Family, travel, mom blog | Theme Park Mom (Leigh Caldwell)

Edmonton, Canada’s Festival City, embraces the Canadian spirit this month with unique festivals that put the spotlight on Canadian talent.

From Friday, July 23 to Sunday 25, the Honda Indy Edmonton roars to life as the wildly challenging track at Edmonton City Centre Airport plays host to the world’s best drivers: Dario Franchitti, the winner of the Indianapolis 500, fan favourite Danica Patrick, and two Canadian motorsport superstars, Paul Tracy and Alex Tagliani, representing Team Oh Canada.

“It makes me proud to be Canadian,” says Tagliani. Tracy is equally excited about his return to this world-class event. “The Honda Indy Edmonton is one of the biggest auto races in all of Canada,” he says. “Competing at Edmonton has been a terrific mental and physical challenge over the years.”

“The Indianapolis 500 is the most famous race in the world, but what we’ve been told by the drivers time and time again is that this is their second favorite course, because it’s so challenging,” says Randy Kilburn, spokesperson for the Honda Indy Edmonton. “The Edmonton, Alberta course includes 14 turns, some at 160 to 170 miles per hour. If you don’t take them at that speed, people will pass you. When the drivers are finished, when they get out of their cars, they are drained not only physically but emotionally and spiritually, because it is so grueling.”

Viewers of TSN and other networks around the globe will be able to see Edmonton’s gorgeous skyline in the background of many of the turns throughout the course. For more information on this exciting Edmonton event, visit to www.hondaindyedmonton.com For music lovers, Canada’s festival city has yet more great Canadian talent at a slower pace with the Blueberry Bluegrass & Country Music Festival from July 30 through August 1. “There are 12 acts in total coming to Blueberry of which seven are Canadian,” says Patrick Guidera, Entertainment Director. These acts come from all points across the country, including The Troy Family from Sherwood Park, A Page In Time from St. Albert, The Bix Mix Boys and Woodbend from Edmonton, Loose Rooster from Sorrento, BC, and from Ontario, Hard Ride and Juno Award winner Fred Eaglesmith, who has been compared to Bruce Springsteen, Steve Earle and Woody Guthrie.

Guidera has been attending the festival as a musician and jammer for the past 10 years and loves it, especially the tailgate jamming that happens after the concerts. It gives musicians and fans a good opportunity to meet a celebrity or two around the campsite. “The professionals come out to jam with folks into the evening, making everyone very thrilled and happy,” he says.

Learn more about the Bluegrass & Country Music Festival, just one of many fun things to do in Edmonton over the summer, at www.blueberrybluegrass.com For more information on Edmonton’s array of Canadian festivals and events, visit www.edmonton.com About Edmonton Tourism Edmonton Tourism promotes Greater Edmonton as the destination of choice for tourism, conventions, major events and film production and is a division of Edmonton Economic Development Corporation (EEDC). For more information, visit www.edmonton.com. Learn more about Edmonton through the stories of people who’ve experienced it at www.edmontonstories.ca.

Among the world’s most unique destinations, Australia and New Zealand hold a special allure for travelers who hope to journey “down under” at least once in their lives. Drawn by some of the world’s most beautiful landscapes, exciting cities, unique native cultures and a population of iconic animals found nowhere else in the world, passengers have found that these “must see” countries are perfect for an action-packed cruise vacation. For these travelers, Princess Cruises has unveiled its 2011-2012 Australia and New Zealand season, offering a range of cruise and cruisetour options for exploring these dynamic destinations.

As the largest cruise operator in the region, Princess will provide myriad ways to explore the sixth largest country in the world (Australia) and the youngest country on earth (New Zealand). Princess itineraries range from classic Australia & New Zealand sailings to Australia & Asia adventures, aboard ships both large and small. Travelers can also opt to add a land tour to one of these voyages for a full land/sea adventure. Passengers can also choose to cruise “Aussie style” aboard Princess’ three locally-based ships.

“Australia and New Zealand have been long-time favorite destinations for us, that our passengers rave about every year,” said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises executive vice president. “Because we have such an extensive local operation in the region, we have a unique understanding of these remarkable countries, and strive to present a rich ‘down under’ onboard program as well.”

The delights of Australia range from distinctive Sydney Harbour and its iconic Opera House – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – to the expanse of the outback and the world’s largest reef, the Great Barrier Reef. This unique land, famous for the unmistakable sound of the didgeridoo, also features the lowest population density in the world – only two people per square kilometer – plus more than 10,000 beaches, the most of any country.

Cruise passengers can explore the country’s wineries, history and wildlife with calls in Melbourne and Hobart, Tasmania. Here travelers may catch a glimpse of Australia’s many unique creatures, including kangaroos, koalas and the Tasmanian devil; ride horseback through the region’s finest vineyards; or even visit the country’s last penal settlement, the infamous Port Arthur.

If travelers choose to extend their time with an Australian cruisetour, they can experience much more of this surprising land. Highlights include the outback landmark Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock, Australia’s sacred Aboriginal site and the world’s largest monolith. The Great Barrier Reef is famous throughout the world for its outstanding diving and snorkeling, brilliant tropical fish and scores of sea life. Northern Australia’s Kakadu National Park surprises guest with everything from aboriginal rock art formations to an amazing habitat of birds and other wildlife.

When cruising through New Zealand, the one attraction guaranteed to get everyone up on deck is the scenic sailing through Fiordland National Park. This must-see attraction is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to the striking Fiordland crested penguin, as well as 14 towering fjords and five icy-blue lakes.

In “The Land of the Long White Cloud” passengers will also learn about the fascinating Maori culture and may take in an entertaining “haka” performance, a native dance. Near Tauranga, Rotorua’s geothermal wonders also get attention with fascinating steaming craters, exploding geysers and boiling mud. In a country where there are nine sheep to every person, a trip to a farm for a sheep shearing or dog herding demonstration is also a popular option; and daredevils will fit right in with bungee jumping, which originated here. And New Zealand’s spectacular scenery will make travelers feel as though they are in one of the many movies filmed here, such as “Lord of the Rings.”

Passengers are sure to see a kiwi, whether it be the national bird; a delicious fruit (which were originally known as Chinese gooseberries, but renamed by enterprising New Zealand farmers once they started cultivating them for export), or simply the local people, who have become known as Kiwis themselves.

Cruises Princess offers several cruise options for exploring these dramatic countries, including voyages between Australia and New Zealand or Asia. Travelers can choose either a large amenity-filled vessel or small intimate ship, or they can opt to sail aboard one of Princess’ three ships based in Australia year-round.

Australia & New Zealand sailings – Princess offers exploring “down under” with a season of Australia & New Zealand sailings aboard Diamond Princess. These 12- or 13-day voyages travel between Sydney and Auckland, calling at Melbourne, Hobart (Tasmania), Fiordland National Park scenic cruising, Dunedin, Christchurch, and Tauranga along the way, with a call in Wellington, New Zealand also on the 13-day voyages. Sailings run from December 2011 to January 2012.

Australia & Asia sailings – Travelers can visit the best of two continents aboard Diamond Princess with sailings between Sydney and Singapore or Beijing. The Australia & Asia itinerary takes passengers on a 19-day journey from Singapore to the Asia ports of Ko Samui, Bangkok, Ho Chi Mihn City, and Bali; plus Australian calls at Darwin, Port Douglas and Airlie Beach for the Great Barrier Reef. The 23-day Australia & China route also sails via northern Australia and adds ports such as Taipei, Nagasaki, Busan (South Korea), Shanghai and Dalian. Sailings depart November 27, 2011 and February 4, 2012.

Small Ship Experience – Ocean Princess offers several journeys between Australia and the wonders of Asia or the beautiful islands of the South Pacific, featuring the intimate, classic cruising atmosphere of a small ship. The 20-day Australia & Asia voyages sail to northern Australia, including the Whitsunday Islands, Great Barrier Reef and Darwin; plus call in Bali, Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam), and Bangkok and Ko Samui in Thailand. Ocean Princess sets sail on November 12, 2011 and March 17, 2012. The ship’s 16-day South Pacific & New Zealand voyages travel between Sydney and Papeete, Tahiti, with calls in Tauranga, Auckland, and the island paradises of Suva (Fiji), Apia (Samoa), Pago Pago, Bora Bora, and Moorea. Sailings depart on December 2, 2011 and February 29, 2012.

“Aussie Experience” sailings – Locally based ships Sun Princess, Dawn Princess and Sea Princess offer “Aussie-style” cruising to Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific from Sydney, Melbourne and now Brisbane. Featuring Australian dollars as the onboard currency plus dining and entertainment options geared to Australian tastes, these sailings offer a true local experience to passengers from all over. Itineraries include voyages to Tasmania, New Zealand, Northern Australia and Round Australia sailings that circumnavigate the continent. These ships also feature sailings from Australia to the South Pacific, Asia and World Cruise options roundtrip from Sydney. Sailings depart throughout the May 2011 to May 2012 season.

Cruisetours Three guided land tours of Australia can be added to a cruise to create a full land and sea vacation, covering some of the continent’s undisputed wonders. All cruisetours include a 12- or 13-day Australia and New Zealand cruise, plus time in cosmopolitan Sydney, including its world-famous Opera House and Bondi Beach.

Those who want to explore the extensive Great Barrier Reef will enjoy a high-speed catamaran tour of this living marvel with the Tropical Highlights tour, featuring four nights on land, including two nights in Sydney and two in Carins. Travelers will spend a day Great Barrier Reef, plus visit with some crocodiles, explore Kuranda Rainforest Village, and learn about the locals at Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park.

The six-night Australian Outback Adventure visits the Great Barrier Reef and ventures into the vast Australian Outback with two nights in Sydney, one night at Ayers Rock, one night in Alice Springs and two nights in Cairns. In the outback, travelers will visit the famed Uluru (Ayers Rock), touring the Olgas and 36 mysterious domes plus viewing Ayers Rock at sunset. They’ll also enjoy an Aboriginal cultural experience. In the town of Alice Springs travelers have the option to ride a camel and visit Desert Park to experience local wildlife.

The seven-night Ultimate Australia tour features the Great Barrier Reef and Ayers Rock plus visits to Darwin and the majestic Kakadu National Park. This land itinerary offers two nights in Sydney, one night at Ayers Rock, one night at Kakadu, one night in Darwin and two nights at Port Douglas for the Great Barrier Reef. Travelers will experience Kakadu’s extensive wetlands, diverse wildlife and the largest number of accessible Aboriginal sites in Australia. In Darwin, visitors will explore the city, including the Darwin Museum and Windows of the Wetlands visitor center.

For additional information about Princess Australia & New Zealand itineraries, see a professional travel agent, contact Princess at 1-800-PRINCESS or visit the company’s website, www.princess.com.

With a new version optimized for mobile devices, RVParking.com now offers the most comprehensive suite of RV park information for all mobile users.

By going to http://m.rvparking.com in a mobile browser, Blackberry, Android, iPhones or any other mobile device users can find detailed information on over 18,000 RV parks in the U.S.

The mobile version is specially designed for use on the road. It features a narrower design for easier reading on a smart phone. Fewer graphics and images on the mobile version also makes it faster to load. In addition, extra features have been trimmed to focus on the core needs of a mobile user.

“RVing is an inherently mobile activity so we wanted to make sure that our information is easily accessible to users of all mobile devices,” says Erik Budde, CEO of RVParking.com.

M.rvparking.com supplements the recently launched, free iPhone app by RVParking.com. Called “RV Parks,” it is available in the Apple app store or at http://www.rvparking.com/iphone. The iPhone app provides a richer user experience, but, like all iPhone apps, requires the user to install it on an iPhone.

“We have a great solution for our dedicated iPhone users,” said Budde. “But now our mobile version works great on all smart phones, not just the iPhone, and takes only seconds to access.”

When visiting http://www.rvparking.com on a mobile device, users will automatically be redirected to the mobile version. If, for any reason, a user wants to switch back to the full version, that option is easily available from a link at the bottom of the page.

Mobile users still have full access to all of the information available at RVParking.com. Users can find detailed RV park information including power, pull-throughs and WiFi to name a few. Users can also search or browse parks by city or state. Once a user finds a park, they can call the RV park directly with a single click.

Visitors to Roanoke, VA, can now select a brand new, all-suite hotel conveniently positioned near area businesses. The Cambria Suites in Roanoke, VA, is adjacent to the Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital and the prestigious Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute. Companies within one mile include Suntrust, Wachovia and Verizon. In addition to its exceptionally work-friendly location, the 100% non-smoking Cambria Suites hotel provides modern, stylish and sophisticated guestrooms and services designed to accommodate the demands of busy business travelers. In order to attract groups in search of Roanoke hotels, the Cambria Suites in Roanoke, VA, is presenting a special discounted rate. Groups who book rooms now through September will receive a $69/night room rate and those who book from October through December will receive a $79/night rate. Interested parties can visit the Cambria Group Travel page and find out more.

Amenities and services at the Cambria Suites in Roanoke, VA, include a fitness center, a coffee bar and an indoor pool with a spa. On-site dining trumps the average hotel food experience, as the Roanoke, VA hotel offers contemporary bistro-style cuisine at Reflect and gourmet to-go items at Refill Lounge. The Cambria Suites also features more than 1,000 square feet of meeting and banquet space for special events, offering amenities such as high-tech presentation and audio/visual technology, convenient catering services and free wireless Internet access to seal the deal.

A variety of upscale brand name amenities make the Cambria Suites in Roanoke a valued choice among Roanoke choice. Spacious guestrooms feature spa products from Bath and Body Works. Guests can begin busy mornings with Wolfgang Puck coffee. Additionally, rooms include two flat-screen LCD televisions and MediaHub plug and play technology for laptops, MP3 players, game consoles and digital cameras.

For information on the Cambria Suites, please visit the Cambria Suites Roanoke website or the Aimbridge Hospitality website. Call (540) 400-6226 for reservations.

About Aimbridge Hospitality Aimbridge Hospitality is one of the nation’s leading independent hotel investment and management firms with a proven track record for delivering superior returns for its strategic partners in a variety of markets and economic cycles. Aimbridge provides management, asset management, development, renovation and consulting services. Based in Dallas, Texas, Aimbridge currently owns and/or manages 52 upscale, independent and branded hotels with nearly 11,000 rooms across the United States, including such affiliations as Marriott, Hilton, Embassy Suites, DoubleTree, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Inn & Suites, Aloft, Hyatt, Wyndham and the Phoenix Inn Suites chain of hotels. For more information on Aimbridge Hospitality, please visit http://www.aimbridgehospitality.com.