It's Time for a Little Leaf Peeping

I know it is a simple little chemical phenomenon just short of magic that causes the leaves of autumn to turn colors. But it is truly more fun to imagine Jack Frost with a palette of vivid paints and a large brush. Fall is undeniably a majestic time on earth when the leaves perform their metamorphosis and dress in the most brilliant of colors.

It is all quite easily explained... in the warm summer months, trees are in their growth period and are actively collecting rain and sun to produce chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is green and therefore the leaves are green. Deep within the green leaves are also the colors of yellow and orange, but we can't see the colors masked by intense green.

When the leaves stop making food for growth and when the sunlight decreases, the green starts to fade and the yellow and orange can now be seen. Other chemical changes occur too. Different trees turn different colors... dogwoods and sumacs turn red and purple. The sugar maple shines a brilliant orange, while other maples pop as hot red. Oaks achieve a dark, rich brown color. Sourwood, sweetgums, tupelos, cherry trees and persimmons are also among the best trees to watch for their amazing fall colors.

The process of changing colors happens quickly and, unfortunately, doesn't last very long. The Weather Channel features a Leaf Peeping map that indicates the best times to visit areas all throughout the country.

Leaf peeping is about appreciation for the phenomenon, but it is more about enjoying the true beauty Mother Nature provides, and finding peace with those that mean the most to you.

There are so many great vacations to take in the fall to experience all that leaf peeping has to offer! Check out the Holiday Inn Mt. Kisco to discover the Hudson Valley's beauty. If you're in the New England area, try the Courtyard by Marriott Copley Square.

Post your leaf peeping pictures on our Memorable Moments Facebook page!

Making Memorable Moments at Hudson Valley's Country Manor

What is more memorable than a wedding, especially when the wedding was given away in a time of economic hardship? "Hudson Valley's Country Manor" created lasting memories as one of 18 participating hotels who generously bestowed a free wedding to one fortunate couple. Over 60 entries were sent in describing stories (in 50 words or less!) about their most romantic memorable moment. All were vying for the chance of the grand prize - a wedding valued over $10,000 - at this beautiful countryside setting in Mt. Kisco, New York.

There were stories about proposals under the Christmas tree; a helicopter displaying a banner with the words "I love you" written in the sky; a blind date at an ice-skating rink which turned into a proposal seven years later at the same rink; a cartoon drawing of the couple together in a vacation spot where they always wanted to go; and many, many more romantic tales. The chosen winner struck a heart string with a poem:

"It all began on our June '09 vacation.
To our favorite Outer Banks location.
Little did I know what he had in store,
A proposal down by the shore.
At the lighthouse on one knee,
This is just the beginning for you and me!"

Laura Goldin and Scott Olson were the lucky winners that night, and the nine other finalists won $100 Memorable Moments gift cards to be used on future travel! Everyone was a winner that night, whether or not they won a wedding - Love was in the air!

What are your most memorable and romantic moments with a loved one? Would your story win a free wedding? Share it with us!

A Perfect Fall Activity: Mastering the Cornmaze

Funny... if we were forced to enter the maze of a mouse and told to find our way to the cheese, we would resent it and feel trapped. But this time of year thousands of people voluntarily enter human-sized mazes for the sake of fun. And fun it is! It is corn maze time. Slip on the sweater and the tennis shoes, it is time to find the cheese.


The idea of human navigated mazes dates back 4,000 years in ancient Greek myths. The mazes were not used for fun however; they were processionals and rites of passage. Today Adrian Fisher of Dorset, England is considered the master of mazes and his company, "Maize Maze," is a site where farmers can get one of his designs and begin creating a masterpiece.


Here are some tips to mastering the mazes this season:

• If you have little kids - visit during the daylight hours... the adults and teenagers often prefer the nighttime maze activities with a dash of haunting.




• If you are up for a little nighttime terror - bring your flashlight and watch Stephen King's "Children of the Corn" before you visit.




• Bring an extra set of clothes just in case the dust and dirt is too much.

• Wear really comfortable closed-toe shoes.

• Dress in layers... Sometimes it is cool on the outskirts of the maze and much warmer inside where the wind cannot find you.




• If you live in an area with mosquitoes - bring the bug spray!




• Bring bottled water for the bigger mazes... some are more than 20 acres!

There are corn mazes all over the country. Visit the corn maze directory and discover over 600 listings! Happy navigating! Leave your GPS at home - it is not fair!

Coming Home to What is in Your Heart

There is a wonderful saying - "Homecoming means coming home to what is in your heart." It is a powerful word that conveys so much more than just a reunion tailgating party tied to an Alma Mater football game. Homecoming is a time to return to the past and unite those memories with the present. It can be a time to rejoin family and catch up. It can gather old friends around an event, catching up and feeling new again. It is a time of remembrance . . . a time to reconnect with people, places, and feelings that once moved you.

I remember a specific homecoming. I had been out on my own for several years. My career was flourishing. Life was good. Fall had arrived. The leaves were brightly colored and the apples were ripe for the picking. Something inside of me yearned to return to traditions and memories of childhood. I went home for a visit. It was a 'homecoming'. Mom had prepared my favorite foods - chocolate chip cookies, roasted chicken, pecan pie, mashed potatoes. Those smells of home filtered through every corner of the house. But the memory that is so strong in my head is bedtime. I kissed my parents good night and went to my childhood bedroom to go to sleep. I was deep in my twenties and fully independent but when my head touched that pillow, I was a little girl again. All was right in the world. I was safe. If anything bad happened in the night my dad would take care of it. I drifted off into the deepest, most content sleep I had experienced for a long time. It was a coming home to what was in my heart. It was good.

Fall is a beautiful time to come home . . . or wherever that place is that rekindles the memorable moments of your heart.

S'mores: An American Tradition

One of the most popular memorable moments of childhood is making the wonderful treat known as a S'more: Perfectly roasted marshmallow and a Hershey chocolate bar nestled between two graham cracker squares. The treat is so delicious you just cannot get enough... "Give me some more (s'more)!"

The Girl Scouts first shared their recipe for "Some Mores" in the 1927 pamphlet "Tramping and Trailing with the Girl Scouts." The name was soon shortened to S'more and a tradition of memorable moments was born. Today there are many wonderful variations of the basic S'more shared on numerous websites, such as here on eHow.com.

I thoroughly enjoyed the All American S'moresgaboard experience at the Holiday Inn Conference Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania. It is a Friday night activity unlike any I have experienced at a hotel. We were even able to put decadent toppings on our graham cracker creations. It was so much fun to sit by the pool and roast marshmallows over open fire pits.

Hit the grocery store and pick up the basic ingredients for a perfect S'more. It's a memorable moment in the making!

A Weekend on the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail

For one Memorable Moments contributor, the fall is the perfect time to enjoy one of the finer things in life, a mouth-watering glass of wine on the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail. Visiting vineyards with your girlfriends while sipping spectacular, citrusy whites or engaging the taste buds in some toasty oak flavored reds is just divine! Our participating hotel, the Holiday Inn Lehigh Valley, offers guests a chance to discover the wine trail, a hidden treasure in Pennsylvania, and create lasting memories indulging all of the senses...

"The weather was picture perfect for this past weekend's Harvest Festival along the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail. This was the most opportune time for a group of girlfriends to spend some time doing what we love best... tasting wine and celebrating moments together...away from our husbands and the kids!

The Lehigh Valley Wine Trail comprises of nine locally owned and operated vineyards and wineries. While there are nine wineries along the trail, time allowed us to travel to three of them - which leaves us a few more weekends together to tour the other six.

Our first stop was at Clover Hill Winery, which is owned and operated by the Skrip family. We pulled in to the winery which is at the bottom of a hill covered by vines. Their tasting room is beautiful and tastefully decorated. We were able to taste several of their vintages and learn about the grapes that are grown overlooking the vineyard. They had partnered with Breakway Farms and were featuring delicious samples of their organic meats and cheeses to pair with the wines.

Our next stop was just down the road to Vynecrest Vineyards & Winery. The hills overlooking this winery were even more beautiful than our experience at Clover Hill. The Landis Family were our hosts as the owners and operators of Vynecrest. They shared their passion and knowledge of winemaking with us and taught us how the grapes make all the difference in a dry versus a sweet wine. They had also partnered with Stonecroft Farm for the sampling of goat cheese and a bakery of freshly baked artisan breads. Learning how to pair foods with different wines was fun and educational. We also learned that there really doesn't have to be rules with the serving of the wine - just serve what you enjoy!

Our last stop for the day was our best experience (nice how it worked out that way!) We experienced Blue Mountain Vineyards & Cellars. Our hosts were Vickie and Joe Gref. The view from the deck of their winery was the most spectacular we had seen all day, with the hills covered in grape vines and a beautiful pond. We felt like we could just lose ourselves in the view, but there was touring to do and wine to taste! Vickie was a gracious hostess and Joe (who calls himself "cheap labor") is the winemaker. He added to our fun and learning with a tour of the vineyards and winery. Prior to this trip, I thought you actually picked the grapes, but you don't. You cut them from the vines. Who knew? My personal favorite for the day was Blue Mountain's Riesling, fruity to the smell, but refreshingly dry to the taste. I could now continue the experience from my living room, unfortunately without the breathtaking view.

The girls and I are already planning our next weekend tour to continue our tasting along Lehigh Valley's spectacular wine trail!"

Enjoy the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail Package at the Holiday Inn Conference Center in Lehigh Valley, and receive a welcome bottle of wine from the featured Blue Mountain Vineyards & Cellar, along with a pair of souvenir wine glasses, and a map of the trail so you can plan your own wine tasting tour! Click here for more information.

Things To Do
Allentown

Convention of Disney Memories

It's hard to think of a company that has been responsible for more Memorable Moments than Disney - from it's ground-breaking theme parks to blockbuster films to iconic characters. This year, Disney launched its first official fan club, D23 (1923 was the year Walt founded the studio). This past weekend, the company held its inaugural D23 Expo at the Anaheim Convention Center in California. It was a four day celebration of all things Disney and a Memorable Moments contributor was there to take it all in.

"It was 10am on Thursday morning. Every seat in The Arena at the Anaheim Convention Center was full. The crowd stirred with excitement and curiosity. While there was a schedule and a guide book detailing what would occur at the Expo, I think most people there didn't know what to expect. Or rather... they knew in their hearts what was about to happen would be magical (this is Disney after all), and they couldn't wait for it to begin.

So when the lights dimmed... the crowd roared! The first-ever Disney fan experience was beginning and we were a part of it. As a montage of Disney products and characters played across the giant screen, people cheered for each as if they were seeing old friends.

Bog Iger, the President of the Walt Disney Company, delivered the first memorable moment. A lucky winner from the audience would be staying overnight in the Dream Suite inside Disney Land - the very suite that Walt Disney himself had designed for his own planned personal use. The winner came up on stage in a state of shock. When he was finally able to speak, he talked about how much Disneyland meant to him and how it brought him back to his childhood. His father, it turned out, had a been a street sweeper at the park when he was a kid.

This was just a small taste of what was to come:

• The first public crowd to watch the first 30 minutes of the upcoming Princess and the Frog movie. The film marks Disney's return to the full length animated movie, a genre it defined for decades.

• The introduction of the Golden Girls and Robin Williams into Disney Legends.

• A sneak peak at upcoming movies featuring in-person appearances from John Travolta, Nicolas Cage, director Tim Burton, and...the biggest surprise of the Expo... Johnny Depp in costume/character as Captain Jack Sparrow from the Pirates of the Caribbean movie.

Then there were the true Disney legends - the men and women who worked on all of the creative aspects of Disney's famous theme park attractions and films. They spoke about what it was like to work with Walt Disney. What it was like to be a part of American pop culture history. And we, the crowd, got to stand and applaud the people who helped shape our childhood.

And that brings me to the fans, which is really what this event was all about. It was an opportunity for the fans to come together and celebrate the Disney experience. A chance for fans to not just be viewers, but to interact and connect. New friendships were made simply by waiting in line and talking to the people around. There was the Mac software programmer there with his wife. There was the autistic teenager from New York whose artwork was hanging in the Expo's gallery... The bar-owner from New Orleans... The student from Florida... Everyone brought together by the love of the memories created because of the Walt Disney Company, and the passion to create many, many more.

National Grandparent's Day

In the years since Jimmy Carter first declared Grandparents Day a national holiday in 1978, we've been following his call to reflect on the impact grandparents have on our own lives – and on society.

The National Grandparents Day celebration got its start in 1970 from a West Virginia homemaker, who initiated a campaign to have a day in observance of the contributions of grandparents to making the world a better place.

About.com offers suggestions on how to make the most of your Grandparents Day such as…

• Story-telling, allowing grandparents to relate stories of their past, enlightening children about "the good ol' days."
• Identify and date all photos in old family albums.
• Provide an opportunity for a grandparent to pass down a special skill, hobby, or interest.
  

My own grandparents, in their 70’s, would much rather that I come and play tennis with them or hop the train to NYC, but whenever we’re together we usually end up telling some of the same stories over and over again from my youth and their younger years. Grandpop and Grandmom (Bob and Jo) were the glue that held our family together, they taught me how to behave at the theatre, how to ride a bike, and most importantly that Mom and Dad still had to “listen” to other adults.

My most favorite memories though are from when we went traveling together. In my sophomore year of high-school I decided that I wanted to be a chef (a short-lived aspiration). They decided without asking or pressure to plan a road trip and take me to Vermont and New York for a week to visit two of the top culinary schools on the east coast. 8 days with just them, one of my cousins and chasing a dream… I remember the entire trip as being thrilling; I’m sure if you would ask them they might remember a few headaches.

It’s kind of odd when I think back about that specific trip; I really don’t remember the culinary schools at all. I remember all of the little side stops that we took along the way, touring the Vanderbilt mansion in Hyde Park, Alpine Sliding in Stowe, VT, indulging Grandmom’s fascination with gadgets at the Vermont Country Store, visiting the Ben & Jerry’s factory… I remember 8 days when the rules were relaxed and we all just had a good time.

Full family trips to the beach, my first trip to the theatre, the first time I was allowed to order coffee in a restaurant… all credited to Bob and Jo. As I remember each one, more and more memories come to mind.

As an adult, I realize just how much they taught me and shaped the person I am today.

In honor of National Grandparents Day I stand up and salute you Bob and Jo! I salute you too Marian H. McQuade, founder of National Grandparents Day. Thank you for everything!

What are your own Memorable Moments shaped by your grandparents? Tell us your story!

Sam Adams... More Than Just a Revolution Man

Most likely when you hear the name Samuel Adams, a frosty brew comes to mind, rather than the historic figure - one the founding fathers of the United States. Even when you Google the name, the first page that pops up in your web browser is for "America's World Class Beer." A Memorable Moments contributing author takes us down the path of the famous bars in Boston, MA that feature this delicious pint of beer, and adds some fun facts and tips along the way.

Take a trip to Boston and mention the name Samuel Adams to any of it's locals, you quickly see that this name represents more than just a historic figure you learned about in 6th grade social studies. Sam Adams represents freedom, democracy, and a "wicked good beah." With a city like Boston where the history is so relevant in its culture, it's hard not to immerse yourself in all the stories and legends behind each bar, hotel, and graveyard.

What better place to immerse yourself in Boston's culture then in one it's many historical bars, raising a glass with the locals. One of Boston's most recognizable landmarks (at least to anyone subscribed to TV Land) is the Bull & Finch Pub on Beacon Street. Originally founded in 1969, most will remember this bar as the place where "everybody knows your name!" Although the facade is reminiscent of the opening shots of the long time television series Cheers, once inside you will see that it has been refurbished to fit in with the 20th century. Another bar in Boston that could be recognized to those with a photographic memory is Doyle's Pub. This bar is set off the beaten path in a sub-division known as Jamaica Plain. Doyle's is one of the first bars to ever serve the local favorite, Sam Adams Boston lager. You may recognize this long mahogany bar from such movies as Mystic River and Celtic Pride, or television shows like Boston Public. If you're going to be in Jamaica Plain, don't pass up the chance to take the Sam Adams Brewery Tour! This tour will take you through the rows of malted Barley and Bavarian Noble Hops right to the end where you will enjoy a personal Sam Adams beer tasting! The brewery tour is one of the last free attractions in Boston (although, donations are always accepted!)

It seems the Courtyard by Marriott in Boston's Copley Square has hit the nail right on the head with the creation of the Sam Adams Pub Crawl Package. It incorporates everything people love about vacationing in the hub - A beautiful room in a historic building, souvenirs to bring home, free breakfast for two before hitting the freedom trail, a 6-pack of Sam Adams beers, and a guide of the Top 10 places to grab a beer while in town! Amongst the Top 10 is a place called the Beantown Pub, situated on the Freedom Trail right near Boston Common, this bar is everything a Boston bar should be. With multiple televisions available, everyone has a front row seat to see the Sox play. The food is great with big portions and small prices... And the best part is that it's the only place in Boston where you can drink a Sam Adams while you look at his grave!

When you finally decide to take your trip to Boston, be sure to plan accordingly - with so much to see and do, it's going to take awhile.

Click here to learn more about the "Sam Adams Pub Crawl Package" at the Courtyard by Marriott Copley Square, and at other participating Memorable Moments hotels.

Land of Champions

On this day, Sept 11th, we remember those who have lost their lives in the terrible World Trade Center tragedy of 2001. Innocent people who were going about their day, just as every other day, never suspecting that it could be their last. We, your fellow Americans, bonded together and helped each other through a time of loss and sadness, only to come out stronger from it all. A contributor to Memorable Moments speaks out about her feelings evoked by this memorable day in history...

"Victorious is what our country has been for the past eight years. We have been through so much, but I am proud that our flag is still held high, carrying the heavy memory of the day that brought pain and sadness into our famous New York, New York. What a powerful country we live in! After so many tears and loss, we still come together every day to make this day do more good than it did evil.

There is nothing we can do about our history but we still have the power to control tomorrow. This country is solely made up of hard-working Americans like ourselves. We are the ones that our future depends on, just like our past generation helped us out of the Great Depression. We are the ones that are going to build the Memorial Park, where the remains of the buildings stay in our memories, not only with our hands but with our hearts. Just like we did with many other struggles that came before that tragic day.

We can sit and rekindle the events that occurred on 9/11, or we can get out and pick up a piece of garbage littered upon the streets, turn off an extra light, plant a tree, or donate to the less fortunate. Let me be the one to remind you that you are an American, and you do come from the land of the free! No one can stop our victorious spirit, and no matter what they do, they never will.

That's why I am proud to live in the Land of Champions!

A Football Hero's Lesson

A Memorable Moments contributor remembers an interview with an NFL great...

"Lenny Dawson: Superbowl IV MVP and Quarterback for the World Champion 1969 Kansas City Chiefs; All-American Quarterback for Purdue University, Sports Anchor for KMBC-TV, color commentator for the Chief's Radio Network, former host of HBO's Inside the NFL, and 1987 inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. But...Len Dawson was just a kid born along a simple dirt road in Alliance, Ohio in 1935.

I had the honor of interviewing Mr. Dawson for a speech I was writing entitled, "Eight Lessons of Leadership from The Dirt Road."

Lenny grew up in a large family. The lived a modest lifestyle in a small house near a country road. When I asked him what key life lesson he learned growing up along America's dirt roads, he replied succinctly, "No single file." He explained further that the dirt roads were wide without a dividing line down the center. All of his siblings could walk side-by-side and talk. It was this lesson about the importance of camaraderie and constant, clear communication that he carried with him throughout his outstanding professional football career and his broadcasting success.

Life's roads are not meant to be walked alone. Memorable moments created along the journey are best shared with others. The heart is big enough to open up and let them in. This football season score a few memorable moments that can last for years to come."

Are You Ready for Some Football?

This weekend marks the start of the NFL's 90th season. The Courtyard by Marriott in Canton, OH (a Memorable Moments hotel) is the preferred hotel of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and its Director of Sales, Frank Cilona, asks..."Are you ready for some football?"

"Long before Hank Williams Jr. belted out these six famous words, football season had a special meaning to me. Long before all the commercialization of players, teams and sports networks, football season had a special meaning to me. Not so much the season but just the game in general, and how we honored those that made it great. You see, I had a very fortunate childhood. I grew up near Canton, Ohio, home of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The national shrine dedicated to those who are "legendary."

Growing up near the Hall of Fame meant that each year, our elementary school would take a field trip to visit the hallowed hall. But I wasn't as impressed with this trip each year as I was going there on Saturdays and Sundays with my friend's dad, John Bankert. John, who spent 39 years working for the Hall in various leadership roles, would take us in with him on the weekends so we could run around and enjoy the movies and exhibits. He even put us to work emptying trash cans but we didn't care. John served as the Director of the Hall of Fame from 1996 to 2005. Lewy Body Dementia took his life shortly after his retirement. We learned from John that Hall of Famers are just ordinary people too. We met several over the years and we never asked for autographs. He always said, "A handshake is good enough."

Each year as the football season gets ready to kick-off, I remember those words that John used to tell us. As an adult, I am still fortunate to be around the Hall of Fame. I've been a driver for the Hall for 22 years now and get to drive the Hall of Famers each year when they come back to Canton for Enshrinement weekend. I still never ask for an autograph but always settle for a handshake and maybe a picture. You see, to me, they are ordinary people. Being around them as an adult proves John's point. I get introduced to their private lives. I meet their families, friends, and former teammates. They are just ordinary people who did extraordinary things on the football field.

So each year around this time, I get ready for some football. I know that Sunday night at Fawcett Stadium is the start of another season. A season that some rookie, who is fighting for a position on the team, may someday be back in Canton after his retirement and may possibly find his place in the hallowed halls that I ran around in as a kid. And if I'm still around on that day, maybe I can shake his hand and welcome him to his new home in Canton, Ohio."

Click Here to learn more about the Pro Football Hall of Fame Package at the Courtyard by Marriott Canton, OH.

A Brief History of Labor Day … Hope it’s a Safe & Happy One!

Labor Day has been celebrated on the first Monday in September since the 1880’s. In 1882 the American Labor Leader, Peter J. McGuire, was intrigued with a celebration honoring the laborer in Canada. He returned to the United States and organized the first American Labor Day on September 5. It was originally designed as a holiday honoring the working people’s contribution to society. It was endorsed and sponsored by the labor organizations. In 1894 Congress actually passed a bill making Labor Day a national holiday. Some believe it was political positioning by President Grover Cleveland to reconcile with Labor after the deaths of so many during the 1894 Pullman Strike.

In the early days it was celebrated primarily with parades and speeches from politicians. Political rallies found interested audiences and the day often served as a kickoff for national political campaigns.

Today it is far less political unless you find yourself lobbying with your family for ribs instead of burgers. The holiday today signals the end of summer break. Families slip in the last three-day getaway before the long haul to Thanksgiving. Boaters bid farewell to the lakes and theme parks usher out the kids and dress with festivals for adult travelers.

As we greet this Labor Day take a deep breath and remember the reason behind the holiday. It was meant as a break…from work and from dissention. It was a time of togetherness and celebration. It was meant for rest. Honor the hard work you do for your friends and families. Celebrate the contribution you make every day to society. Happy Labor Day.

Memorable Moments with My Best Friend... My Mother

Vacations are always memorable, but more meaningful when spent with a loved one. A contributing writer to Memorable Moments shares her special time spent with her best friend, her mother…

“I love to travel with my best friend, who also happens to be my mother. Living on opposite coasts means we don’t get to see each other often, but when we do, we try to create an experience we both never will forget.

Miami, Florida is one of my favorite destinations, for the variety of experiences it offers. You can spend your days lolling on a white sugar beach and bathing in warm, blue-green tropical waters. Facing the ocean, you can imagine yourself on a Caribbean vacation… Turn back toward the city and witness the high-rise hotels of South Beach, where you have the ability to choose your evening’s entertainment from among the most creative of world-class restaurants and nightclubs.

I was surprised when my mother told me that in all of her 65 years and amongst two dozen-plus excursions to Florida, she had never visited Miami. Instantly I knew this city had to be the destination for our next adventure. To make things even more interesting, I planned for us to spend the first two days of our week exploring the Florida Keys together, a place neither of us had been but always wanted to see.

After a serendipitous, simultaneous arrival at the airport baggage carousel from separate flights, we loaded up our rental convertible and headed across the intercoastal into Miami Beach. The drive from Miami to Key Largo, the town that serves as the gateway to these barrier islands, was surprisingly brief and stunningly beautiful. We arrived at our destination, a too-cute-for-words, old Florida-style beach resort set on the bay. We spent the next two days making friends with the osprey who lived in the gardens, other guests, and the charming owners of the resort, a couple from Manhattan who fled the city, opting for early retirement and a bright future as innkeepers in tropical paradise.

I knew it would be a hard sell to convince Mom to leave this place after only two days – especially after our first taste of real Florida key lime pie at the BBQ shack next door -- so we spontaneously agreed to extend for another two nights. We shopped for shells, picked out some T-shirts, postcards, and a couple of boxes of key lime candy for Dad, who was lovingly minding Mom’s cats and dogs back home. In the town of Marathon, we had our first encounter with a tiki bar and discovered that rum punch indeed packs a powerful wallop.

Before we knew it, our extra two days in the laid-back Keys were up and it was time to head to our hotel on South Beach. After years of traveling with my frugal father, my Mom had become accustomed to staying at roadside motels and munching on donuts and instant coffee for breakfast. To show her the other side of travel life, I splurged on a deluxe suite at a beachfront hotel in the less-crowded area of Miami Beach. As predicted, once Mom laid eyes the quarters where she would be ensconced for the next three nights, her mood quickly brightened. A dip in one of the two hotel pools, with its exotic palm tree island in the middle, restored her childlike glee.

That evening, I made reservations at a hip, new, celebrity-owned restaurant, one that won rave notices for its food as well as its resident trapeze artist. I convinced Mom to get dressed up in her finest, promising a meal she would not soon forget. Our dinner turned out to be even more delicious than the atmosphere. After capping the night with a shared Crème Brule and double espresso all-around, we returned to our car in the parking lot of the restaurant. We couldn’t resist snapping photos of ourselves standing beside a Rolls Royce Phantom in the space next to ours, giggling like two giddy teenagers, creating a memento of our high-styling evening on the town.

Before we knew it, our three days in Miami had expired. Time does indeed fly when you are having fun! Tired but happy, we headed for the airport to catch our respective flights home. Mom called me the next day. Dad liked the key lime candy, his T-shirt from the Keys, and the photos of the resort in Key Largo, the osprey, and us posing at the tiki bar in Marathon.

She was undecided if we should share the Miami stories or the Rolls Royce picture with Dad, not sure if he would understand or support our splurge. We agreed it was probably best to keep it to ourselves. We were not putting down his way of traveling, just wanting to experience a different way of doing it. After all, some things in life are better left a secret between mother and daughter.”

What I Did on my Summer Vacation...

As summer’s end is quickly descending upon us with the milestone of Labor Day Weekend approaching, a Memorable Moments contributor shares her insights on the meaning of the question “What did you do on your summer vacation?”…

“The piece of paper is blank. The teacher simply places it on the desk and the student is expected to scribe a story about three months of amazing adventures. For a child it can be a difficult assignment.

Let’s imagine that blank piece of paper is placed before us as adults. What did you do this summer? What was worthy enough to write about on something as intimidating as a blank piece of white paper? Was there a grand trip filled with discoveries? Did you conquer a fear or cross over a personal milestone?

I would write more in this blog entry except there are only a few precious days left of summer. I am desperately in search of an adventure. My blank piece of paper is pretty white and I am in fear of being called before the class to share my story.

I am contemplating the Pirate cruise in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. Maybe a trek up Pennsylvania’s Hawk Mountain during the migration would classify as an adventure. I am open for ideas. Maybe I can borrow one…what did you do on summer vacation?”

A Fall to Remember

As soon as Labor Day gives us permission to say farewell to summer, fall stands in the wings waiting to dress vividly for its moment in the spotlight. Quite possibly no other season carries as many traditions with it as fall. Encompassed in this broad season we find the milestones of Halloween, Rosh Hashanah, Thanksgiving, Homecoming football games, Veterans Day. But for many families there are must-do traditions associated with fall just as important as the ones that make the calendar.

A perfect, crisp autumn afternoon at the farm is the perfect fall getaway. Most farms open for fall activities include hayrides, pumpkin patch explorations, corn mazes, face painting, jack-o-lantern carving. In Thurmont, MD, Lawyer's Moonlight Maze features a 17-acre corn maze that comes to life at night with haunted tour guides! A great daylight adventure is the 6-acre maze at Crumland Farm in Frederick, MD. Our first pick-your-own-pumpkin experience was slightly reflective of Charlie Brown's friend Linus' expectations... The Great Pumpkin. It took the little red wagon and two of us to pull the massive gourd out of the patch. The pictures are treasures though.

This month's More Magazine highlighted a story which interviewed many of the top financial advisors in the media today...asking them what the safest and surest bets were for sound investments. Each one made a comment about investing in "experiences" vs. "things." Things tarnish... values fluctuate... but experiences well-lived just increase in value over time and can never be taken away. This fall is the perfect time for a little investing. The site Boston.com offers a peak foliage map of the northeast so you can plan a perfectly timed trip. On allaboutapples.com you can find the orchards closest to you and identify the perfect picking time. One of my favorite adventures is Pumpkin Bowling at the Harvest Valley Farms in Pennsylvania.

For those desiring that top ten list just to make sure you don't miss a thing... here is a sure fire list for the greatest fall of all:

1. Sip some great apple cider
2. Visit a pumpkin patch and find the perfect jack-o-lantern just waiting to get out
3. Gather some close friends and journey through the wood on a hayride
4. Cuddle up for s'mores making around a bonfire
5. Get lost in a corn maze
6. Decorate with gourds, corn stalks, and mums
7. Find a great small town festival and enjoy all the amazing fall foods
8. Eat an amazing bowl of soup
9. Pick a bushel of apples and make a pie from scratch
10. Make real caramel apples by peeling and melting the Kraft caramels and dipping the freshly picked apples

This morning I turned on my computer to discover a feature story on MSN from wikiHow. It was "How to be Happy." It highlighted the nine best steps to feeling fulfilled and happy. Number 6: "Engage in making the little moments special." Being lost in a 17-acre corn maze may be a little moment that does the trick!