On my first trip to Chicago by myself in September 2008 to see the Anaheim Angels play the White Sox and do a tour of Wrigley Field, I played around a little before and after work. One afternoon I was able to do the Shoreline Architecture River cruise in Downtown Chicago. Tours depart from two docks, one at Michigan Avenue and the other at Navy Pier. I was already down by the Navy Pier, so it was easy for me to jump on the tour from that location. Continue reading “Shoreline Architecture River Cruise – Chicago, Illinois”
Since moving to Denver, Co we have been able to take a few fun long weekend trips to Moab, Utah, and explore the beautiful parks and area. The drive is phenomenal and it is not too long of a drive from where we are currently living. For those not familiar with Moab, it is a city in Grand County, in eastern Utah, and is the county seat and largest city in Grand County. Moab attracts a large number of tourists every year, mostly visitors to the nearby 
Early March of 2022 when took a 4-day weekend trip to check out the small town of 
While visiting some friends in Boise, Idaho they suggested taking a drive on the incredible Payette River Scenic Byway. It was September of 2020, it was a beautiful day, and we were definitely ready to see some natural beauty. We loaded up our convertible Beatle rental car and headed out for a few hours. They suggested we allow about 2 and 1/2 hours and they were right, however, we took even longer stopping MANY times along the way. I think we were gone almost 5-6 hours, lol Below is a video of some of the places we saw on our drive along the river.
Doing some mountain biking or hiking this summer? Hitting the beach or a river? Maybe a short trip to your local pool? Wherever you like the 
Although no one, no matter which skin type, is immune to the effects of UV. However, those with pale skin, blond, red, or light brown hair, been treated for skin cancer, or a family member who’s had skin cancer need to be especially cautious. This post is a little late this year, but The National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention has designated the Friday before Memorial Day as “Don’t Fry Day.” The goal? To make sure people stay safe in the sun and protect their skin while enjoying the outdoors—on “Don’t Fry Day” and every day. Here are some suggestions to help you have a nice summer day outing while being safe.
I feel this is the truly most important thing to put on before heading out. I have really pale skin and fry in about ½ without sunscreen on. I just burn, then peel. Not much fun. L One important thing to mention about sunscreen is to FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS. A lot of people will put it on before they head out for the day and think they are good. They are not. Most sunscreen products need to be reapplied every 90 minutes to 2 hours. I’ve also seen people who don’t apply enough. It is suggested to use about 1 ounce of sunscreen (about a shot glass or palmful) should be used to cover the arms, legs, neck, and face of the average adult.
The other thing to consider about sunscreen is the sun protection factor (SPF). There are sunscreens products with a broad spectrum of protection, but it is suggested to choose a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. Sunscreens labeled with SPFs as high as 100+ are available. Higher numbers do mean more protection, but many people don’t understand the SPF scale. SPF 15 sunscreens filter out about 93% of UVB rays, while SPF 30 sunscreens filter out about 97%, SPF 50 sunscreens about 98%, and SPF 100 about 99%. Thus the higher you go, the smaller the difference becomes. However, remember no sunscreen protects you completely.
It is very important to wear a hat outside, preferably one with a 2 to a 3-inch brim. The brim helps to protect the ears, eyes, forehead, nose, and scalp. If you don’t have one of those, wearing a large handkerchief or bandana under a baseball cap will work in a pinch.
Wearing sunglasses not only protects the delicate skin around your eyes, but it also protects the eyes as well. When picking out a pair of new shades, don’t assume the sunglasses provide any UV protection. Make sure the label says “UV absorption up to 400 nm” or “Meets ANSI UV Requirements”. I like the wraparound glasses myself as it also blocks light coming in From the side.
Our bodies are made up of about 60% water, and every system depends on water. Just one cute little water bottle isn’t going to be enough to keep you hydrated all day long. Studies show that you should be drinking 1 liter of water every hour. Avoid caffeinated beverages and alcohol. Fruits are an excellent source of water, such as watermelon which is 90% water. Oranges, tangerines, grapefruit, and melons are also strong contenders.
Reduce time in the sun, especially between 10-2 as that is when the sun is the strongest. Don’t be fooled by a cloudy day. They can be more dangerous because you don’t feel hot and thus stay out longer than you may have planned. Take a lawn chair and find a nice shady spot near a tree or structure. If you can’t find one of those, a large umbrella works great too. Have fun, but be safe out there. Spending your vacation in a hotel room with a sunburn is not a fun way to spend your valuable vacation time. Let me know if you have any other great tips and I will add them to this post. Thanks in advance.
During our trip to Europe in May of 2018, we were able to visit Austria and check out their city building, the Rathaus. However, one of the things I was looking forward to while visiting Austria was seeing the Danube River. I don’t know if it intrigued me because it was in Europe, or if it was because it flows through more countries than any other river in the world. All I know it that is was unique and I couldn’t wait to see it. 
