Another Vacation Spot - Kissimmee

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Kissimmee Tourism. All opinions are 100% mine.

I am a fan of the great outdoors, especially when it comes to warm spots like Florida. In Kissimmee, I can find all of the warmth and outdoor fun that I expect to find in the south. Our family moved to Florida for a year a while back while my husband took college classes, and I loved the huge trees, many of the animals (I hate snakes), and the warm winters. A person can do some serious hiking, and I did.

So it's not surprising that Kissimmee is also on my list of places to visit in the coming year or two. My plan is to do some hiking and then hop aboard a swamp buggy to explore swampy places that I couldn't get to by foot. Considering that the 4700 acre nature preserve, Florida Forever, is there, I'll be happy.

My husband and children enjoy fishing so they could do some of that on one of the Chain of Lakes. Large mouth bass are said to be plentiful there. As for me, I will not be found in a boat. I will be shopping or enjoying quiet time in a motel room. I'm okay with mall shopping, and there are plenty of them in the area, but my real enjoyment is found when browsing specialty shops. That is where you find the coolest items unique to the area.

I can't talk about Kissimmee without mentioning Disney World because it's close by. The only person in our family who has ever been there is my husband, and that was many moons ago - before I had ever met him. I would like to go just to say that I've been there and did that, but my children want to go to ride the roller coasters. My daughter wants to see Cinderella.

Is this a do-able vacation or is it just me dreaming? I think it'll happen sometime sooner than I had ever thought possible. We are rapidly paying down debt in order to free ourselves from the long arm of the creditors. God wants us to be free of the chains that bind us - that refers to sin but it also applies to financial messes. I can't enjoy a wonderful vacation like the one described above when I'm loaded with so much debt that I can't see out my back door.

Doing fun things together as a family is important. My children are growing up and leaving us to do their own things. I want to enjoy that time together, investing in relationships, while we still can. Family vacations, times to get away from the routine, are some of the best tools for doing that.

Stop Dreaming - Me and Branson

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Geile Leon. All opinions are 100% mine.

I'm still writing about Branson, Missouri - and I'm still dreaming of the day I'll get to go there. I'm thinking that this year will be my year because it is the year we'll have a load of debt paid and off our backs.

I have dreamed of going to Branson for a long time. I've watched some of the shows on PBS that showcased great acts like the old Lawrence Welk singers. I'm a sap for that sort of stuff.

I also like the the Hilton line of hotels, like the Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing. Right now there's a great deal going on with the Fall in the City program, which starts in at $309.50. You might think that's a huge price, but take a look at what it includes:

Two-night deluxe accommodations
Two tickets on the Showboat Branson Belle for dinner and the show
Ttwo adult tickets to Silver Dollar City
50th Anniversary Silver Dollar City Souvenir Book
$25 hotel food and beverage credit
(There's a two night minimum stay needed to book this package)

If you're a little more into shopping (I window shop - gulp), there's the Shopping Package. It includes:

Deluxe accommodations
Breakfast buffet for two
$25 gift card which can be used at any store in the Tanger Outlet Mall. You can find it just three miles from the Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing and Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel. The Shopping Package starts at $164 per night.

 One of these days I'm going to stop dreaming and just go. When I do, I'll be sure to come back here and tell you all about it.

Second Honeymoon in Branson?

By now you know that I like the Hilton hotels. When my husband and I honeymooned (many moons ago), we stayed in a couple of them throughout the couple of weeks that we toured the southeast along the Blue Ridge Parkway. They have great rates in the early spring, which is when we were married.

I'm still dreaming of going to Branson, Missouri. It's where I think I want to go when we take a second honeymoon. Of course, I don't know when that will be but I do hope it's not in the faraway future.

Want to know what I want to do in Branson? You'd never guess. I'd like to go to Silver Dollar City - just something I've never done. There's also a lot of shopping (primarily window shopping for me, but fun nonetheless), all within a short distance of the Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing.

While browsing the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel's website, I noticed that they have a pet friendly hotel. Why is this important to me? Simple. When we've gone on trips that required motel stays, we had a difficult time finding any that allowed our Yorkie to be with us. We had to keep her in her cage in the car. Thankfully we take our vacations when the summer is over, usually in the fall. I'm thankful for a hotel that will allow folks to keep their pets with them in the rooms - the Hilton even supplies doggie beds!

Hopefully I won't have to wait too long for that second honeymoon. I'm really enjoying looking at all of the things to do in Branson right now....

Dreaming of Branson

Have you figured out by now that I really want to visit Branson, Missouri? I keep hearing about all of the fun things there are to do there that are family friendly, like attending cooking shows and Christian concerts. There are other things to do as well.

Golfers really enjoy spending the day at the Payne Stewart Golf Course which is located near the Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing. This is a beautiful 18 hole championship course that I know a lot of people would really enjoy. Our family has not experienced golfing much, but Jeff has said over and over that he would like to play when he gets more time.

If I were to visit Branson tomorrow, I would probably like to stay at the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel. It's close to the golf course too, but I want to browse the shops - all 110 of them - that are located within walking distance. Would I buy anything? I would if I had the money, but window shopping and dreaming is what I do best - I've had lots of experience in that particular thing.

So, to sum up my dream of Branson, I would stay at the Hilton and RELAX. I would walk (my favorite outdoor activity) to the shops at Branson Landing and DREAM of the day when I write my best selling novel and could buy beautiful things, and give Jeff a day at the golf course. Then we might attend one of the fabulous concerts that go on all of the time. *sigh*

What would you do in Branson?

Snagging a Florida Vacation

Have you ever been to Kissimmee, Florida? I'll admit that I haven't, but I really would like to visit sometime. I don't really get into all of the bright lights of a big city, but I do enjoy going to the beach for an evening walk, doing a little bird watching (and people watching), and yes, doing a bit of shopping as well.

I know the kids and Jeff would want to visit a theme park - they're all close-by in Orlando. We have NEVER taken our children to Disney World, Sea World in Orland, or any of the theme parks in Florida, and they've reminded us many times. It really would be a fun thing to do before everyone is spread out all over the country.

Because of our long list of expenses, a fun family vacation is out of the question this year. But is it really? There's always the chance that I'll win one....

You heard me correctly. I entered to win a Kissimmee getaway - a full 6 nights, including air fair and a rental car - so, who knows? Maybe we'll be out and about in sunny Florida in spite of those medical bills that threaten to squelch our fun.

Have you entered to win yet? You still have time. The drawing will be held on or around June 1.

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Great American Pie Contest in Branson

Did you know that there's a pie contest scheduled this spring in Branson? I just heard about it and I think it sounds interesting. It's called the Great American Pie Contest and it's the first in, what I hope, will be an annual event. It's going to take place April 24th and 25th and is sponsored by Branson and Taste of Home (the great cooking magazine.) The contest will take place at the Hilton Convention Center, the spot where many of Branson's great events happen.

Branson is set in the beautiful Ozark Mountains of Missouri and hosts many wonderful events throughout the year, including a Christian rock event and the first ever Branson Air Show (over which my family is drooling.) The Branson Landing is almost a town within itself with over 100 specialty stores in which to shop and browse.

Hilton has several hotels in Branson that satisfy varying tastes and needs while visiting the city. The Hilton Promenade is at Branson Landing, thus it is my first choice for a stay.

If you're interested in attending the Great American Pie Contest, you can get your reservations made now online or by phone. It sounds like it's going to be fun and informative.

Head Where It's Warmer for Free

Everyone who knows me at all knows that I live in the cold north land but long for warmer, sunnier days. Our family also takes infrequent vacations because of financial concerns. Not every vacation has to cost beyond one's means, though.

Someplace warm and relaxing this time of year is anywhere in Florida, but Kissimmee is in the "heart of Florida" AND there's a great drawing going on that might help you (and me) get closer to that warm vacation.

If I should win the drawing, I already know what I'd like to do. You'll be shocked. I'd love to spend a day at a spa! Wouldn't it be great to have a luxurious day laying in the sun and letting the stress leave your body? Let me encourage you to enter to win a free Kissimmee vacation yourself.

Not everything has to cost money, though, and sometimes the best things in life are free. Take the fabulous sunsets at the beach that cost nothing but give you so much enjoyment.



Taking leisurely walks - as well as long hikes - is an activity that our family enjoys together. We can't do that in the winter up here, but when we lived in Florida we did it all the time. If I can't have the spa, I can have the sunshine and walks.

Young Christian Weekend in Branson

I don't know if you're aware of this, but there is an upcoming concert weekend at Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri, that is geared especially for the young Christian, the Young Christian's Weekend. It's coming up really soon - March 27-29, 2009 - so if you want to attend and need hotel accommodations, you'll have to get on the ball and set up your reservations now.

The Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing is a comfortable place to stay and the prices there are pretty fair when you compare them across the board.

Our family rarely goes on vacations that get us further than the next state, so we've been planning to have a big one soon. As Christians ourselves, an event such as the Young Christian's Weekend is pretty appealing - you all know the amount of teenage boys living in our house! And then there is the fact that Branson is smack dab in the middle of "God's territory." What's neater than the Ozarks?

Another Hilton hotel to consider is the HIlton Branson Convention Center Hotel. If you're bringing a large family, as we would, you might consider a Family Advance Purchase. Both of the Hiltons I've mentioned offer them.

Hope I'll see you there!

Early Vacation Planning

I have been staring out the window at the winter weather so much that my eyeballs hurt - literally. The sky has been dark so much that when the sun peeks out for a moment at a time, I have to squint. This has me thinking about vacations in warmer places. Jeff came home last week with a list of open dates to schedule his vacation this year and we've been brainstorming.

In vacations past, we failed to search for vacation rentals early and paid a whole lot more than we should have.

This time we'll be prepared. I like bed & breakfasts in quaint places such as Virginia, while Jeff likes little cabins in the middle of a big woods. This morning I searched for vacation rentals in the Blue Ridge Mountains and found a gorgeous one - The Mark Addy Inn - in Charlottesville. After looking at the pictures I decided I'd better wait until Jeff and I can go alone. With kids it's better I take the big woods, as long as it can be half-way between here and Florida! There is a great cabin rental in Cherokee, NC.

Maybe in a couple of years we can afford a trip to Hawaii and kona vacation rentals!

I'm Ready

The last time we stayed in a motel was when Jonathon (a.k.a. Johnny) participated in the 4-H state awards program in Lansing, Michigan. It was kind of hard to find a motel that our family could stay at and at a good price. We scoured the internet until we found one close to MSU that fit our criteria for a good place to stay. Wish we had known someone to stay with back then because it might have made things easier.

Anyway, we finally did find a motel but it was a bit more costly than we would have preferred. Still, beggars can’t be choosy.



Now I find that there is a place for Hotel Reservations that allows you to search for motels in virtually any city you want—even foreign countries. Reservations can be made online, or by phone if you prefer, and at a competitive rate. HotelReservations.com is also the place to visit if you’re interested in booking flights, car rentals, vacation packages and more, all at a good savings—as much as 70% off.

I’d like to stay at a Bed & Breakfast sometime. I think the place we stayed at in Grayling years ago on the river probably was one. Anyway, the bed & breakfast I’d like to visit would be in the Smoky Mountains. I searched for a bed & breakfast in Gatlinburg…no, I’m not going to follow the boys down there…and I found a really elegant one. Turns out this B&B is suitable for children which is a plus for us. We’ve never gone on vacation without small children and that’s not going to change for several years yet!

HotelReservations.com has really good prices on nightly rates for vacation rentals too. We used to stay for a week at a time in cabins in the Upper Peninsula. This time I want to do so down south. Again, I searched for Gatlinburg. I found GREAT pricing. Now I’m interested.
I don’t know when our next vacation will be, but I’m hoping it will be pretty soon. When we’re ready I’ll probably take a good look at HotelReservations.com and search out the best deals. I’ll be able to book online easily and will save money.

Now I’m going to get to dreaming about the Smokies….

This post was brought to you by HotelReservations.com.