Creative Halloween Pumpkin Ideas

Halloween Pumpkin

Kids, knives and round squash may prove to be a tricky project, so here is a creative alternative to decorate your perfectly picked pumpkins this year.

In this crafty Halloween project, toothpicks are the sharpest objects your children’s curious fingers will handle.  Make your way to your nearest farmer’s market or grocery store with your tots in tow and witness their imaginations embrace the Halloween spirit.  Choose various fruits, vegetables and herbs that could be used as eyes, ears, mouths, noses, hair, etc. and on your way to the checkout, grab a box of toothpicks.

The Halloween Spirit

These veggie/fruity Halloween masterpieces are fun to create and whimsical to display.  Use them as a Harvest Feast centerpiece or as your doorstep greeting for this spooky holiday.

Safari Adventure at Le Zoo de Thoiry

He was THIS close!

Venturing outside of Paris’ city limits, we found a diamond in the rough at Le Zoo de Thoiry.  This unique zoo, 40km west of Paris, flips typical zoo experiences on its head, as you are the ones in an enclosed space (your car) staring back at free roaming creatures.  At Thoiry, wild and exotic animals such as lions, buffalo’s, rhinoceroses, bears and elephants, roam freely as wide-eyed visitors in vehicles explore this African Reserve.

The Wandering Bison

We had an ostrich walk right up to our window and peer back at us with huge round eyes and feathery eyelashes, then happily stand in the middle of the road stopping traffic for five minutes.  A baby zebra obediently followed his mom as she sniffed out each passing car and intimately introduced herself by thrusting her head into open car windows.

Amazing… and a bit terrifying as we casually drove by wandering lions, bison and bears.

The Chateau

After this leisurely hour drive full of excited finger pointing, surreal sightings and apprehensive drive-bys, we were anxious to stretch our legs and explore the walking zoo, gigantic labyrinth, the 16th century chateau, and the seemingly endless grounds of leafy canopied paths and manicured grounds.

The imaginatively conceived playground area is completely surrounded by a small stream.  Children are transported into an adventure playground as they cross the suspension bridge and inevitably enter a world of their imagination.

The Chateau's Grounds

We stayed longer than anticipated and spent late afternoon leisurely wandering the Chateau’s forested grounds, enjoying the slower pace of the countryside, spotting wild rabbits and colorful birds, and snapping pictures of the beautiful gardens.  I do suggest packing a lunch, as we found the food less than desirable.  It would have been fun to picnic in the various picturesque grassy spots.

The Curious Emu

A Picture taken by Charles of Jeff and Myself

www.thoiry.net; consult website of hours as it varies, Admission, adult 24 euros, children 16.50 euros.

The Lodge at Glendorn-Allegheny National Forest

Bondieu Lake

Jeff and I just got back from celebrating our 7th anniversary in the Allegheny National Forest in northwestern Pennsylvania.  Wanting to flee the city clamor and immerse ourselves in nature and adventure, we stayed at the 1280-acre historical estate called the Lodge at Glendorn.  This luxury adventure resort proved to be a perfect hideaway.

Sunrise at Jill's Pond

Glendorn’s forest grounds are exquisite. The wild landscape is wild enough to feel like you’re truly in nature, but tame enough to navigate the trails, streams and lakes (that are chock-full of rainbow and brown trout).  On our many meandering walks throughout the vast resort, we felt like we were the only ones on the grounds. And there was an enchanting sense, in large part due to the retro decor of cabins, that we were in another time entirely.

During the day, we kept busy, hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, canoeing, and lying like cats by the lake.  We didn’t sit long enough to get a massage or facial or hit the game room with its billiards and board games, but we did eagerly await the freshly baked cookies that were replenished every night in the jar by our bed. Those and the monogrammed sheets were incredibly soothing at the end of our adventurous days.

A Cabin We Found on our Hike

The cuisine and service were exceptional. The Chef’s menus were creative and diverse.  One afternoon, we arranged for a backpack lunch to take on our hike that was delicious and enjoyed picnic-style at Skipper Lake.  The exemplary staff goes out of its way to meet your needs.  Scott, the property manager, was beyond accommodating with all of our requests (packed lunches, bonfires, s’mores, celebratory champagne requests, etc).

Although this particular weekend there were no children at the resort, Glendorn would be just as ideal for a family vacation as it is for a no-kids-allowed one.  The main lodge, known as the Big House, has four accommodations, but throughout this Relais & Chateaux property, there are various cottages of different sizes to accommodate small or large families.  The grounds are completely fenced off, so kids can wander freely–although they might encounter the odd deer, fox, porcupine, rabbit, wild turkey, beaver or even (friendly?) bear.  (At dinner on our last night, a black bear moseyed past the restaurant’s window as we watched sipping our champagne in amazement.)

The Great Room at the Main Lodge

Glendorn is the epitome of rustic luxury if there is such a thing.  We’d love to return in the winter to see the property covered in snow and to indulge in a fireside massage.  The cross-country skiing and snowshoeing would also be amazing to experience.  Anybody looking for charm, adventure, family-friendly activities and a rendezvous with a luxurious lifestyle of days gone by will not be disappointed by this pristine property.

If you are looking for either a romantic getaway emerced in nature or a family vacation with plenty outdoor activities, the Lodge at Glendorn is rustic luxury at it’s greatest, celebrating nature, family, and cuisine.

This blog can also be found at Cookie Magazine.

S'mores!!!!

Our Formidable Opponent

Moab, Utah

Moab, Utah

Surrounded by colossal red sandstone arches, soaring cliffs, the snaking Colorado River, and red clay earth for endless digging, Charles discovered a fascinating world that was vastly different from the busy, crowded streets of New York.  Moab, Utah sparked Charles’ fascination with extinct animals and prehistoric fossils.

I am sure his trip highlights were making mud pies by the Colorado River and the Moab Rock Shop.  There were no bells and whistles at the Moab Rock Shop, just rocks and fossils displayed above a dusty floor.  We spent an hour in this shop looking at the wonders of fossils, mineral specimens, replica skulls, crystals, polished stones, and dinosaur bones.  Charles carefully chose some rocks for necklaces and other small rocks that fit into a beautiful suede pouch.

Moab Rock Shop

We stayed at the Sorrel River Ranch Resort and Spa, which is a perfect family adventure outpost, complete with a playground, open green grass, a swimming pool, tennis and basketball courts, a fitness center, and horses and goats.  We took advantage of the horseback riding, but Charles was too young for river rafting and mountain biking also offered at the resort.

Right outside of Moab is the “Hole n’ the Rock,” which is advertised as the ‘world-famous’ hole in a rock home.  It is a memorial to Albert and Gladys Christensen, creator of the 14-room home that has 5,000 sq. ft. of floor space carved out of the sandstone over two decades beginning in the 1940’s. Pretty tacky and corny, but Charles loved it and the adjoining petting zoo (included ostrich, pony, donkey, sheet, goats and wallabies). To be very honest, the entire place was so bizarre that it was worth the trip.

Arches National Park

The Arches National Park is like no place I have ever experienced.  It’s beauty and magnificence is truly unique.   The landscape is so foreign and vast that it felt like we were on an entirely different planet.  The red sandstone arches and unusual rock formations were impressive and beautiful to witness, dwarfing any man-made structure.

As Charles’ traveling tutor, this location was ideal for learning new things about our prehistoric world. We read books, visited museums and rock and fossil shops, bought excavation fossil kits, made our own plaster fossils, and completely immersed ourselves in the world of bones and prehistoric existences.

Like any boy, he soon knew more names of prehistoric creatures and dinosaurs than I had in my own vocabulary and often corrected me on the accurate pronunciation of them.  Seeing this vast, mountainous landscape was so thrilling, powerful and enchanting for him.  These prehistoric beasts became real and tangible to Charles, as their history became linked to his own, experiencing their world with his own senses.  Opportunities like this one are unique to traveling adventures and bring abstract classroom learning to life.  In this particular case, the spectacular location inspired his interest.

Colorado River at the Sorrel River Ranch Resort

Moab, Utah

New Cookie Magazine Blog

Check out my new article, “just back from Paris,” at Cookie.

There’s No Place Like Home

“No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel
until he comes home and rests his head on his old, familiar pillow.”
-Lin Yutang

France Miniature

Moulin Rouge and Sacre Couer

If you want to tackle all of France’s famous monuments and landscapes in a single day, make your way to France Miniature, a 12-acre miniature theme park!

You and your kids will be amazed at this adorable, well-maintained, and magical outdoor adventure.   All of France is recreated at a scale of 1/30th the size of the originals, complete with moving railways, TGV’s, sailboats, mechanical circuses, cars and ships.  Charles wore himself out running after the electric trains that traveled to and from the miniature cities, towns and villages.  The paths meander through tree-covered hills, near ponds and over bridges with various enchanting vistas and benches to take in the tiny details.  With French or English brochures, your family can even learn about each of the 116 miniature sites.

Climbing Wall

We were surprised to find out that there were also carnival-like rides and large slides to keep little ones entertained.  Charles really loved the climbing wall and watching the bigger kids ride the launching boat and zip-line.  These ‘attractions’ are all operated by parents with staff overseeing the area.  It is a do-it-yourself feeling that was quite refreshing.

After a couple of hours exploring the grounds, we ate at the restaurant, Les Provinces, which had a decent selection on both the adult and children’s menus.  After lunch, we made a bee-line to the less-crowded snack bar and indulged in popsicles for dessert.  You could also pack a family lunch and take advantage of the shaded picnic areas.

Not enough time to see all of France, let alone Paris?  Take a 30-minute drive outside of Paris and tour the entire country of France in just hours!  This ’specialty museum’ makes a fun getaway to “see” the rest of France without having to go the distance.

Miniature Mont Saint Michelle

Charles and Paris' Sites

Miniature Windmill

Address: 25 route du Mesnil
78990 Elancourt Paris
France

www.franceminiature.fr/