The history behind Halloween is long and spans almost 3,000 years! There are some remarkable associations which, over millenniums of practice, survive in some form today.

Here are some tidbits and lore on the interesting origins of Halloween which are not widely known. This can help you start a conversation with a Halloween party guest you’ve been dying to meet.  If you’re hosting a party, you can make a booklet on your PC to hand out as party favors. Illustrated with Halloween icons, Gothic fonts or scary photos, adds to its value as an unusual memento and trivia collectible.

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Who else wants Summer fun? Here are 7 Awesome Summer Vacation Ideas for the whole family. So get out there and make a splash!

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Enjoy your Independence Day this year in 5 historic cities that know how to celebrate.

Here are 4th of July vacation ideas and things to do while enjoying the long weekend in star-spangled style.

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The Heard Museum in Phoenix, Arizona is a grand showcase of American Indian Art and crafts from the region. They have three locations now but I visited the main Museum in Downtown. I was lucky enough to join a 30 minute free tour given by the museum staff and I’m glad I did. He pointed out items I would have missed and we also learned background and history of the exhibits.

One of my favorite displays was the huge collection of Hopi “Katsina” dolls. These religious figures represent the many spirits used in rituals and they are colorful, diverse and amazing. The stories that go with each figure are fascinating. They also have wonderful examples of bead work, silver-smithing, weaving and more. The Museum Gift shop is filled with certified, authentic American Indian arts and crafts for purchase.

This is an excellent way to learn about the native peoples from the Phoenix, Arizona and beyond.  More Photos Here.

The Phoenix Valley Highlights Tour in Phoenix, Arizona is a great overview of the area. Covering the history of the valley from the Hohokam peoples, who lived their for over 1000 years, to the present downtown renovation, this tour is the perfect way to understand the culture, geography and growth of the fifth most populous city in the U. S. Phoenix is one of the fastest growing locations in the country and the Highlights tour helps to shed some light on that phenomenon, also. One of our first stops on the tour was the library.

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The Teddy Bear Cholla cactus can drop a man at ten paces…

Well…not really but it seemed that way when our Stellar Adventures guide explained the vicious nature of this barbed desert dweller during a Hummer Tour near Phoenix, Arizona. Razor sharp with hooked spines, the Cholla is almost impossible to remove. It was just one of the curious things we heard and saw bouncing over the rugged terrain. If the heat didn’t get us in the Sonoran Desert then deadly Snakes, Scorpions, Lizards, Toads, Spiders and Mountain Lions were waiting. Fortunately, our guide was armed.

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I knew going in that they had the advantage. I was out of my element. They were bigger, stronger and faster than me. Still, I slapped the water to call them closer. The dark, nine foot shadows darted past me and despite my best efforts, I hesitated. Suddenly, the beast broke the surface and rose up above my head. What now?

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The “new” buildings for the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, Georgia  are a sight to behold. Clean, sleek design by Architect Renzo Piano flows from gallery to gallery with ease. Moving through the space is a pleasure. The collections that fill the space are a pleasure, too.

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Earth Day reminds us to be better Citizens of the Planet. After all, it’s the only one we’ve got! Here are some easy vacation ideas from Trusted Tours and Attractions to travel greener this year.

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I was surprised by how different the day and night Starlight cruises are in Tampa, Florida. Completely different crowd from day to night. While the daytime was casual, relaxed and oriented to sightseeing with mostly an older group the night time was energetic, fun and oriented to dancing with a younger group.

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