Margaritaville Island Reserve Cap Cana Set To Open in November!

Lisa Arneill
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Margaritaville Island Reserve Cap Cana Set To Open in November!

Karisma Hotels & Resorts, the award-winning hotelier, will open the doors to the new five-star Margaritaville® Island Reserve Cap Cana in November 2021. This will mark the second resort for the Island Reserve brand created in partnership with Karisma and Margaritaville – and the first in the Dominican Republic. The new property combines the amenities of a world-class, all-inclusive resort with Margaritaville’s signature easy-going lifestyle.

“After launching the Island Reserve concept in Riviera Maya, we’re thrilled to continue our partnership with Margaritaville to bring this lifestyle to the Dominican Republic in a way that really captures Cap Cana as a destination,” said Mario Mathieu, Senior Vice President of Business Development, Design and Construction at Karisma Hotels & Resorts. “Cap Cana is the ideal setting for the newest addition to the portfolio, truly encompassing the carefree escapism that is central to the brand.”

“We are excited to introduce Margaritaville Island Reserve to Cap Cana in the Dominican Republic, one of the most stunning beaches in the world,” said John Cohlan, CEO of Margaritaville. “Our expanding partnership with Karisma is all about delivering the ultimate island experience – relaxation, fun, exceptional dining, over-the-top service, and quality entertainment – all to be enjoyed in the Margaritaville state of mind.”


Margaritaville Island Reserve Cap Cana sits on stunning Playa Juanillo, which is world renowned for its miles of pristine white sand beaches, clear turquoise waters, and idyllic sunsets. Located just 15 minutes from the Punta Cana International Airport, Margaritaville Island Reserve Cap Cana will feature 228 suites and 40 villas designed with elements inspired by the destination’s seaside surroundings to transport guests to paradise. The “no worries” experience is complete with an incomparable level of service from the resort’s local Island Ambassadors who will cater to guests’ every need, as well as rooms outfitted with modern conveniences such as customized in-room refreshment centers with goodies from Joe Merchant and access to Karisma’s Island Reserve Inclusive® 24-hour in-room dining.

Guests will have 13 luxury room types to choose from, including swim-up and honeymoon suites as well as the signature villas. The Jimmy Buffett Suite offers stunning views of the Caribbean Sea from the top floor of the main guest building, complete with sprawling indoor and outdoor entertainment spaces including a 300-square-foot furnished terrace and a custom-built grill for private dining experiences.


A signature element of the property is the 40 ultra-luxe Island Reserve villas where guests have exclusive access to a sprawling lagoon pool and an S.O.S. Swim Up Bar featuring hanging beds to relax in comfort. Offering the ultimate indulgence, each villa features a king-size bed, kitchenette, breakfast bar, living room, and expansive outdoor terrace offering either a private pool or direct access to the lagoon pool.

At the heart of the resort, the Gourmet Village will provide guests with the ultimate place to relax and have fun, featuring immersive music, entertainment, and unpretentious-yet-refined culinary and mixology offerings for a personalized vacation from start to finish.

The expansive destination features the Margaritaville Main Stage, an urban theater that will provide daily entertainment and tropical tunes to complement the vibrant seaside setting. Here, guests will also find dining options galore with seven of the resort’s 10 food and beverage locations, from exquisitely prepared pastas at Frank & Lola’s Italian Trattoria, to choice cuts at JWB Steakhouse and Pan Asian specialties at Mon So Wi.

Adjacent to the infinity pool will be the centrally located hotspot Rum Runners, where guests can mix, mingle, and enjoy an expertly crafted menu with nods to the Dominican Republic and West Indies’ long history of producing some of the best rum in the world. The 5 o’Clock Somewhere Bar & Swim Up Bar, boasting views of Juanillo Beach, is the perfect place for a poolside cocktail, a cold beer, or margarita.

At Sports Hub, located in the Gourmet Village, guests can sign up for their favorite activities, from pickleball to tennis and aqua fitness classes. Those looking to indulge will enjoy 11,000-square-feet of rest and relaxation at St. Somewhere Spa, while the 2,200-square-foot Fins Up! Fitness Center will be open 24 hours for anyone who wants to re-energize, tone, or embark upon a new workout challenge. Little ones will also be kept engaged at Parakeet Kid’s Club where a variety of fun, supervised daily activities await. Plus, the resort’s premier Sky Wedding location, with stunning views from a private rooftop, will make for the ultimate romantic setting for exchanging vows.

Sleep Under The Stars At The Panorama Glass Lodge

Lisa Arneill
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Sleep Under The Stars At The Panorama Glass Lodge

Located in Hvalfjörður, just a 30min drive from Reykjavík, the Panorama Glass Lodge is a unique hotel that gives guests incredible views of the Icelandic landscape and Northern lights.

Panorama Glass Lodge Iceland - northern lights

A family owned and operated business, the lodge provides full privacy and is the perfect location for your honeymoon or just an adventure trip.

Couples can sleep in a glass house igloo with an amazing panorama view.  The northern lights are bright & visible due to the remote location. Guests can enjoy the amazing midnight sun during summertime and possibly spot some sunbathing seals or even whales out in the fjord from the beach.

Panorama Glass Lodge Iceland


Each Lodge comes with a small kitchen that is equipped with two electrical stoves, a toaster, a water heater and a fridge.

Panorama Glass Lodge Iceland - living room


The luxury bathroom is equipped with a big rainforest shower, stone sink and gorgeous wooden counter.

Panorama Glass Lodge Iceland - shower
Panorama Glass Lodge Iceland - bathroom

After spending the day exploring waterfalls and glaciers you can relax in the two person outdoor hot pot right next to the Lodge.

Panorama Glass Lodge Iceland

Disney Reveals New Details About Toy Story Land!

Lisa Arneill
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Disney Reveals New Details About Toy Story Land!

As the excitement continues to build for the opening of Toy Story Land on June 30, more exciting news was released from the team at Disney’s Hollywood Studios today.

Guests will “shrink” to the size of a toy as they enter into this land full of everyone’s favorite toys, building blocks and game pieces. Across eleven fun-filled acres designed to recreate Andy’s toy-filled backyard from the Disney•Pixar “Toy Story” films, guests will be fully engaged in the wonderful world where Woody, Buzz, Jessie and all their pals come out to play. Attractions and experiences straight from Andy’s imagination will treat park-goers to the best playtime ever – even after the Tinker Toy lights come on.

Alien Swirling Saucers

Alien Swirling Saucers at Toy Story Land

Designed as a playset Andy won at the Pizza Planet restaurant, this all-new attraction is out-of-this-world fun. “Toy Story” green aliens have powered up their flying saucers and earthbound guests get to play along. In rocket ship toys, guests swirl and whirl among toy planets and space stations as part of the game while “The Claw” hangs overhead. This space adventure is bathed in multi-color lighting and sound effects from throughout the galaxies. NEW: Disney has released the first-ever images of the new attraction, showing the toy spaceships being piloted by everyone’s favorite aliens.

Sarge and the Green Army Man Drum Corps

Sarge and the Green Army Man Drum Corps at toy story land

Much like March of the First Order with the Captain Phasma and the Stormtroopers,  Sarge and the Green Army Man Drum Corps will be marching several times a day through Toy Story Land. As the Drum Corps marches on, everyone’s invited to follow another contingent of Green Army Men to their fun and interactive boot camp, where they’ll “toy” with guests using giant Pixar balls, oversized crayons and a game of SARGE SAYS (their own spin on Simon Says).

Wheezy, the squeaky toy penguin from the “Toy Story” films, will do more than bring smiles to the faces of guests riding Slinky Dog Dash, the family-style coaster coming to Toy Story Land. The all-new Audio-Animatronics figure will appear in the last scene of the coaster singing “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” in that great (and unexpected) voice of his.  Wheezy will be accompanied by his toy friends: Mike the tape recorder, who’s provided him with a microphone, and Mr. Spell, who “texts” funny commentary.

Wheezy, the squeaky toy penguin from the "Toy Story" films at Toy Story Land

As expected there will be some really fun merchandise centererd around the franchise.  We know the popcorn buckets are a huge hit but soon there will be three-eyed space aliens or Slinky Dog headbands!

New Toy Story Land Merchandise: headbands

Slinky Dog also inspires a toy with light-up rings; he can even strrreetch around the waist or shoulders and double as a fashion accessory. Kids get bragging rights with commemorative “I Played There” t-shirts that let the world know they were among the first guests to Toy Story Land.

Expedia’s New Study Reveals Top Travel Annoyances

Lisa Arneill
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Expedia’s New Study Reveals Top Travel Annoyances

There is no denying that more people are travelling today than ever before.   It is estimated the average person takes five flights per year and spends 14 nights in a hotel, so it’s no surprise they have strong opinions about the journey. We’ll all agree on the top three things most people can’t stand; seat kickers, barefoot passengers and excessively chatty or loud travelers but Expedia has compiled a long list of other things people find annoying.

Expedia's New Study Reveals Top Travel Annoyances

“Whether you’ve been on one vacation or 100, you’ve likely experienced some form of annoying behavior while traveling,” says Nisreene Atassi, Global Head of Communications for Expedia brand. “At Expedia, we want to ensure that every leg of a traveler’s journey is enjoyable. Our goal with this study is to better understand travelers’ biggest pet peeves and offer tips to help them maximize comfort and minimize annoyances.”

For the fourth year in a row, more than half of global respondents identified the passenger who constantly kicks, grabs or bumps their seat as the most annoying. Planes are getting smaller and leg room is definitely not what it used to be so this one is something everyone likely experiences on each flight. 

Expedia(and your) top 5 crappy passenger traits:

  • The Seat Kicker/Bumper/Grabber (51 percent)
  • The Aromatic Passenger (43 percent)
  • The Inattentive Parent (39 percent)
  • Personal Space Violators (34 percent)
  • Audio Insensitive (29 percent)

It also comes as no surprise that more 90 percent of agreed it’s not ok to be barefoot during a flight. 

Also, almost 70% of Americans would rather sleep than talk to other passengers. Seventy-seven percent of Americans dread sitting next to someone who talks too much.

Carrying a pair of headphones or earplugs is a great way to cancel out unsolicited chatter on a flight. 

Top Hotel Pet Peeves?

  • The Inattentive Parents (45 percent)
  • The In-Room Revelers and The Hallway Hellraisers (41 percent)
  • The Complainers (29 percent)
  • The Party-goers and The Bar Boozer (27 percent)

To avoid baggage fees more Americans are stuffing as much as they can into carry on suitcases. In addition,

  • 75 percent of travelers deem freebies such as Wi-Fi, breakfast, resort credits, free parking, and room upgrades as very or somewhat important when booking a hotel.
  • Twice as many Americans would volunteer their seat on an oversold flight in exchange for a free voucher compared to other countries.
  • Only one in four travelers would pay to upgrade their seat, while even fewer would pay for in-flight Internet access.

Other findings include:

  • Across the globe, it’s no surprise travelers are most annoyed to find bed bugs, a used condom, cigarette smoke or foul smell upon checking into a hotel room – while dirty surroundings are the main reason travelers request to switch hotel rooms, more than half rarely or never sanitize items like the remote and phone, or wear shower shoes to protect their feet.
  • Travelers typically recline their seats for two reasons – only if it’s a long flight, three hours or more, or when going to sleep. A quarter of Americans said they never recline their seat because it’s rude. Europeans tend to be more likely to ask fellow passengers to un-recline their seat.
  • 54 percent of people agree it’s ok to wake snoring passengers – and when it comes to passing a sleeping passenger, most don’t hesitate to wake them and ask them to move. 20 percent say it’s ok to just climb over with your back to them.
  • Online and mobile check-in are taking the world by storm, just over a third of travelers still check-in at the airport – 50 percent of Americans check-in online for their flights. Meanwhile 72 percent still print a boarding pass and less than 30 percent use a mobile boarding pass.
  • Hotel habits – most travelers admit to hiding valuables from housekeeping and taking items from a hotel room.

Disney Toy Story Aircraft Debuts in Shanghai!

Lisa Arneill
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Disney Toy Story Aircraft Debuts in Shanghai!

With Incredibles 2 arriving in theaters on 15 June 2018, Pixar Pier opening at Disneyland on June 23 and Toy Story Land debuting in theaters on June 30, 2018, it’s safe to safe 2018 is Pixar year at Disney.

Disney Toy Story Aircraft Debuts in Shanghai!

In conjunction with Disney•Pixar Toy Story Land debuting at Shanghai Disneyland, China Eastern Airlines rolled out a Pixar Themed aircraft.

Featuring a large, flying Buzz Lightyear painted on one side of the exterior, and Woody on the other, this incredible aircraft is done up from head to toe!

Interior of Disney Toy Story Aircraft

The launch took place at Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport on Saturday April 28th, where after a reception, the leaders of China Eastern Airlines and the Shanghai Disney Resort pressed their hands on a ‘magic’ screen to reveal the bright Disney themed plane. After the ceremony, the aircraft left for Beijing, where it will be used for domestic routes, connecting travelers to Shanghai.

The new design is the third Disney themed aircraft for the airline.  The previous two featured Micky and Minnie Mouse. Disney Shanghai is also home to the Toy Story hotel, where guests can meet their favourite characters, stay in a Toy Story themed room, and dine at the Sunnyside Cafe and Market.

Toy Story Hotel Shanghai Disney
Toy Story Hotel Shanghai Disney

Boy, 12, Books Solo Bali Vacation After Fight With Mom

Lisa Arneill
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Boy, 12, Books Solo Bali Vacation After Fight With Mom

When the school called to say their son hadn’t arrived that day, an Australian family was shocked beyond belief when they found out where the child had actually was!

all seasons hotel bali

After a fight with his mom, ‘Drew’ snuck her credit card and booked himself a flight to Denpasar, Bali.

A bit of research led him to the airlines that would allow him to fly without an adult.  All he needed was his student ID and a passport, which he tricked his nan into giving him.

As his parents thought he was heading off to school, he packed a bag, grabbed his scooter and took the train to the airport. 

The 6th grader flew under the radar by checking in through the self-serve checkouts before making his way through the security gates.

Once in Perth, Drew claims no one asked him why he was alone.

“They just asked for my student ID and passport to prove that I’m over 12 and that I’m in secondary school,” he said.

From there he boarded his flight from Perth to Denpasar.

When he arrived in Bali, Drew jumped on a Go Jek Bike and headed to the All Seasons Hotel.

While checking himself in, he told staff his sister was coming and he was checking in early.

After finding out where he son was Emma hurriedly traveled to Bali to collect him.

Airstream Debuts Their New Nest Trailer

Lisa Arneill
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0
Airstream Debuts Their New Nest Trailer

Best known for their silver bullet trailers, Airstream has gone in a new direction with the Nest.  With its fiberglass body and automotive styling, the new Nest has a clever, modern design that adventure seekers will love.

Airstream Nest travel trailer

Starting at $45,900, it’s compact, lightweight, and easy to tow, size makes it the perfect sidekick for a last-minute weekend getaway. Airstream has also packed in some impressive features and amenities to take any trip to the next level.

With its modern fiberglass shell, panoramic front windows and a skylight, it is sure to turn heads.

The nest is debuting with two floor plans and two color palates.

Both floorplans feature seating to enjoy a meal or get some work done, as well as room for two to sleep comfortably. The 16U floorplan features extra counter space and a U-shaped dinette that converts into a comfy bed.

Airstream Nest 16U floorplan

In the 16FB floorplan, you’ll find a fixed queen Tuft & Needle adaptive foam mattress, plus a dinette bench with a stowable table top.

Airstream Nest 16FB floorplan

The Wingspan White interior comes with charcoal vinyl floors, beige leather seating, and white accented furniture.

Airstream Nest Wingspan White interior

The Clutch Blue design has a more retro look with geometrically printed pillows and turquoise accents.

Airstream Nest clutch blue design

The Nest’s kitchen features a two-burner cooktop with a cover that creates extra counter space when it’s not in use, plus a microwave, a refrigerator with an icebox, and a generous stainless steel sink.  Throughout Airstream has added storage and ample cabinet space to keep your mealtime essentials well-organized and easily accessible.

Airstream Nest kitchen

Additional features include:

  • Bluetooth®-controlled LED lights
  • USB ports and 110v outlets throughout
  • Blackout curtains
  • Tuft & Needle® adaptive foam mattress (16FB only)
  • Coat and key hooks
  • Custom Nest Entry mat

Airstream Nest Specs:

  • Exterior Length 16′ 7″
  • Exterior Width 7′ 1″
  • Interior Width 6′ 10″
  • Exterior Height 9′ 6″
  • Interior Height with A/C (Entry Area) 6′ 6″
  • Hitch Weight (with LP & Batteries) 375
  • Unit Base Weight (with LP & Batteries) 3,400
  • Maximum Trailer Capacity (GVWR) (lbs.) 4,000
  • Net Carrying Capacity (lbs.) 600
  • Fresh Water Tank (gal.) 24
  • Gray and Black Water Combo Tank (gal.) 30
  • 30 AMP Service Single AC with Heat Strip (13,500 BTU) STD
  • Ducted Furnace (16,000 BTU) STD
  • 3.2 cu ft. DC/AC 2-way Electric Refrigerator STD
  • Microwave STD
  • Interior Windows and Skylights 8
  • Bed Configurations Queen 8
  • Sleeping Capacity Up to 2

The Pioneer Woman Debuts Her New ‘Boarding House’ Hotel!

Lisa Arneill
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0
The Pioneer Woman Debuts Her New ‘Boarding House’ Hotel!
Pawhuska, Oklahoma is about to get another visitor bump after Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond announced she and husband Ladd have opened The Boarding House, an eight-room “cowboy luxury” hotel. Ree Drummond Pioneer woman Boarding house hotel
The building was constructed in 1920 and originally housed “The Indian Silk Shop” as well as “Curios and Pickens Ready-to-Wear.” It later became a J.C. Penney department store, where some residents of Pawhuska still remember going to shop as a child.
The couple says they are honored to breathe new life into this old gem and let its natural beauty shine. “The BH”, as they call it, is ready to welcome new and returning visitors to their small town! Ree Drummond Pioneer woman Boarding house hotel - butterfly suite sitting room Got your credit card out and are ready to book a room for this Summer’s vacation?  Not so fast.  The hotel reportedly sold out for the next 6 months in just 30 minutes! And for good reason.  Not only are the suites absolutely beautiful, Ree and her husband have really put a lot into the details.  They offer turned down service, a truffle on your pillow, help with your luggage, Personalized Morning Coffee, Complimentary wine and beer “Happy Hour” and the option for you to order a meal from room service. Ree herself has created the menu and it includes some of her favorites.  At breakfast, you can order a farmer’s breakfast($12), Edna Mae’s Pancakes($10) or Biscuits & Gravy($12).  At lunch or dinner, you can snack on Chips & Queso($10), Chicken Fingers, or have a hearty 12oz USDA Choice ribeye steak($28), Chicken Parmesan($19) or Ree’s Lasagna($18). The 8 suites fill the second and third floor and each one comes with its own personality and style. Ree Drummond Pioneer woman Boarding house hotel - cowboy suite Leather furniture, reclaimed wood, exposed brick and industrial lighting are the pillars of most of the suites along with custom tilework and clawfoot tubs. Ree Drummond Pioneer woman Boarding house hotel - cowboy room bathroom Ree’s favorite is the Butterfly suite.  I think it’s my favorite too.  The colors, barn doors, tray ceiling and gorgeous bathroom is perfect. Ree Drummond Pioneer woman Boarding house hotel - butterfly suite bathroom Ree Drummond Pioneer woman Boarding house hotel - butterfly suiteI don’t know what there is to do in Pawhuska Oklahoma but I want to go there now just to stay in one of these suites.  I will, however, have to wait until some availability opens up because right now it’s a pretty hot ticket. For more information visiting the Boarding House’s site.

Touring The Winchester Mystery House

Lisa Arneill
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Touring The Winchester Mystery House
Billed as ‘an extravagant maze of Victorian craftsmanship – marvelous, baffling, eerily eccentric, and undeniably, haunted’ the Winchester Mystery House is the former home of Winchester Rifle heiress Sarah Winchester. Winchester Mystery House San Jose In 1884 the home was purchased as an unfinished 8 room farmhouse, but for the next 38 years, Mrs. Winchester would continue to add on to it. When she passed away in 1922 the home had grown to 160 rooms – 110 of which are tourable if you visit. I had heard many stories about this home so while in San Jose recently we stopped by to see if it was as creepy as it’s been portrayed. Winchester Mystery House - statues out front I have an obsession with historical mansions so seeing this house in its glory made me so happy.   There is no denying it IS a ‘tourist trap’ especially after the movie but the inside is truly incredible – even if it’s not furnished with her original belongings. We were unable to take photos inside the home.  Previously, you were allowed to but our guide told us tours would take too long because visitors were lagging behind taking pictures.  Also having images online ruined the element of surprise for those who had never visited the home. Winchester Mystery House - door to nowhere

Tickets

Before arriving we tried to book a tour online and the website said they were fully booked. We were, however, able to walk up to the ticket counter and get 2 spots on the 11:30 tour so if you can’t get tickets online stop by and there will likely be room. On the flip side – if you purchased online tickets you don’t have to wait in line outside.

History

After losing her husband and daughter to illnesses, Sarah Winchester sought a medium who revealed her family and fortune were haunted by those who were killed by Winchester rifles. She was instructed to move West to get away from the spirits and build a great house for them. This led her to Santa Clara where she bought a property that eventually grew to 160 acres. Winchester Mystery House - front In documentaries and TV shows the home is billed as bizarre with stairways that lead to the ceiling, winding hallways and doors that open to nowhere.  This is all true but much of the design of the house actually makes sense… Just 4’10”, Sarah had arthritis and was unable to climb regular stairs.  In order for her to be able to access all of the floors of the mansion, the staircases were modified with riser stairs that were long and just two inches in height.  Kind of like a ramp they are very narrow(she was small).  These stairs meander likely in order to accommodate the tiny space they had to be put in.  In some cases, there are regular stairs(for the staff) and riser stairs side by side. Essentially the house was modified for her disability. She was unable to get into a bathtub so she had one of the first showers complete with duo sprayers to she could be cleaned on both sides at the same time.  This was pretty unique for the time – especially considering she had a water heater in the room to supply warm water to her shower. Sarah did have a fascination for the number 13 and it appears in almost every room.  There are 13 panels on the wall, 13 windows in the room, 13 engraved on the door hinges, 13 bathrooms in the house, 13 stairs on many stairways, 13 holes in the sink drains, and 13 hooks in her seance room.   The number’s prominence can be seen everywhere. And yes, there is a seance room.  It is the most centered room in the house and it had a secret passage where she could exit out the back of.  Each night she would have a seance where she would get help with her building plans.  Here Sarah would sketch ideas for her latest house designs and would meet with her foreman in the morning to go over new changes. Despite the fact that there are 160 rooms in the house it is estimated that 500-600 rooms were built and remodeled.  Construction didn’t stop in the 36 years Sarah lived at the mansion. When she passed away the home contained more than:
  • 2,000 doors
  • 10,000 windows
  • 47 stairways
  • 47 fireplaces
  • 6 kitchens
As you tour the home the guide tells stories about Sarah and her inspirations behind each room.  Oddly, there wasn’t one time where I thought the house was ridiculous.  When you’re there almost everything makes sense.  In fact, many of the home’s features were innovative for their time. The carbide gas lights were powered by the estate’s gas manufacturing plant.  They were activated by an electric button which was a new process.  The porcelain sinks in the kitchen were created with molded soap holders and washboards to make work easier for her staff.  Sarah also had brass corner plates installed in the every stair corner to make dusting the corners easier.  They also look incredibly fancy. Each room has a call system where a card would drop showing the servant where she was in the home. The North Conservatory has a zinc floor so the staff could mass water plants in the room.  The floor itself is built on an angle so all the water could run down and water the garden below. When not in use a wooden floor rested over top to have a more luxurious appearance. Winchester Mystery House - greenhouseThe home has two conservatories.  The floor in the South Conservatory famously has a window in the floor.  Odd at first but when you pass over it, you can see it brings more light into the room and also allowed Sarah to be able to watch over her staff below as they worked.  Many of the designs she had were for her personal convenience and don’t follow normal design protocol so they were deemed as weird. The home also had a wine cellar but it has never been found.  Sarah reportedly went down one evening to get some wine and found a dirty handprint on the wall.  Taking that as an omen she had it boarded up to be lost forever. One of the most spectacular parts of the home is the woodwork.  Ornate doorways, hall wainscotting, cupboards and parquet floors were handcrafted by workers who laid and re-laid the floors in mahogany, rosewood, teak, maple, oak and white ash. The floors in the front room reportedly took a year to be installed.  Sadly, they weren’t enjoyed by many.  Sarah was a recluse and rarely had visitors over.  It has been said she kept her face covered by a veil at all times and she would fire servants he saw her without it. There is only one photo in existence of her on the property and it was taken by a gardener who hid in the bushes. We were allowed to take photos of the living room area and you can see the wood strapping on the ceiling and panels on the wall. Winchester Mystery House - parlor Winchester Mystery House - parlor As your tour concludes you are guided back to the gift shop and small museum area.  The gift shop has many Winchester themed items you can purchase and a small restaurant you can order food from. Winchester Mystery House - giftshop The museum has some interesting pieces in it some of the first Winchester rifles, and some of the products the company made after demand for firearms was reduced. Winchester Mystery House - icebox museum A slot machine caught my eye.  I’m not sure if it belonged in the house or it was a product they made. Winchester Mystery House - slot machine If you are in the San Jose area I highly recommend a visit to the Winchester Mystery House.  The grounds are absolutely beautiful and the home is enchanting.  The tour takes about 60 minutes so plan to spend a couple hours at the property.  There is free parking in the lot adjacent to the home.

Ontario Science Centre Announces 3 ‘Sensory-friendly Saturdays’ For Kids With Autism

Lisa Arneill
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0
Ontario Science Centre Announces 3 ‘Sensory-friendly Saturdays’ For Kids With Autism
It is estimated that 1 child in 68 is affected by Autism, a disorder that is characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication. For parents who have children with Autism outings to places where they is a lot going on can be a challenge because the triggers are unknown and there are often not areas set up to give your child time to decompress. To help ensure all guests are able to learn more while being aware of what to expect, the Ontario Science Centre has announced three “Sensory-friendly Saturdays.”  This new program designed specifically for children with neurodevelopmental disorders and is the result of a partnership between the Ontario Science Centre and the Geneva Centre for Autism. Ontario Science Centre Announces 3 Sensory friendly Saturdays For Kids With Autism “Many families with children who have neurodevelopmental disorders face a number of barriers to visiting and getting the most out of museums and attractions,” said Nancy Bent from the Geneva Centre for Autism in a statement to the Ontario Science Centre. In an effort to break down those barriers, visitors of all ages and abilities are invited to “embrace and celebrate neurodiversity” through a series of family-friendly programs, including a planetarium open house that will feature a modified experience so that people can come and go as they please. “It makes for a much more customized and personalized experience,” Rachel Ward-Maxwell, Researcher and Programmer at the Ontario Science Centre, told CTV News Channel on Wednesday. The Science Centre has put together a comprehensive story booklet to inform visitors with sensory processing difficulties about what to expect. This booklet includes information on lineup wait times, temperature changes and noise warnings are all included which allows kids to fully understand each experience and the possible triggers attached to it.  There are even parent tips included to give you more information on exit strategies if the activity becomes too much. Sensory-friendly Saturdays will also take place on April 7, April 14 and April 21 at the Ontario Science Centre. This week Sesame Place announced they were give a world’s first designation as a Certified Autism Center.  In 2014 Royal Caribbean became the first Autism Friendly Cruise Line.
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