World Fest 2012 at Silver Dollar City, Branson, Missouri
Entire Playlist for the Festival
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Video Duration 3:36 ... that is over 3 1/2 hours!
Sbandieratori Arezzo
An astounding and colorful display of the... | 
Mariachi Divas
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http://www.mariachidivas.com/
Official Website for The Mariachi Divas with their Tour Schedule, Audio and Video Clips, Photos and Contact Information.... |
Enchanted Art Brings the Disney Dream to Life!
Once again, Disney artists bring new meaning to the display of fine art!
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To say that the Disney Dream, the first of two large cruise ships built for Disney Cruise Lines in the 21st century, is technologically advanced is like saying Mickey is just an animated mouse! Every Disney fan knows that Mickey Mouse stands for so much more and so is the new technologies you will find on the Dream.... | 
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Part One
Universal's Island of Adventure brings Hogwarts and Hogsmeade to life
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Click here to read Part Two
For fans of the seven Harry Potter novels and eight movies from the mind of JK Rowling, the magical world is almost as real as everyday life. To have the opportunity to... |
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Part Two
Universal's Island of Adventure brings Hogwarts and Hogsmeade to life
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Click here to read Part One
Another ride that should not be missed in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. As you make your way through the corrido... | 
The New Disney Dream Does Not Feel Very Big or Crowded!
Clever design and well though out deck plans keep the intimate feel on board
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Having been aboard Disney Cruise Line's first two ships for nine cruises in the past seven years, our first concern about cruising aboard the new larger Disney Dream was that it will feel crowded, loosing the intimate feel of the smaller ships. We had cruised on the Royal Caribbean Mariner of the Sea that frequently felt too big... |
Vibe; The New DCL Teen Hot Spot
New to the Disney Cruise Line is the expanded indoor/outdoor teens-only lounge on the Disney Dream
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Traditionally, when one thinks of a cruise, images of the QE2 come to mind. A place where children of any age are discouraged. Then when the name Disney is added to the mix, images of young children frolicking with cartoon characters. Many cruise lines have added what they call 'teen lounges' but are nothing short of a dismal a... | 
Getting to and Paying for Your Florida Cruise
Saving money takes a bit of work but the payoff can be really worth it!
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Our family travels a lot for the average person. People frequently ask us for advice on how they could travel more. When they ask seriously, they should be prepared for a conversation that may last hours. One day on our November 13th cruise, we met a great family from Houston sitting at the table next to us for High Tea in Palo... |
Running the 2011 Disney Wine and Dine Half Marathon
The Second Annual evening event that is unlike anything you will do outside of Disney!
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The Decision
In January 2011, I made the decision to train for something huge in my life. For years, I have wished I had followed up on my college running activity and ran a marathon. When he told me of the Catalina Marathon, good friend Ray painted a picture that was hard to turn away from. I committed to run the marathon wit... | 
Mickey's Not-so-scary Halloween Party at Disney World
Halloween Celebration at Magic Kingdom that runs from September through November.
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On Friday, September 30, 2011, we attended the Mickey's Not-so-scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom at the Disne... |
Marvel Cave lives up to its name, NO Disappointment!
Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri and where it all began!
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Silver Dollar City has one of the most interesting beginnings of many places in the Ozarks. In 1894, this booming attraction started as a tour of a very impressive cave, one that you will never forget!
At that time, people were allowed to roam freely throughout the cave for up to six hours at a time with only a candle, timed to burn... | 
It came! It came! It came! The coolest Disney Mickey Watch!
You gotta see how this thing looks when reading out the time!!
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Anyone who follows our site much will quickly realize that we are pretty big Disney fans... this fits right in!
So, 2 weeks ago today I ordered what looked like the COOLEST mickey watch I have ever seen. I got it at culala.com. It was only $15.
It arrived in exactly 2 weeks well packaged and looks awesome.... |
Val at the Skills USA competition
Arkansas competition
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On April 19, 2011, Our son Val Bailey represented Eureka Springs High School with several of his class mates at the Skills USA state competition for Arkansas in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Here are some of the videos and images from that competition.... | 
Oklahoma Aquarium
A day of wonder, fun and education that everyone can enjoy!
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On Thursday, March 24, 2011 during spring break, we took an early morning drive to Tulsa, Oklahoma (really Jenks) to visit the Oklahoma Aquarium. We had marked it on a previous trip to Tulsa on the GPS with the intention of returning.
From the outside, the aquarium appeared to be a large, clean... |
Feeding the Red Ear Sliders in the turtle tank
Fishes of Oklahoma exhibit in the Oklahoma Aquarium
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As we entered the Oklahoma Aquarium, all eight galleries are situated along a huge central corridor. Some to the left, some to the right but it is easy to see everything in any order! We started our visit at the feeding tank for the red ear sliders in the Fishes of Oklahoma gallery, third gallery on the left.... | 
Albino Red Ear Slider - Fishes of Oklahoma Exhibit
Oklahoma Aquarium in Jenks, Oklahoma south of Tulsa
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While you visit the Oklahoma Aquarium, don't miss seeing the Albino Red Ear Slider. This is a rarity in nature and it is doubtful that it would survive in the wild because its lack of color would make it visible ot predators. |
Red Spined Star - Biodiversity Exhibit
Oklahoma Aquarium in Jenks, Oklahoma south of Tulsa
Scientific Name: Protoreaster linckii (First star / partaining to Johann Heinrich Linck)
This was one of the most interesting things in the exhibits. Having visited a lot of aquariums around the world I do not remember ever seeing one of these, certainly not so clearly. It was dazzling! The white and red were so vivid it really did n... | 
Australian Sea Apple - Biodiversity Exhibit
Oklahoma Aquarium in Jenks, Oklahoma south of Tulsa
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In the same tank as the Red Spined Star is the Australian Sea Apple. Again, this is an ultra colorful creature found around Australia and points immediately north. These are usually harmless but they may secrete toxins when they are stressed or if they die. |
Getting to Your Cruise.
Panama Cruise January 2011 - Last Trans-canal trip planned for the Disney Wonder at this time.
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Planning a nice cruise vacation involves an investment in time and money. We are not talking about a short cruise that cost a couple hundred dollars, but one that goes to destinations that will educate, inspire and build a lifetime of memories. Much like building a fine home, an investment of a few more dollars can make a differ... | 
The Duck Walk at The Peabody in Orlando - International Driv
Panama Cruise January 2011 - Last Trans-canal trip planned for the Disney Wonder at this time.
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Unless you know the story, the Duck Walk sounds like an awfully mundane experience... here is the legend from the back of the napkin at the bar:
How did the tradition of the ducks in The Peabody fountain begin?
Back in the 1930's Frank Schutt, General Manager of The Peabody, and a friend, Chip Barwic... |
The New Disney Dream Arrives in Port Canaveral
Panama Cruise January 2011 - Last Trans-canal trip planned for the Disney Wonder at this time.
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More pictures at the bottom of this page
Two days before our departure on the Panama Cruise and the Disney Wonder's last embarkation from Florida, the brand new Disney Dream arrived in Port Canaveral. This third ship in the Disney Cru... | 
Special Don't Miss Experiences on the Disney Wonder
Panama Cruise January 2011 - Last Trans-canal trip planned for the Disney Wonder at this time.
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Although I have traveled on a number of Disney Cruises (this is our 9th), I am merely second fiddle to my wife's knowledge of the ships and what to do. Over the years, we have tried to experience every opportunity aboard at least once in a while, if not on a regular basis. There are a few things that we always recommend for trav... |
Day Six and the Panama Canal Crossing on Day Seven! Part 1
Panama Cruise January 2011 - Last Trans-canal trip planned for the Disney Wonder at this time.
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If you have been following along with the story of our Panama cruise aboard the Disney Wonder, you already know that I can occasionally be a bit extreme (I have also heard silly, insane, stubborn and just plain stupid, too). After the 12 mile hike in Aruba, I used day six to rest, but not a lot.
If you have not s... | 
Miraflores and Pedro Miguel Locks, Panama Canal! Part 5
Panama Cruise January 2011 - Last Trans-canal trip planned for the Disney Wonder at this time.
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Shortly after passing under the Freedom bridge, the Pedro Miguel lock comes into view. It is a single lock that takes ships from the level of the Culebra cut down to the level of Miraflores lake. At first, unless there is already a ship ahead, you will only be able to decipher the lock with binoculars.
Also visibl... |
Day Thirteen and Whale Watching in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Panama Cruise January 2011 - Last Trans-canal trip planned for the Disney Wonder at this time.
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To say this was a great day would be an extreme understatement. Many times since the middle of January 18, 2011 we have said, "that was the BEST EXCURSION EVER!" To express the magnitude of the experience we had in Banderas Bay would require volumes of text that would likely still fall short.
To be so clo... | 
Day Fourteen Cabo San Lucas
Panama Cruise January 2011 - Last Trans-canal trip planned for the Disney Wonder at this time.
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To say Cabo San Lucas is a nice port does not create the right kind of description. It falls too short.
From the looks of the clean and secure city, it could easily be said that 'Cabo San Lucas is a nice US or French Riviera port' but that too would be a lie. Cabo San Lucas is located on the Pacific Coast of Mexi... |
Brunch at Palo’s on the Disney Magic
Everyone 18 or over should do this at least once in their life!
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On the Disney ships Magic and Wonder there is an adults-only fine-dining restaurant experience that we always find unforgettable. Palo’s is a reservations only restaurant that serves some of the finest food I have ever had with the finest service I have ever had.
Before this trip, our Palo’s experience on the Magic... | 
New Disney Show Villains Tonight
Disney Magic 3/23/2010
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For any of you about to cruise on the magic, the new show Villains tonight is out and amazingly fantastic, we were on the 7 night western Caribbean cruise last week and on 3/23 and got a preview of it, the big wigs from Disney called it a soft opening or the final dress rehearsal before the main premier this week, but let me say the show did not d... |
PTO Generator installation complete
Now we can be off grid when the power goes down.
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In preparation for the inevitable power outage we will eventually have, we invested in a PTO generator for the property. It is a generator that hooks to the back of the tractor. When researching generators, we discovered that we could easily spend $10,000 on a generator big enough to keep us running if needed.
With a little researc... | 
Salzburg Natural History Museum
Page 9 - Reptile Zoo with and extensive collection of poisonous snakes!
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Easily, the most impressive part of the museum was the Reptile Zoo. I have been to many museums, zoos and exhibits, but this exceeds any I have ever seen. There are over 50 terraria housing about 200 animals. These exhibits are designed so well that you can come within inches of the specimens and study every detail of movement, markings and more... |
Salzburg Natural History Museum
Page 1 - Introduction
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Today, we arrived at opening time at the museum. To do this we had to leave very early in the morning, before the sun was up. Cruised the Autobahn at a high rate of speed and found a surprisingly close parking place less than a block away from the front door!
Now this museum is not small... it is 5 large floors of fantastic exhibit... | 
Salzburg Natural History Museum
Page 8 - Space Hall
On the second floor, the space exhibit we fascinating to look at! It is the first time that I have ever seen a space exhibit outside of the USA, and it was apparent, too.
Now don't get me wrong, all the exhibits I have seen in the USA are good, but there is a definite bias shown in the display. Whether by design... |
Hohensalzburg Fortress
Page 1
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The Hohensalzburg Fortress is perched high on the peak of Festungsberg. The castle served as a refuge for the Archbishops when ever they felt threatened. The best way to get to the fortress is by taking the funicular. You can walk up the mountain if you wish but the funicular is quick, inexpensive and very comfortable. The ride takes less than a mi... | 
Neuschwanstein
Germany
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Next we headed to Neuschwanstein, It was a glorious scenic drive up the mountains. It is quite a walk up a steep hill to the castle but in the royal fantasy they offer horse drawn carriage rides up and down the mountain. I had to do this, there is just something so fairy tale about riding up to the castle in a horse drawn carriage. we squeezed in,... |
Salt Mine
Salzburg, Austria
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Today we headed to Salzburg Austria to the Salt Mines of Halein. It seems 250 million years ago slat deposits were formed by the sea and over the course of the formation of the alps enclosed then in rock and the Durrnberg Salt Mountain was formed. We took a tour of a former working salt mine. After purchasing our tickets and adorning our white jump... | 
Germany - The Alps
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Today we went into the Alps in on a castle day. The Alps were very impressive how the foot hills have trees and the peaks are barren because it is too high for anything to grow. This is the first day we ran into real snow that was several feet deep, the higher we went the more snow there was (logically). It was a clear day and absolutely... |
Space Shuttle Launch
STS-124 , May 31, 20085:02 p.m. EDT
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After many months of hard working on the house. We decided that after school let out we were going to take the boys on a vacation. To keep it a surprise we didn't tell them.
The kids got out of school Thursday, so Friday morning we went to Kansas city on the rouse of going to one of out favorite restaurants The Rain Fores... |
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