Thanksgiving Break with some friends

I just got back from my Thanksgiving vacation and I find myself literally dead, well from exhaustion. Originally we went to Miami in order to catch a little sun and party at the clubs, but on Friday we found ourselves taking a 4 hour road trip to Orlando. The 4 hour ride sucked, I slept much of the way, but honestly it was completely worth it. On Friday they took me to The Magic Kingdom where I had never been before. The moment I stepped inside I was a little girl all over again. It was so neat to see all the Disney characters that I had once sat on the floor and watched their movies over and over again. You could spot them all over the park taking pictures with all the little kids, I didn't get the chance to get a picture because the lines were so long and my friends and I obviously wanted to get on all the rides. The rides were pretty cool too. Finally I got the chance to ride on the famous "Splash Mountain" of which all my friends had talked about and it was great! The line was long, but again it was worth it. The whole set of characters and story line before the big fall is really cute and very well put together, it makes you feel like you are actually in this little cartoon world. Then the big splash...HILARIOUS and REFRESHING! I just loved it and even decided to buy those picture packages for the whole group. My other favorite was Space Mountain which was really cool because you find yourself in this roller coaster where you cant see anything because its all pitch black. In this one I couldn't stop laughing because my friend who sat in the back was screaming the whole ride, and the funny part is that friend is a guy. By the end of the night we were all starving so we decided to buy one of those turkey legs and "OH MY GOD, what a turkey leg!". It was huge, like they just took it off a Flintstones cartoon or something. So after our bellies were all filled up we decided that it was time to go because the next day we would be waking up early in order to go to Islands of Adventure. We said goodbye to The Magic Kingdom while the final parade was going on which was beautiful there was glitter, lights, dancers and the castle was "picture perfect".


Now Islands of Adventure was a whole new deal. This place was insane with all the crazy rides and whats even more crazy is that we all decided to get on ALL of the rides. From Dueling Dragons to Spider-Man and the Hulk we were busy all day walking from one end of the park to the other. The lines actually were not bad at all the most we had to wait was 40 minutes for Spider-Man which was a lot better than I expected since its 3D and not really a roller coaster. Then end of the ride is great, you find yourself falling off a skyscraper and it feels so real that its kind of scary. Now the Hulk is another really powerful ride which you should not pass the opportunity of getting on even if it looks a tad intimidating. What I do advice for anyone who is planning on going to the park soon is to take a bag with extra clothes. My friends and I decided to do all of the water-involving rides at the same time so that we would only get wet once and by the end of it when we got out of Popeye's ride we were drenched. And when I mean drenched I mean like soaking wet, shirts and hair dripping water. The point is that the day was pretty windy so we were all shivering from the cold, four of them went back to the cars in order to change and I stayed behind with my best friend and we regretted it, because obviously it took us a long time to fully dry off. Besides the goose bumps the water rides were super fun. Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls, Popeye's and the Jurassic Park ride were some of my favorites. Well actually I loved the whole park. I dont know if it was the fact that I had never been to any of these two parks or maybe the people that I went with made the trip so much funner, I just enjoyed my time so much at these parks that I cant wait to go back and test some more rides. I really think that its a great way to spend time with family and friends in a safe and happy environment. So just go and remember what I always say: bring your cameras!

West Edmonton Mall

I have been to Canada more times than I can count. I have family that live in Sault Ste. Marie, Canada, which is right over the border to Canada. Usually once a summer my family either travels there to see them or their family comes to the United States to see us. I have also traveled to and toured around Toronto and Niagara Falls. Both were pretty short trips but enough time to see some of the main sights. In Toronto my family and I saw the play Mama Mia. It was my first big play I've seen and it was amazing. Niagara Falls was pretty neat too. We took a ride on the Maid of the Mist, which is a boat that takes you right up close to the falls. You actually get so wet you have to wear ponchos. I love my family trips to Canada, but one place we haven't been that I'd really like to go is the West Edmonton Mall in Edmonton, Alberta. 

The West Edmonton Mall is the largest mall in North America and the forth largest in the world. It has over 800 stores, a waterpark, amusement park (Galaxy land), indoor lake, movie theatre, and ice rink. It is definitely more than a one-day trip. It seems a little overwhelming to me, but I wouldn't have to do everything there is to offer. Just being there would be a lot of fun. 

The waterpark is North America's largest indoor waterpark. It is known for its wave pool, which is the world's largest indoor wave pool. The waves can be up to 2 meters high. The Twister is the tallest slide, reaching a height up to 83 feet. Tube rides are also available. 

Galaxy Land as you might have guessed, is the world's largest indoor amusement park. As of right now there are 24 rides and attractions. New ones are currently being developed. I think the nice thing about the amusement park is the rides are rated of levels. There are 8 beginner rides, 9 intermediate, and 7 thrill. Beginner rides, such as the carousel, would mostly be for younger kids or those who might not have been to an amusement park. Intermediate rides can be roller coasters with no loops or spin rides. The thrill rides are more advanced. They include most of the big coasters. Mindbender is one of the most popular coasters. It has tons of twists, three vertical loops, and many more surprises. I will definitely go to the amusement park when I visit the mall. 

My cousins have actually been to the mall. They two places they visited were the amusement park and waterpark. In the waterpark they said the wave pool was one of the best things there. The waves are so high you feel as if you are on top of the other kids farther back than you. In the amusement park they liked the Mindbender and Galaxy Orbiter, another coaster that intertwines with the Mindbender. 

A Winter Vacation in Canada

Canada is a great place to go and enjoy some fun winter sports. For a family that wouldn’t mind being active and engaging in some fun winter activities, I think that Canada would be a great winter vacation. Canada has both downhill and cross-country skiing that can be found in numerous resorts. Most cities in Canada are close to ski resorts, which makes it very convenient. The prices of the ski passes at the resorts tend to be relatively low priced, which is great for a family trip. Of course, you have to not mind that you won’t be getting out of the cold for this trip. But otherwise it would be great for some outdoor fun.

Purdue vs. Oklahoma

A few weeks ago I had written a post about Purdue basketball and how good they should be this season. The regular season had not started yet but there had been a few pre season games that had already let them show their talent. Robbie Hummel and E’Twaun Moore have both been the leading scorers for the majority of games so far, just as predicted.

Before Friday night Purdue was 5-0, however on Friday Purdue had their first loss against Oklahoma. They put up a great fight against them, who were ranked number 11, but just couldn’t pull through in the end. "This stinks," Painter said. "We felt we had the game and it slipped out of our hands." There were many lead changes, ties throughout the game, and even an overtime- that just showed this game was a great match up.

From the Purdue side, there were quite a bit of fouls against us. In total there were 46 against Purdue and 5 against Oklahoma. In my opinion this had an impact on the game and the score. Although Oklahoma missed a lot of the free throws (especially in the beginning) it still gave them a number of free points compared to us. Whether this was a major factor in the end result, it is hard to say, but I feel that when you have two great teams like these and the free throws are that spread apart, there has to be something wrong with the refs’ calls.

"I talked to our guys afterward about how games are called. It's like injuries. You can't control it," Painter said.

E’Twaun Moore had another great game scoring a total of 22 points. Robbie Hummel also did a good job with only 10 points but a total of 9 rebounds. Hummel’s low scoring resulted from only being able to get in 24 minutes because of foul problems. As I mentioned before, there were a lot of them.

This was a really close game for both Purdue and Oklahoma which ended with a score of 87-82 (Oklahoma). It was a tough one for both of them with such strong teams. I don’t think this will have an impact on the way Purdue performs in the future. There are some tough teams we are scheduled to play soon, but I think that Purdue just proved that they could put up a good fight. I look forward to seeing Purdue vs. Duke at Purdue on December 2, 2008. The game starts at 9 PM ET. Let’s go Boilers!

~Niagara Falls~

Niagara Falls is known as the as the "Honeymoon Capital of the World." Over 50,000 Niagara Honeymooners arrange their honeymoon there a year. Now don’t think that just because you are single or have a family of six, that you can’t go and visit Niagara Falls. I just suggest that everyone at least once in their life goes to Niagara Falls and stares in awe of its grandeur.

My family went to Niagara Falls, but we were on the Canada side of the Falls. My dad’s best friend in high school, they were always getting into some sort of trouble, lives in Ontario, Canada. He and his wife suggested that we come up and visit when my dad had time off work. The only time my dad had any time off work was just around Christmas, so Christmas of 1998 my parents loaded us up and we drove to Ontario, Canada. I was so excited, I always thought that leaving the United States would be so wonderful and that I would meet a girl that was just like me, but only she would have a cool accent. The whole drive up I was trying to picture this girl and I confusing our parents and becoming best friends forever.

We arrived at my dad’s old friend’s house and to my disappointment, he and his wife didn’t have a daughter that looked like me, they didn’t even have kids. I was very much disappointed, but because they didn’t have children, they spoiled us rotten. My parents hadn’t gotten us very many presents because we weren’t home for Christmas and the trip was a sort of vacation so we didn’t have room for presents anyhow. I was kind of upset about not getting any presents, but when we got settled in and I saw that there were presents under the Christmas tree that had my name on it I completely flipped out. I got just about everything that I had put on my Christmas list.

For New Years Eve, my parent’s anniversary, the couple we were staying with took us kids to Niagara Falls to ring in the New Year and to see the falls all decorated for Christmas. It was absolutely breath taking; I couldn’t believe how gorgeous the falls were. I wanted to take it all in and never forget a single moment there. The falls were more magnificent than any picture could show and the sheer noise of them was exhilarating. I wish I could go back once a year, I had so much fun.

They had to drag me out and strap me in the car quickly otherwise I don’t think I would have left. When we met up with our parents later that week, I told them all about the falls and how we should stop by there again on the way home. Unfortunately, they were out of the way for us and my parents knew better than to take me back especially since leaving without me not crying would impossible. Going to Niagara Falls is still on my list of things to do, hopefully its sooner than later.

Sandstone Grillhouse in Canada

Sandstone Grillhouse is the number one rated restaurant in Canada according to TripAdvisor. Located in Niagra Falls,Ontario, the majority of the reviews on TripAdvisor have said nothing but good things about the restaurant. It used to be known as Tony's Place, and before that it was known as the White House Restaurant. In 1998, the owners daughter opened her own restaurant right next door, called After Hours Bistro. In 2007, the two restaurants combined and sold After Hours Bistro and renovated Tony's Place to become Sandstone Grillhouse. They took the design and delicacies of After Hours Bistro, and the service and style of Tony's Place and created and amazing restaurant.

A Cruise for the Holidays

So as the holidays are approaching, many families are looking for nice vacation spots to get away. The last two Christmas breaks, my family has taken a cruise with Royal Caribbean. Both times we took the Mexico route and went to Cancun, Belize, and Cancun. Now, my mom, dad and I all love to sit out by the pool. However, my 15-year-old sister hates lying out and would much rather be in doors. Believe it or not, we all were 100% satisfied and happy throughout the entire trip.

The first cruise was absolutely amazing and the weather was beautiful. The second time, the weather was horrible. It is really hard to predict this time of year what the weather is going to be like because it can either be hot and sunny or cold and windy. In fact, the second time we went (last year) it was about 65 degrees and so windy that you would not have even wanted to stop outside.

The great thing about a cruise, though, is the fact that you can still find fun on the ship. During the day we went to the casino and participated in the day games such as BINGO. There really is so much to keep you active on the ship. For the kids, there are different clubs that they can go to based on age. The clubs all have leaders that are really fun with the kids and have events planned by the hour.

Once the day is over, it gets even better because the dinners are fantastic. The dinners are 5 courses in which are pretty much planned out each night, with a few options. There is at least one dinner, the captain’s dinner, in which you dress in formal attire. It is always fun to dress up and see everyone else. After dinner, there are many different activities that you can participate in. You can pretty much find anything from shows, karaoke, and live game shows to relaxing in the bar.

When the weather is good, I can tell you that you will not be bored on the ship. If you are a sunbather, like me, they have a ton of chairs around a pool to lie out and poolside activities that go on throughout the day to keep it fun. I had just as much fun during the day as I did at night.

My best advice for a family vacation during the holidays is a cruise…especially if you cannot decide on an exact location. The great part about a cruise is that you can pick one that goes to the few places that you want to travel to, but all in one trip. The time is short and goes by quickly, but I have enjoyed every cruise that I have been on whether it was hot or cold outside.

Buffalo Thunder Resort and Casino

I've only been to New Mexico once and it was when I was a lot younger. I've always loved going out west and I even want to move out there later in life. New Mexico has always interested me. I never hear of people going to take vacations there. Everyone's always going to Colorado or Arizona it seems. I'm thinking of taking a trip to New Mexico this summer.

I've heard about many possible places to stay, but as of right now I think my first choice would be the Buffalo Thunder Resort and Casino, located in Santa Fe. As of right now it is the largest casino hotel. I would stay here because there is a lot to do. The resort has a casino, nightclubs, places to eat, live shows, and their very own golf course. The nice thing about the resort and the wide variety of things to do is that there is something to do for everyone at reasonable prices. 

The hotel has a fun atmosphere. A small Mexican tribe, the Pueblo of Pojoaque, built it so a lot of the decorations and looks are authentic. There are two pools and each was built to resemble Roman baths. They have large columns around the pools and fountains pouring into the pools. It seems really cool. The rooms also look very homey. Even though the hotel is Indian themed the rooms are very modern looking. They have the authentic Indian pattern as comforter. The desks and tables are all carved and painted to look old. The Buffalo Thunder Resort is the place to stay if you're looking for a modern Indian resort and want a lot to do all at your hotel. It looks like a very unique experience; I can't wait to go. 

My Top 3 "Must Go See's " of Puerto Rico

Its so cool to see that on the 2008 November issue of TripAdvisor Puerto Rico landed as #4 of Top Islands to Visit. Its always very nice to know that the country where you live is being recognized for its beauty. That is why I decided to take a little advantage of the situation and list my personal favorite places to visit while vacationing in "La Isla del Encanto" which means "The Island of Enchantment".


1. The Beaches: #1 attraction for me in Puerto Rico. We are surrounded by water so we get to enjoy some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. My top three favorite beaches are: Ocean Park, the Hilton Hotel beach and Flamenco Beach. All three are amazing but I choose between the three depending on what I want to do at the beach that day. Ocean Park is in an area called Condado, its just about half an hour from Old San Juan. This is were the locals, especially teens, tend to go with all the friends from all the different high schools and universities in order to enjoy a day together under the sun. It tends to get extraordinarily crowded so get there early. People bring their own chairs, stereos and the most important thing, the cooler. Everyone brings them full with beer, but if you happened to forget it or maybe run out no worries, these three old men are always walking by yelling "Agua, Cerveza, Pina Colada" which means "Water, Beer, Pina Colada". I would say that to relax this isn't the right beach, instead go to the private beach at the Hilton Hotel. The problem with this one is that you need to be a guest at the hotel or have some type of connection to get a pass and be able to get in. The reason for its exclusivity is the beach itself. Its a small very calm beach, it has a barrier made of rocks that breaks the waves before they hit the shore so you can just lying on the warm with the breeze hitting you and the sound of the water is a great way to take that stress off you shoulders. And the last one is Flamenco Beach a long narrow beach in one of Puerto Rico's islands Culebra. This one is BEAUTIFUL! There are two ways to get to Flamenco Beach: a "paper like" airplane from east coast city Fajardo or the ferry boat. I prefer the ferry because you sit up on the top deck and you are able to start working on that sun tan even before getting to the beach. Once you get there, you will find tons of SUV's aka the taxis that are waiting to drive you to Flamenco Beach. When you finally reach Flamenco after like a 20 minute ride don't panic if you run out of breath. This is normal at first. The water is so clear that you can see even the tiniest little fish swimming, the sand is white and if you happen to go on a good day, there is not a single could in the sky. At Flamenco you can do anything: snorkeling, read a novel, play some soccer...whatever you want. If you happen to love it so much there are two nearby local hotels that offer accommodations.


2. El Yunque: I've been to El Yunque about three times already and every time I go I still get that feeling of being in a magical place. The vegetation that surrounds you is so intense that you cant help but to just be in "aw" from the moment you enter it to the moment you leave. You see all types of trees from the Sierra Palms to the variation of epiphytes, tree orchids; and if your lucky you may spot 2 of Puerto Ricos endangered species: the Coqui, which is a tiny tree frog and the Puerto Rican Parrot which is feathered with bright colors and sings a beautiful melody. The experience at the forest is free unless you want an official tour guide, then you have to pay $5 per person. Personally I like going on my own with a group of friends, the different paths along the mountain are well labeled and there are always people walking by making sure that you are okay. Best advice I can give you is wear a bathing suit underneath, then a T-shirt, some shorts, a worn out pair of sneakers that you don't mind getting wet. Oh and don't let me forget the backpack! Be sure to take one have towels, plenty of water bottles, the camera and snacks to make you hike a bit more enjoyable. The rocks are slippery from the moisture and moss. There is a lot of elevations and tree branches that you need to either jump or duck in order to pass on. Why did I mention a bathing suit? Well that is because one of my favorite things of El Yunque its the natural waterfalls that over the years have been created ending up in small rivers and lakes. The water is really clean and crystal clear. Trust me that when you see you will want to jump in immediately, just be careful because the water is very very very cold!! The rain forest is open 7 days a week and its closing time is 6PM since it gets dark after that and I would just really not like to be in a big dark forest all by myself.


3. Bioluminescent Bay in Vieques: At yet another of Puerto Ricos offshore islands, you will find another of my favorite wonders of the island. This one is a night activity and it turns into a night like no other. The bioluminescent bay offers an experience that makes you believe you are hallucinating. Get in the water and all the water you touch turns into a blue/green phosphorescent color! Is this girl tripping us you ask? Nope, I'm not. There is this whole scientific explanation behind this phenomenon with complicated terms that I cant even pronounce, so I'm going to give you the info for dummies. There are these microorganisms that are like half plant half animal, that when you agitate them they release a chemical that reacts with the water to form the fluorescence that we see. The best nights to go is when there is no moon, this way you are literally in a black hole and you can truly admire the beauty and coolness of these little creatures and what they create. To get to Vieques again you can take a ferry or an airplane. I wouldn't advice to go an do this alone if its your first time, there are locals all over the place who tell you at what time to meet up with them and they take you to the bay. By the way these locals are so nice and are all into reggae so you'll be listening to Bob the whole night. So come and jam with us under the dark sky.

These are my personal favorite. But trust me when I say that Puerto Rico offers much more. All I can say is come on over and make a favorite list of your own. :)

~A Win Lose Situation~

My little brother was a boy scout throughout his high school career and loved it. One of his favorite trips that he took with his troop was to Philmont, New Mexico. More than 860,000 Scouts, venturers, and leaders have experienced the adventure of Philmont since the first camping season in 1939. Philmont is full of history, knowledge, and opportunity that can’t be experienced in a more appropriate atmosphere.

The summer just before my little brother’s turned 14, his Boy Scout troop went to Philmont. They were gone for two weeks but stayed in Philmont for only a week, the drive there took a long time, and they camped along the way. He was kind of nervous as he packed for his trip, he was really excited, but he had heard about all of the different types of wildlife that have been found in Philmont. He tried to act all confident and calm, but I could tell that he was a little nervous about making sure that he never got lost or left behind. My mom was a mess, she couldn’t believe that he precious baby was going to be gone for so long and that he was going all alone. My dad tried reassuring her that nothing was going to go wrong and that we have known and gone to church with his troop leader for years and that he would be in good hands, she wasn’t convinced. I on the other hand couldn’t wait for him to be gone, that meant that I could watch whatever I wanted and get online anytime I wanted without having to worry about taking turns.

While my dad drove him to his troop master’s house, I took a look at his room and notice that most of his things were gone; it looked like he packed his entire room and taken it with him. My mom was, of course, very emotional and she cried until my dad got back from dropping him off. I had never seen her like this and couldn’t believe that she was so emotional. I had a blast during those two weeks, I played on the computer, watched tv, had a sleep over that wasn’t interrupted by an annoying little brother. It felt like had the house to myself because my two older brothers had summer jobs, so they were gone most of the time. I loved it!

As soon as I was getting used to have command over the tv and having most of my parents attention, my brother returned. It wasn’t fair, once he walked in the door, everything that I had worked so hard to gain in those two weeks melted away. All anyone wanted to hear or talk about was his trip. I wasn’t too upset about not getting a ton of attention, just so long as everyone knew that things were being ran differently now. That didn’t last at all, my little brother and I went back to our old ways of fighting about everything and my two older brothers were finished with their jobs for the summer and of course felt that they needed to let some of their frustrations out on me.

At least I had two weeks to be the princess of the house and rule in any way that I felt was necessary. I eventually got over it and we worked everything out. I love my brothers and now that we live so far apart, I am looking forward to spending the holidays with them and catch up.

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Albuquerque is a really popular place to travel to within New Mexico. A great thing about it is that they offer a lot of different lodging options. Albuquerque has everything from amazing luxury hotels to budget- friendly inns. A lot of other travel blogs say that when you are looking for a hotel in this area, it is important to remember that the hotels can widely vary depending on the neighborhood your in. If you are downtown it is likely you’ll find nothing but upscale and flashy hotels. These are especially common for business travelers. The Hyatt Regency Albuquerque is a perfect example of a hotel here. If you go uptown, it is more of a shopping area. The hotels in uptown Albuquerque are there to accommodate leisure travelers. The Sheraton is a good example of a hotel you would find here. Then, there are the hotels around the airport (ABQ Airport and UNM specifically) that are for easy access to the airport and offer budget- friendly hotels as well. These hotels are also good for overnight business travelers. Finally, right near downtown is the Historic Old Town. If you are a shop-a-holic and a fan of antique this is a perfect spot. This place has a ton of beautiful boutique hotels that are full of Southwestern appeal and beauty. I think that by booking a hotel in Albuquerque there are so many options for price and atmosphere that it would be hard to go wrong.

Outside of the wonderful array of lodging options, Albuquerque’s dining is nothing but spectacular. The food is definitely aimed for fans of South American and Mexican flavor….but then again it is New Mexico. A big hit, that was recommended in an Albuquerque blog is, Los Equipales. It offers a fantastic menu that is full of authentic Mexican food. McGrath’s is another hotspot in the restaurant atmosphere, which takes another take on favorite southwestern foods. Here they blend American favorites with an Argentinean spice. For an outstanding Italian meal, Le Café Miche and Scalo would definitely be worth a reservation. Personally, Le Café Miche sounds like it would be my choice by the number of great reviews it got.

There are a variety of activities that appeal to both locals and tourists throughout the year in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Their biggest event is the International Balloon Fiesta, which is held in early October. It is the largest hot air balloon gathering and is the most photographed event of any kind in the world. There are also hundreds of national and international performances that take place throughout the year. The nightlife activities in Albuquerque rage with Southwestern flair. There are all sorts of places that you could go to and be able to find anything from a sophisticated bar to a big- city style club. Whatever atmosphere you choose to be in you will still have a great time here and find yourself in a diverse scene. Two favorites of locals are Billy’s Long Bar and Kelly’s Brewery, where you could find “easygoing fun”. They both had great ratings by different travel blogs for the Albuquerque area. The UNM students recommend and The Library, which sound like they would have an atmosphere of a younger crowd, but would still be a great place to check out for some fun at night.

Top 10 Island Escapes

TripAdvisor has announced their top ten island escapes for November, 2008.

1)Maui, Hawaii, United States

Have you ever imagined watching the sunrise from on top of a 10,000 foot volcano, or swimming under waterfalls, or hiking through craters and relaxing on white, red, or even black sand? If any of these things are what you are looking for then you need to visit Maui. You can hop on a catamaran, which is , to go snorkeling or scuba diving. Or you can go golfing, dining, visit the winerys, museums or just sit on the beach and enjoy your favorite drink. Though, the most popular thing to do on this island are the Safari Boat Excursions, which I would suggest looking into before you visit.

2)St. Lucia, Carribean, North America

This is a small carribean island that is fun for families and honemooners. Activities range from relaxing things, such as sunbathing on golden-sand beaches, visiting colonial villages, or soaking in thermal baths, to more active things such as, ziplining through the rainforest canopy, windsurfing in the clear blue water, or climbing a dormant volcano. You can also experience the unique activity of walking between the steaming sulfur springs of volcanic Mt. Soufrière. Also, every Friday night you can join the locals for outdoor dancing and seafood dinners.

3)Santorini, Cyclades, Greece

Santorini is located in the southern Aegean's Cyclades islands. It curves around a giant lagoon and a caldera left by a volcano eruption. Hydrofoils, ferries, and catamarans connect the island to other islands in the Cyclades and to the main land. They also have an amazing night life around the island with fun filled night clubs and even disco clubs.

4)Puerto Rico, Carribean, North America

People interested in cultural areas will love visiting La Isla's heritage and history, from Old San Juans charms to folk art and festivals in the outlying towns. Coffee plantations, colonial towns, beaches, bars, and restaurants are waiting to be explored by all visitors. Old San Juan is a very atmospheric place to wander. Or you can experience life at a different pace with rainforest hiking, scuba diving, or swimming.

5)Jamaica, Carribean, North America

Jamaica is home to a melting pot of African, Asian, European, and Middle Eastern cultures. You will see this in their strong crafts and traditions, performing arts and distinctive dining options. You can go to the famous cliff jumping spot at Negril Cliffs or take it a little easier on the long beaches, protected coves, rugged mountains, waterfalls, caves, with chances to play in the surf, ride horses or even swim with dolphins.

6)Bora Bora, Society Islands, French Polynesia

Bora Bora makes quite the first impression when you look out at the beach and see turquoise lagoons from all around the island roads which traces its 19-mile circumference. This place may be small but there is a lot of things to do. You can dip your feet into the water at the Lagoonarium, the diving center, the coral gardens, or the leopard rays trench. At the end of the day, you can sit on top of the 2300 foot Mount Otemanu and look around at all of these watery wonders, or view them while taking a walk through the palm-studded Matria Point.

7)Bahamas, Carribean, North America

The Bahamian Archipelago containing over 700 islands and cays includes the popular cities of Freeport and Nassau. Freeport offers great shopping experiences and many casinos. Nassau also offers great gambling activities and the Ardastra Gardens Zoo. In the Bahamas, you can experience swimming with dolphins and sharks, or snorkeling in the pristine reefs are just some of the fun things you can experience while in the Bahamas.

8)Phuket, Thailand, Asia

There is a rainbow array of colors to view while your vacationing at Phuket. You can see anything from blue lagoons to pink sunsets to orange-robed monks. Transportation includes three-wheeled Tuk Tuks, taxis, buses and long-tailed boats. The south coast contains the most popular beaches here while the north coast is more tranquil. Diving, snorkeling, surfing, and sailing are just a few of the active sports that people can engage in while visiting Phuket. If you want to stay on the land, forested hills, mountains, and cliffs wait to be explored.

9)Turks and Caicos, Carribean, North America

When you visit Turks and Caicos, you can island hop by ferry or you can stay on one island and ride around on a rented bike or scooter. This island lures people in when they see that Turks and Caicos' eight major islands contain the longest coral reefs, 230 miles of snady beaches, crystal clear waters, and a bounty of dive spots. This is all located just east of the Bahamas. The bird sanctuary French Cay, underwater Columbus Landfall National Park or the Caicos Conch Farm are among some of the major attractions of these islands.

10)St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands, Carribean

St. John had many things to do, just like most islands. You can do all sorts of things from visiting specialty shops to National Parks to gorgeous beaches. I would love to go to this island because there are many shops to stop at along the way, and that is one of my favorite things to do.

When I think of a island, the only things I can think of are beaches and oceans. But, after doing a little bit of research on these top ten islands, I realized there is a lot of other things to do, as well as beaches and oceans. I would have never guessed how many things you can do on these small little islands. So when your thinking of your next vacation, check out some of these places and all of the things you can do while your here!

P.S. Make sure you check out the "Before you go" section at each of the sites so you know what to expect when you get there!

Torinos @ Home

http://www.torinosfoods.com/ is a great Italian bistro and deli. They have amazing panini's, italian sandwiches, salads, specials, and more. Torino's is located in downtown Santa Fe and was placed at number one on TripAdvisors top restaurants in Santa Fe. They have all kinds of great homemade Italian food. They have excellent pastas such as tagliatelle with either marinara, pesto, bolognese, or blue cheese sauce. You can get combos of your choice with either a sandwich and a house salad, a sandwich and soup, a sandwich and dessert, or soup and a house salad, you can get any of these combonations for only $9.50. You can choose from any of the sandwiches on the menu or you can make your own panini, which sounds very appetizing to me. Torino's is opens at 8AM when they only serve coffee and brownies, and then from 10:30 to 4PM, they are open for lunch. So make sure if you are in Santa Fe you stop at Torinos @ Home to get your lunch!

The Four Corners

When I was little I took many summer trips with my family out West. We've taken trips to South Dakota to see Mount Rushmore, and Wyoming to stay at Yellowstone National Park, but we've also stayed in Montana, North Dakota, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico. I have quite a bit of family in Colorado so I've stayed there on many occasions. One of my most memorable trips out West includes my stay in New Mexico and our trip to the Four Corners. 

The Four Corners, is the only point in the United States where four states touch. People visiting can be in four states at one time. When we went there is was very busy. We had to wait around for our turn to get up close and stand in all of the states. I'll admit it's kind of neat to say I've stood in four states at once, but I think the whole thing is a little overrated. Some people there were a little too excited. 

After our day at the Four Corners we stayed in Bloomfield, New Mexico at the Best Western Territorial Inn. For the most part it was a nice hotel. All throughout the lobby and main floor there are painted murals of old western scenes high on the walls. I liked how it gave me the old western kind of feel during my stay. I also liked how the hotel offered an indoor pool and hot tub. It was nice to come back after a day of walking and just relax. When I heard the hotel had a exercise room I was excited to try it out, however, after seeing it I didn't. It was very small and didn't have much to offer, only a few machines. Our hotel room was pretty much the typical hotel room with small beds, a little couch to sit on, and mini fridge. There was nothing great about it. It would be hard for big families. The Best Western is not bad for a one-night stay, but I wouldn't recommend it for a long stay. 

Four Corners

Andiamo! is one of Santa Fe's favorite restaurants. Santa Fe is located close to the four corners area. This is the only place in the United States where it is possible to be in four states at once. These states are New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, and Colorado. The name comes from the four corners monument which is places where the four states touch. Andiamo serves high-quality italian-inspired food at reasonable prices. They also promote the work of local talented artists by displaying pieces of work for the customers enjoyment.

In 2003, tom Hill from Local Flavor quotes:

"With not a lot of hoopla or fanfare, Joan Gillcrist and her staff have been satisfying locals with their rustic Italian fare for almost eight years. The focus remains on fresh ingredients, with a selection of appetizers, pizzas, pastas, and meat entrees. The menu changes every few months as seasonal ingredients come and go. One of the genuine attractions of Andiamo is its wine list. In addition to great food and great wines, Andiamo has a certain feel to it that is seldom found in other restaurants."

In July of 2004, SantaFe.com quotes:

"Andiamo!, tucked away on Garfield Street in the same modest house that was once the Garfield Grill, is a favorite dinner spot for locals and a word-of-mouth surprise for visitors. The wine menu has a depth and variety to mirror the menu which, we can honestly say, does not have a weak link. Service is efficient and friendly, portions are generous. This is a comfortable, trustworthy place to bring out of towners."

Andiamo can seat parties of 12-70 people but you have to call ahead of time and make reservations. For these bigger parties, they have a price-fixed basis only. If you call ahead you can arrange a set menu for your party.

~Need Help Getting There?~

If you are traveling anywhere for Thanksgiving or Christmas, then I suggest you get on that right now and that you use a Trip Adviser. I have never been to New Mexico, so I was trying to figure out how to best advise those who wanted to go, but I didn’t know where to start. I was just messing around on the internet and I found three websites that were willing to help me find a flight plus a hotel to stay in. Orbitz, Hot Wire, and Expedia were all really good sites to help find the right package. All I had to do was type in from where I would leave, where I would like to arrive, and the dates for the trip. I could even add more information if I wanted; if I wanted to see how much it would be for one or six people I could just type it in. All three websites have a rating system for all the hotels listed. People that have visited these hotels comment on the hotels and rate them. This is helpful because people if they really liked the hotel or if they didn’t, then they comment and don’t hold anything back. There are also pictures of the hotels and a list of the amenities.

Just to try it out, I said am “planning” on flying to Albuquerque, New Mexico from the Indianapolis Airport on November 25^th to the 29^th. After I had entered that data, I just hit find and the websites did the rest. I was really surprised by the results, I thought since it was such short notice that the prices would be higher, but the prices seem really reasonable.

Orbitz was very helpful and my favorite website. The website had a list of the highest rated hotels first and then where the prices are listed, there were six different prices. These different prices were for the different airlines that fly to Albuquerque. The flights are listed from least expensive to the most. So, if you wanted to fly with America Airlines, but weren’t sure if that was the best deal, you don’t have to worry, because Orbitz has already done the leg work for you. I could get this information for very little and it was all organized and made sense.

All three websites gave one hotel very high marks and said that it has the best deals for the best quality. The Hyatt Regency Albuquerque, It received a 4.5 out of a 5 rating system. The price: $423 per person (All taxes and fees included), it includes: 1 room for 4 nights. The hotel features: Fitness Center, Pool(s), Restaurant(s), Business Center, High-speed Internet Access and it is only four miles from all the action. It’s on the higher end of the scale, but it seems to be well worth it. I highly suggest to anyone that is traveling and unsure of how they are getting there and where they will stay, to try using these websites.