re contributing, to meet new people and make new friends, and to learn new skills. It’s also a wonderful way to learn about new cultures or lifestyles. Volunteer vacations can take you to new parts of the country or new parts of the world and can be extremely valuable learning opportunities.
5. Consider traveling abroad. There’s nothing like a trip to another country. It’s educational and your children will have a blast learning about new cultures, learning a new language, eating new food and exploring. And there are pools, beaches and amusement parks in many countries if your child is looking for that sort of activity.

It’s easy to combine fun and learning in a family vacation. It just takes a bit of planning and a good idea about what your children’s attention span is, where their interests lie and how to balance fun and learning for their unique personalities.