Bored!

I tried and tried, and then I tried some more … but folks, I have to admit, I just couldn’t find a single thing taking place this month that really caught my interest. I’m sorry to say it -- but the month of July is boring! Okay, okay … sure there’s Independence Day, National Hot Dog Month, and a few other ‘National’ events going on this month … plus the weather outside is absolutely gorgeous. But to be honest, I wanted to share something fun with you guys, something exciting … something different (‘Toilet Paper Day’, anyone?). But everywhere I looked, it seemed boredom was staring me right in the face.

And then, when all hope seemed lost, I discovered that July was in fact (drum roll, please…) “Anti-Boredom Month”! The clouds lifted, and suddenly I found myself writing again with purpose. Who would have ever thought that boredom could be so exciting!

The truth is, while it may seem like there’s nothing to do, there is always something you can get into to pass the time. If you feel like staying in, there are plenty of places on the internet to keep you occupied. You can play some free games, read up on fun facts and useless trivia, or maybe “Stumble Upon” some random sites (personally, I love Stumble!). You even can make your own Simpsons or South Park character!

If you have little ones, they’ll love these sites. This is a great way to introduce them to computers (if they haven’t been already):
Sesame Street Games
Fisher-Price.com - Online Learning Games for Infants, Toddlers and Preschoolers
PBS Kids

Finally, of course, you can always head outside and: go for a walk, ride a bike, fly a kite, swim, play a sport, head to the park, explore nature, etc. The sky’s the limit! Take a look at these sites for more great ideas:
Bored?
500 Things to Do When Bored
Random History
50 Things to Do When Bored Out Of Your Mind
200+ Summertime Ideas for Bored Kids

Have fun this month!

Road Trip

Well, it’s that time of the year -- and with many people sticking close to home right now, what better way to see America than on a good old fashioned road trip? There’s so much to see out there; US roadsides are full of unique and quirky attractions: famous carousels, amusement parks, drive-in theaters, and much, much more. Some roads and highways, like El Camino Real, Lincoln Highway, The National Road and Route 66, are actually the attractions themselves.

My personal favorites are anything described as being the “World’s Largest...” something. I mean, who wouldn’t want to see a 49-foot-tall Paul Bunyan statue (alongside Babe, his Blue Ox)?

If you are like me, you pile the gear, the family, the dog and whoever else is traveling into the car and hit the road. It doesn’t take long, however, until I’m wistfully looking at all the other travelers in their cozy, state-of-the-art RV’s, motor homes and luxury buses. I find myself amazed at just how far motor homes have come since the original versions hit the road years ago. But oh well … the painful cramping in my legs is worth the money I’m saving on gas mileage. Or at least that’s what I tell myself.

So, how about you -- planning any road trips this summer? Any stories from past road trips that you would like to share? Any unique attractions in your area that might be good for a road trip? Tell us about it!