Awesome Day At The Detroit Zoo

We made it to the zoo just in time to watch 28 buses unload far too many children to count.  But, they were all so excited to be there that we just had to smile and remember when we also were that age and how excited we would have been.

The Detroit Zoo is quite the amazing place.  Filled with any type of animal you can imagine and all without cages to confine them.

Zoo Volunteers are so very helpful there too.  They guide small groups and stop once in a while to explain what you're seeing and how the animal came to be at the Detroit Zoo.  We listened to a couple of the short presentations and you could tell that the guides really enjoyed sharing.

Here's a short video of our little trip.  Hope you enjoy it.
http://youtu.be/yCOnw49yPNc

Detroit Zoo

I've always been a big fan of the zoo.  Since I haven't been to a great one in many years I've decided that on Tuesday next I'm going to take a friend with me and we're going to go discover the Detroit Zoo.  I've been there only one time and that was over 50 years ago.  I'm sure they've updated it some.  The only thing I remember about it was that it was big, took a long time to walk it and I got really tired.

Of course, like always, I'll be posting some awesome photographs of this outing when we return.  Stay tuned.

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• Walk On The Wild Side? Have After-Hours Fun At The Zoo
• Detroit Zoo's newest attraction fits in your pocket

Shipshewana, Indiana Road Trip

Well, I made it to Shipshewana again.  This time I spent nearly 5 hours wondering the isles of this world-famous flea market.  And, just like last time I visited, I was disappointed.  The vendors are still trying to look as though they are small-time operators but it is evident that they are simply ordering product from overseas through wholesalers and passing it off at a greatly increased profit margin.  I won't be going back anytime soon.

The trip was nice though.  Weather was beautiful with clear sky greeting me upon my arrival.  People were friendly and best of all parking was FREE as it hasn't yet gotten to the "gauge the tourist" season time of year.

I'm thinking that Michigan's UP will be my next trip.  This time of year the black flies are not yet very active and the temperatures are good.  I'll keep you posted.

Safe Travels to everyone.

Shipshewana, Indiana and flea market deals

I love flea markets.  They offer a sort of atmosphere that just says "back home."  Well, they used to anyway.  The last time I visited Shipshewana in Indiana and their world-famous flea market I was a little disappointed.  It seems that rather than being the old down-home atmosphere it is now more commercial.  I didn't like it.


But, as a person that is willing to give second chances, I'm going to return on Wednesday and take another look.   I'll let you know what great deals I find and share them with you.

Tips on researching and finding the bargain...

• Make a list of what you are looking for and prioritize it. The sheer volume of stuff for sale can be overwhelming, so you will need to stay focused.
  
• Become an expert on what you want to buy. Who are the reputable manufacturers? Make sure you can tell the difference between the genuine article and a knockoff.
  
• Do your research before the event. Know what similar items are going for on eBay or Craigslist.
  
• Decide whether you are buying for your personal enjoyment or for resale. If the idea is just to enjoy it, it might be worth a little more to you than an item you see solely as a business transaction.
  
• If you are looking at an item to put into use in your home - a record player or microwave, for example - make sure it works before you lay down the cash.
  
• If you don't see what you want, ask a vendor. Vendors can tell you about items you might not have seen, and they often know what their neighbor vendors are selling.
  
• The final day of the yard sale or the end of a flea market is the time for the best bargains. You can get a lot for half off or more because vendors don't want to load up the trucks for the round trip. To that end, the bigger the item, the better chance you have for negotiating a good price on the sale's last day. Because big items take the most effort and storage space to pack up, vendors are motivated to unload them.

Related articles

• 2013 Flea Market Guide: Coast to Coast

The Need To Be Famous

I found these two young guys strutting their stuff at the local park in Rockford, MI. I was to say the least amused so after a while I told them that if they'd let me video them I'd "Make Them Famous." Well, they liked that idea so here you go guys...you're now famous. Actually, they were pretty good. You could tell that they spent a lot of time practicing and really enjoyed what they were doing. I wish them well.

Beauty Right In Your Own Backyard

I shot this short video about a year ago and forgot to post it to the blog. Ooops. Anyway, here is what I found right in my own backyard (almost anyway.) This is VanRaltee Nature Park in Holland, Michigan. One of my favorite places to go and gather my thoughts, relax and enjoy nature. I hope you like it.

Lets Go VanAboding

Come on now.  Get off the couch.  Your bucket list is overflowing and it is time to go do something about it.  Travel, enjoy the beauty that surrounds you.  You can do it!  Lets Go!

BBQ and Good Times In The South

As someone who really enjoys eating (usually too much) I went looking for a place to visit that would feature food.  Well, as luck would have it, I found just the place.  Best yet is that it is within a one-day drive from my home in Michigan so I'm sure I'll be heading out to visit this unique festival of food very soon.

The 2013 World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest will be presented at Tom Lee Park on Riverside Drive between Beale Street and Georgia Avenue in downtown Memphis, TN

Give up that wet pulled pork BBQ!

I'll let you know when I'm on my way, there and returned with a few extra pounds on and a happy face to match.

Stay tuned.
P.S.  Just a note:  Usually this festival ends up being called "Memphis In Mud" rather than "in may" because it always seems to rain.  That being said however it is worth the trip!

 May 16th-18th, 2013.  I can smell it already!

Freedom To Chose When Traveling

Yesterday I decided to take yet another short road trip.  My intent was to go north to Ludington and sit on the beach watching the waves break on the shore and enjoy some quiet solitude.  Well, upon my arrival the waves were there, the quiet solitude was there but along with that was a very cold wind blowing in off of Lake Michigan.

The nice thing about traveling as I do is that when things aren't quite what you had expected you can simply get up and leave.  So I did just that.  I headed further north to Manistee, MI thinking that perhaps the temperature might be somewhat different there.  Indeed it was...much colder still.  So, once again, I left that area and headed inland toward Cadillac, MI where, according to the radio, the temperatures were in the 80's.  Upon my arrival I found a great spot in the local city park that is right next to Lake Cadillac and enjoyed an afternoon and early evening.  Sunset over the lake was awesome.

I thought that perhaps the State Park would be open by this time of year but alas when I arrived there were a few campers there but also there was a sign on the registration/ranger's office stating that to use the facility you had to be pre-registered.  I didn't let that bother me though as while traveling in a fully equipped van I could, and did, simply move on to another location at which I stayed for the night.

If you're traveling free and easy don't let small inconveniences get in your way.  Just move on.  You have the Freedom To Chose.