Book Review - Fodor's Travel - Cancun and the Riviera Maya

I'm hoping to take a cruise next year that will head down to the Mexican coast stopping in Cancun, so I picked up this guide to get some suggestions on what we can see or do. Most cruises out of the United States stop in Cozumel or Cancun. I've stopped in Cozumel several times and would prefer exploring beyond the small offerings from the cruise line.

Beyond that, this is a great guide if you plan to fly into one of these major cities and stay a few days.

The first chapter is dedicated to a lot of great "Best Of" lists - Best Beaches in Cancun and the Riviera Maya, Best Snorkeling and Diving, Top Maya Ruins, Most Romantic Experiences, What to Eat and Drink, What to Buy, etc. And some tidbits like "Weddings and Honeymoons" or "Kids and Families".

There's an excellent chapter titled "Travel Smart" with a Know Before You Go intro, Getting Here and Getting Around, advice on rental cars (it's more complicated than a normal rental - and if you plan to go to ruins or areas away from the main tourist zones you will want a All-wheel Drive (AWD) type vehicle that can handle dirt roads). There's also a helpful Spanish phrase section that you can pull out and take with you.

The area is divided out into separate chapters - Cancun, Isla Mujeres, The Riviera Maya, Cozumel, and the Yucatan and Campeche States. Each chapter is further broken down into useful sections such as regional foods, hotels or resorts, getting there and getting around, etc. Each section also has full-color, easy-to-use maps. There's a listing of all the maps in the Table of Contents in case you want to view a specific one.

I like that you can find suggestions on shopping, beaches, historical sites as well as useful tips. Really a great guide.

Title: Fodor's Cancun and the Riviera Maya: With Tulum, Cozumel, and the Best of the Yucatán
Author: Fodor's Travel Guides
ISBN: 978-1640976825
Pages: 352

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Travel - California - Long Beach - Long Beach Navy Memorial

My family and I spent some time last week in Los Angeles and Long Beach enjoying amusements and interesting sights. While looking for The Queen Mary (queenmary.com) at the Long Beach port, we stumbled upon the Shoreline Aquatic Park tucked nicely behind the Aquarium of the Pacific. Kid-friendly with lots of things to see and a nice, well-maintained trail to explore.

There's a small, metered parking lot which hosted a food truck at the time of my visit.

A brief history of the port area.

USS Frank E. Evans and the Lost 74 - the ship collided with an Australian aircraft carrier (HMAS Melbourne) on June 3, 1969 in the South China Sea. 74 sailors were killed. Their names are dedicated on this plaque.

The massive anchor was from one of President T. Roosevelt's sixteen ships in his "Great White Fleet". The ships were sent around to demonstrate America's power as trading partners. The anchor was salvaged in 1908 by Al Larson

This flag mast was from the Long Beach Navy Hospital (c. 1942).

According to the plaque at the base, this signpost connected LBNSY (Long Beach Naval Shipyard) to NAVSTA (Naval Station) and was erected to commemorate the "Fighting Sullivan Brothers" who lost their lives aboard the USS Juneau CL-52. This ship was a light cruising ship that was torpedoed in the Soloman Islands in 1942. There were five Sullivan brothers on board that ship. Due to their loss, they enacted a "one-per-ship" rule for siblings! The connection to Long Beach was through one of the brothers who lived in the city.

This, my friends, is a Navysphere sculpture based on an Armillary Sphere (see the info plaque above) which was a model for navigation. Kids may think it's a giant jungle-gym to climb on so please be sure to discourage that tendancy. This sphere commemorates the History of the United States Navy in Long Beach and is dedicated to architect Paul Revere Williams who designed many of the Naval Station's buildings. It was donated on July 10, 2004.

A compass.

Inside this bench is a time capsule that was buried on May 1998.

The bathrooms (on the left side of this photo) are close to the aquarium building and were pleasantly clean. There was also a basketball court and vending machines.

If you have time, there is more to explore along the water and a walk up to Lion's Lighthouse or Lion's Lighthouse for Sight. Although the 65-foot lighthouse is not open to the public (it was built in 2000 as a decorative advertisement piece for the Lion's Club and was never used as an official lighthouse), the views on the hill are nice.

Hours: The park might be open 24 hours but the gate to the small parking lot is only open during daylight hours. During the day the park is safe. I wouldn't recommend visiting after hours.

Address: 200 Aquarium Way, Long Beach, CA 90802

More information on the memorial's history can be found at USS Frank E Evans Association

More information on the park can be found at Shoreline Aquatic Park

More information on Lions Lighthouse

Book Review - Lonely Planet Banff, Jasper and Glacier National Parks by Brendan Sainsbury and Jade Bremner

This is an excellent, full-color guide to the 3 National Parks - Banff and Jasper in Canada and Glacier in Montana. The book is color-coded with tabs - Plan Your Trip, On the Road, Understand, and Survival Guide.

The Plan Your Trip section contains useful information such as colorful maps, Top 20 to see and do, Need to Know, Month-by-Month things to do, Sample Itineraries, Activities, Family Travel and Travel with Pets.

On the Road digs deeper into each park - Banff National Park and Sights Around the Park (such as Canmore or Kananaskis Country), Jasper National Park, Glacier National Park and Around the Park (West and East Glacier, St Mary and the Blackfeet Indian Reservation). There's a section on Waterton Lakes National Park.

Understand section highlights the parks today, the history of the parks, geology, wildlife, and conservation.

Survival Guide at the end offers general travel information - health and safety, suggested clothes to pack, transportation and getting around, and more.

What sets this guide apart are the really useful hiking maps detailing the routes for almost every trail.

Title: Lonely Planet Banff, Jasper and Glacier National Parks: Detailed Itineraries | Travel Like a Local | Insider Tips | Covers Banff, Jasper, Glacier, Waterton Lakes, and more (National Parks Guide)
Author: Brendan Sainsbury and Jade Bremner
ISBN: 9781838696757
Pages: 272

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Event - #Travel #Texas - #Salado - Lighted Christmas Parade and Christmas Stroll - December 4-14, 2025

Salado, Texas - Lighted Christmas Parade and Christmas Stroll
December 4 - 14, 2025
Salado's Main Street
The Christmas Parade runs the night of December 4th starting on Royal Street and Main Street and ends at Salado Civiv Center (671 North Main St). Bring chairs or blankets to sit and watch the lights pass by. Check the website for a map of the route and where to park (for free). Then stay for the Christmas Stroll on the weekends December 5-7 and 12-14 consisting of entertainment, visits with Santa, and holiday shopping.

Address: (throughout town)
Hours: Parade: 12/4/25 at 6:00pm CST - 8:00pm CST; Christmas Stroll: Friday and Saturday 10:00am CST - 8:00pm CST; Sunday 12:00pm CST - 6:00pm CST
Fees: (varies by activity)
For more information - https://business.salado.com/calendar/Details/2025-salado-lighted-christmas-parade-1479226 and https://business.salado.com/calendar/Details/65th-annual-salado-christmas-stroll-1457103

Book Review - Frommer's EasyGuide to Toronto, Niagara and the Wine Country by Caroline Aksich

Great travel guide that mostly focuses on Toronto with a few side trips (Niagara Falls, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Stratford, and Waterloo). The book starts off with "Best of" lists - "Best Authentic Experiences", "Best Restaurants", "Best Hotels", "Best Museums", "Best Free Things To Do", "Best Active Adventures", and the very interesting "Most Overrated Experiences", then "Best Festivals", "Best for Families", and "Best Neighborhoods".

Then you can find Suggested Toronto Itineraries and Neighborhoods in 1 Day, 2 Days, 3 Days, and 4 Days. Followed by "The Best of Toronto for Foodies" and more detailed info for "Best for Families" with highlights like the Ontario Science Centre and Centre Island.

This book has very detailed City-Street Maps which I appreciate.

Keep in mind that this book was published in 2019, so be sure to double-check operating hours and prices since Covid might have altered a lot of business's operations.

Title: Frommer's EasyGuide to Toronto, Niagara and the Wine Country
Author: Caroline Aksich
ISBN: 9781628874464
Pages: 288

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Event - #Travel #Texas - #Boerne - Dickens on Main - November 28-29, 2025

Boerne, Texas - Dickens on Main
November 28-29, 2025
Boerne's Main Street
Get the holiday season started with some festivities starting Friday noon through the end of Saturday. Find ice carving and a Christmas market in the North Pole Village area. Watch the tree lighting ceremony at 6pm in the Gazebo. There will be dance shows and storytime at the Dickens Village. The South Pole village will feature kid-friendly train rides and face painting in addition to a adult's cigar bar. Smell that? Funnel cakes and popcorn for sale there too. More kid activities can be found in the Tiny Tim Village such as inflatables, crafts, and a visit with Santa.

Address: Main Street
Hours: Friday and Saturday 12pm CST - 9pm CST (activities at various times throughout)
Fees: (varies by activity)
For more information - https://holidaysinboerne.com/dickens-on-main

Book Review - Fodor's Travel Guide to Nova Scotia and Atlantic Canada

I'm planning a trip next year to Canada and have been trying to narrow down the provinces I want to visit so you'll see a few book reviews of the different areas. Nova Scotia and Atlantic Canada are definitely at the top of my list for the history and ease-of-access. This travel guide is full-color with some really inspirational photographs, detailed maps and city maps, and suggested itineraries.

After the introduction and the "Travel Smart" sections, the book is broken out by area - Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland. And these sections are further broken down into cities with "planning your time" highlights, things to do or see, places to eat, places to stay and more.

I especially like the experience suggestions in the beginning of the book - "What to Eat and Drink in Atlantic Canada", "What to Buy in Atlantic Canada", "Best Outdoor Adventures in Atlantic Canada", and "Best Historic Sites in Atlantic Canada".

The "Travel Smart" section lists out useful information - the Currency, Driving, Electricity, Time Zones, What to Pack and Wear, Getting There and then Getting Around. And even a "Helpful French Phrases" section you could tear out and take with you.

Even though this book was published in 2025, always double-check operating times and prices before heading out.

Title: Fodor's Nova Scotia and Atlantic Canada: with New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland (Full-color Travel Guide)
Author: Fodor's Travel Guides
ISBN: 9781640977853
Pages: 352

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