I find the dating scene to be so complicated and scary. Most people in our society today are involved with online dating. But there are so many possibilities of becoming targets. And what I mean by targets is, victims of rapists, abusers, or thiefs! What should a person do if they find themselves in a position where they like someone, but they’ve met online, and are unsure of what percautions to take? Here are some safety tips for you to fall back on.

1. Always meet your interest in a public place. If they tell you they don’t like public places for
some reason or another. Leave them alone! They are probably up to no good.

2. Get as much information as you can about your interest before you meet. Address, Place
of employment, Bank, etc., and check up on this information before meeting them. You need to
know that they are being honest and up front with you from the start.

3. Bring a friend to watch over you. This friend should not be joining you, but be off to the side
close by, taking pictures. This friend should get a picture of their car, license plate number,
the interest themselves, etc. They won’t know who you know (unless you have their
face plastered on the website you met them on).

4. Don’t forget to bring your cell phone, which hopefully has voice activation. If at any point you
start feeling uncomfortable with his advances, you can just reach inside your purse and push
the side of your phone and start recording. I give this advice, because if you decide you want
to file charges against him for harassment, the police will need some kind of proof.

5. Never give them too much information. Don’t get into bank accounts, where your kids go to
school (it’s none of their business unless they want to start paying their child support), how
much income you make, where you keep your valuables in the home (they could follow you
home and break in while your gone, or worse, sleeping!)

It’s a very unsafe world these days, and people are becoming harder and harder to trust. I know…I’ve made this mistake. And it almost cost me my life! Worse yet, I didn’t have the smarts at the time to take these precautions, and the police had very little to go on. I never did catch my attacker.

Be safe…not sorry!

The experience of Croatia.

Ever thought of going to Croatia or you just heard many things about that beautiful country?

Well if so, I will guide you and give you all the information you need.

Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik is on top of my list. Dubrovnik was founded in the first half of the 7th century and that automatically tells you that this city has a lot of history in it. Libertas Summer Festival is the one of the most celebrated events in Croatia. Music, theater, and dance attracts thousands of visitors which is held indoor and on open-air stages of the Renaissance city. The food and restaurants are always crowded with locals and tourists and the menus contain the best flavors of Dalmatian cuisine. Variety of pasta dishes, plenty of different seafood meals, and juicy steaks. Most of the restaurants you see are owned by private owners so the food and specialties they prepare are unique and can’t be eaten anywhere else.

After a lazy day on the beach and couple of beers, the nightlife is the key to unleash yourself with great music and tropical drinks. The most popular club in Dubrovnik is Latino Club Fuego, which opened in June of 2001. With an interesting designed interior, great music, and reasonable prices, the visitors love coming back and they quickly become permanent satisfied guests.

One special reason to come to Dubrovnik is to watch the City Brass band. The sound of trumpets, trombones, bombardina, clarinets, tambourines will make you feel the origin and history of this century old city.

Life has been made easier with the internet. Products made available to people with the few clicks of a mouse. One of the better ideas I have seen is the ability to rent movies online. When I first heard of this idea, I thought about how much time I could save from driving to my local Blockbuster a few times a week. So I went online and signed up for Netflix. I never really had a problem with them. They provide a good service. I just felt that Blockbuster Online offered me a better deal with the amount of movies I rented . They have a plan no matter how much you are willing to spend per month.

For $3.99 a Month

This is Blockbuster Online’s cheapest plan. You are allowed to rent two dvd’s a month but you are only allowed to have one dvd at a time. You may also exchange a movie at a local Blockbuster if you choose for the low price of $1.99.

For $8.99 a Month

You are allowed to rent an unlimited amount of movies from Blockbuster Online with this plan. The kick is that again you are only allowed to have one dvd at a time. You have to keep in mind that it takes about 2 weeks for a dvd to arrive. This plan also offers two $1.99 in store exchanges.

For $9.99 a Month

This is one of the most commonly selected plans at Blockbuster Online as it is a real deal. For $9.99 a month you two dvd’s a month but only allowed one dvd at a time. However, you do not have to pay for the two in store exchanges with this plan. If you have a low budget, I would definitely recommend this plan over the previous plan.

For $11.99 a Month

With this plan, Blockbuster Online allows you rent an unlimited amount of dvd’s via mail. You are also allowed two free in store exchanges. If you have a few extra bucks, it maybe worth it to select this plan instead of the previous one.

For $13.99 a Month

I feel that this plan is a good value.  Again, You are allowed to rent an unlimited amount of movies from Blockbuster Online. However, with this plan you are allowed to rent two dvd’s at a time. This plan also offers $1.99 in store exchanges as well.

For $15.99 a Month

This plan is the same as the previous plan except you are allowed to rent three movies from Blockbuster Online instead of two. $1.99 in store exchanges still apply.

For $16.99 a Month

This is another favorite plan of mine. Blockbuster Online offers unlimited dvd’s through the mail as well as three free in store exchanges. You are only permitted to have 2 dvd’s at a time.

For $19.99 a Month

Okay, I realize these prices are getting a little higher  but the higher the price, the better value they are. If you can afford the extra three dollars a month, I would definitely choose this plan over the previous one. This plan from Blockbuster Online allows you two more free in store exchanges for a total of five. It  also allows you to have one more dvd at a time.

For $21.99 a Month

This is the plan I currently have. I feel it is the best value if you utilize the plan to your advantage. It is true that Blockbuster Online only allows you to have one dvd at a time with this plan, but you are allowed unlimited dvd’s through the mail and unlimited free in store exchanges. If you live close to a Blockbuster, I would definitely select this plan.

For $29.99 a Month

This plan is the same as the previous plan offered by Blockbuster Online. The only difference is that it allows you to have two dvd’s at a time instead of one. If you are thinking about selecting this plan, just ask yourself one question is eight dollars a month really worth having one more rental at a time?

For $34.99 a Month

This is Blockbuster Online’s most expensive plan. I wouldn’t recommend getting this package unless you are a real movie buff. This is the same as the previous two plans except for the fact that you are allowed to have three movies at a time.

Well, these are the plans that Blockbuster Online currently offers. I think I made it  pretty clear which plans I thought were more of a deal. I hope I helped you make your decision.  More information may be found on Blockbuster’s website at http://www.blockbuster.com . Then click on rent.

Plans are current as of November 13th, 2008.

There aren’t too many reality shows that catch my interest.  There is something about a show where people do anything possible to get money.  Sure there are some good reality shows out there that change lives like the Biggest Loser and Extreme Home Makeover.  VH1 has jumped on the reality show ban-wagon and seem to have the most reality shows than any other network.  From shows like Flavor of Love and Rock of Love to Charm School and The Pick-up Artist.  I have to admit some of their shows has caught my attention and I don’t miss them for anything.  The two that I watch each week are Rock of Love Charm School and The Pick-up Artist.  Both are come on on Sunday nights Charm School at 9 o’clock eastern and Pick up Artist at 10 o’clock eastern.

The Rock of Love Charm School is hosted by Sharon Osborn, no one is better to whip rocker chicks into shape than her.  They take the girls who acted the worst and could use the most help from the show Rock of Love where girls compete to win the love of rock star Bret Michaels.  These girls get lessons each day from people from the business teaching them different things such as style and grace to how to manage a band which is what many of these girls want to do.  After the lessons, they have a task to complete and of course the winners get immunity while the losers are on the chopping block.  Each week as they learn new things someone goes home and less girls get to move on a learn how to become better women and how to act like women with class and grace while working in the rock and roll genre.

Rock Of Love Charm School is a great show to watch because you watch these girls grow from what some circles would call trash or other inappropriate words for an article.  Sharon takes them from dressing like strippers to dressing like fashionable women.  Sharon said it was a place where women could change themselves for the better and become the women they need to be.  There is everything that makes a great show great: drama.  There is honestly more drama than in a soap opera.  Girls are constantly fighting with each other, trying to manipulate each other without even trying to change their lives.  Some don’t even want to change and see this as an opportunity to either get on television or earn money at the end of the show.  Sharon makes the show one of the best shows on this season.  She sets the rules and doesn’t take crap from anyone.

The Charm School had another season, which was done with the Flavor of Love girls that really needed the work.  One girl didn’t even really make it to the show because she got into a fight with another girl.  The girls that come on the show surprise you and shock you at times because they do not act like women.  One even admits she wants to be a trophy wife and wear bikinis everywhere she goes while her friend wears lingerie wherever she goes.  Sharon does her best to whip these girls into shape.  If you like shows like Jerry Springer where there is a fight at every corner, then Rock of Love Charm School is a good show for you to check out.  There are one or two girls that may not need the charm school because they seem like they have grace and class already, but don’t let looks and sweetness deceive you.  It’s the quiet sweet ones  that need to be looked out for the most.

Another show that has caught my attention is The Pick-up Artist hosted by the pick up artist himself: Mystery.  The basis for the show is Mystery takes ten men who are relationship challenged, meaning they have a hard time getting close to women, getting them to talk to him let alone getting their number or even a date.  He gives them lessons of course to teach them different things about picking up women.  Mystery shows the guys how to gain the confidence they need to be able to walk up to a women they find attracted to even talk to her and open up the possibility to get a phone number and a date.  These guys are shy, awkward and so many other things.  Some would call them geeks or freaks but by the time Mystery is done with them they are master pick up artists.

The Pick Up Artist is probably my favorite reality show because it isn’t all about playing a game.  It has more to it.  You see the guys growing and becoming more confident and better men through the experience.  It is fun seeing how they react to different situations and some of the tasks that Mystery has them do throughout the weeks.  Some can be a little rough while others seem to the viewer something so simple.  I first caught The Pick Up Artist in a marathon of the first season.  They take the guys and give them makeovers to help them look their best and I have to say, they do a great job, some of the men I wouldn’t consider dating, then the makeover happens and many of them get cuter and don’t look as creepy as they did when they came into the show.

The end of each show is the final task, the task where if they win they get immunity.  They go into a club and try to pick up women.  The change the guys have from the first show to the fourth show is drastic.  They go from constantly being shut down to getting numbers and even a kiss from a girl or two.  When the guys talk in like a video you can see the change and sometimes the pain in their voices.  One of the guys even cry when he realizes he is failing a little or when he gets frustrated.  I honestly think he could go far as long as he is able to get past his own insecurities.  Another guy is too energetic that creeps women out and then they turn him down.  This is a great show because other guys who are in the same situation can learn from them and see what they can do to change things and become men that women would want to be with, and be interested in at least getting to know better.

Reality shows seem to be the big thing in television.  As they start to lose their cool and go to more change based shows like Biggest Loser, VH1 keeps the cut throat reality show alive with all of their shows.  If you like shows that women or men compete for the love of someone there are shows like that, if you like shows where people learn how to better themselves them Charm School and Pick Up Artist are for you.  Even if you like seeing celebrities doing something different and tough, Celebrity Fit Club is a good show to watch which is something like Biggest Loser, but for celebrities.  Vh1 has seemed to start stretching for shows to keep their audiences entertained and they are really keeping them entertained with shows like these.

Traveling is on everyone’s list. People love to travel. People wait all their life until one day they have money to go everywhere. Traveling abroad is more fun than traveling locally. You always want to go to places you’ve never been before. Traveling to Europe, Hawaii or Asia is always a good choice. Each country has their own attractions and features. Traveling around your country can always wait because it’s easier to travel at home than it is in a foreign country.

It takes more time and requirement to travel abroad. You will need at least a week or two of your time for an international trip whereas when you’re at home you can travel to a nearby state for the weekend and can still fly back home in time for work. You will need to make a passport to travel abroad whereas you don’t need this traveling around your country.

People usually travel abroad when they have a vacation time. It’s rare for anyone to have several weeks off of work unless they’re a business owner. Therefore when people actually receive this vacation time they will most likely prefer to use it to travel abroad.

It gets even harder when people have children. They want to be able to go with their spouse and have someone watch their kids and do everything that needs to be done with their children. Traveling without your children is tough. Sometimes you have the weeks off but your children may be in school. Sometimes you just don’t want them to travel with you because it’s too much responsibility.

People often have to put out a lot of time to really execute that one really far getaway. It gets more difficult as you have more children. Therefore you should do all of your traveling before you have children. Children are a big restrain for everyone. Most people even regret not traveling before they have children because after having children they just couldn’t go anywhere else. Therefore whenever people get a chance they’ll always want to travel abroad. It’s fascinating and it’s something totally new. It’s the experience abroad that they can’t get at home.

Some people are looking forward to visit the jungle in Africa or some people want to surf in Hawaii and none of that can be replaced at home or here in the US. You can still surf at Huntington Beach but it’s not the same as surfing in Hawaii because the views are fantastic and the people are different. The foods and customs are a treat too.

Art lovers like to travel to Europe because they are the best when it comes to art display. The architecture there is amazing and the fashions there are even better. People watches and sight seeing is something that you have to experience. Hearing people speak French or Italian is music to the ear. The total experience is so much more relaxing and enjoying than traveling locally. You pretty much just know about almost of everything that is going on around your country. You have seen it on TV. You have been around and there’s not much to discover in your local areas as you would abroad.

If you’re looking for a fun and unique idea for your daughter’s next birthday party, why not try having a Photo Shoot party? Most girls enjoy posing for the camera, especially when they get to dress up or be made up pretty.

Start with invitations announcing your glamorous day. If you like, you can go with a theme suitable for your daughter’s age or interests, such as Princess or Fairies for younger girls or Hollywood or Top Model for older girls. Let them know that they will be dressing up and taking lots of pictures! You can also have just a general photo shoot with different kinds of props of your own choosing.

Begin to gather items for the girls to dress up in or use as props. Thrift stores are excellent for this, you can find old prom dresses, hats, jewelry, long gloves, sunglasses, etc. If it happens to be near Halloween, all the better. Wait until after Halloween when things are marked down and you can find princess tiaras, wands, boas, funky jewelry, makeup and all kinds of great stuff for really cheap.

Set up an area where you will take the pictures. Inside is best, where the lighting and weather can be controlled. You can use just a blank wall if you like, but props make the photos much more interesting. Even a simple chair or bench can be a lot of fun for silly or dramatic girls in front of a camera. Other items you can use could be colorful pillows, hanging strands of beads, stuffed animals, etc.

You can set up other “stations” also where the girls can get ready. One area for costumes, one for makeup, one for props, and so on. They can go one by one through each station as they get ready. The birthday girl gets to go first, of course! Be sure to have something else for the others to do while waiting their turn. Some may be entertained to just watch their friends, but a backup is always a good idea, especially for younger ones. Try a fun craft or simple game.

Enlist other moms to help. If you have friends that will be coming and don’t mind pitching in, use them to help coordinate outfits, apply makeup or just keep things in order. This can be a huge help in a situation that could get out of hand. Plus it will keep things moving faster.

Play some fun music to set the mood. Girls will feel even more like a ‘model’ if the atmosphere is there. Select age appropriate tunes to keep the energy up and the inspiration high.

A digital camera is highly recommended. This way, you can take lots of shots of each girl without worrying about wasting film. Another plus and really fun thing to do is to post the pictures online with www.snapfish.com or another photo website so they can go see all the pictures themselves and order some if they want. Place an inexpensive frame with a note in the goody bags letting the moms know where to go to see the pictures. Don’t forget to take a group shot as well!

If you have the opportunity, you can print out one picture for each girl before they leave as a souvenir or send one in a thank you note. Go with whatever works for you and whatever your birthday girl prefers. In any case, she and her friends will feel like beautiful stars for the day and your party will be remembered for a long time to come!

Acting on stage is generally an area that has no middle ground…either you love it and crave the spotlight, or hate it and couldn’t be paid enough to set foot up there. If you’re new to the stage, be it acting or pubic speaking, here are some guidelines to ensure that your performance will be at its best:

You must PROJECT your voice. This doesn’t mean just yelling, but speak at a much louder volume than you normally do. Imagine that you are speaking to someone at the very back of the room who needs to hear every word you say. If you are fortunate enough to have a lapel or headset microphone, you will not need to project as much, but you will still need to rehearse your speaking so that it is clear.

Speak slower than normal. When you are at a distance from the audience, your words can get muffled and distorted. It may sound funny, but if you speak slower and more purposefully, what you say will be much clearer to the audience. Obviously, if you are acting, you must stay in character, but don’t rush through your lines. The last thing you want is to spend weeks or months rehearsing and have the audience not understand you.

Face the audience when you speak. It may sound obvious, but we have a very strong tendency to turn our head and face the person we are speaking to. That’s normal, but on stage, it can cut your volume almost in half. It can seem very unnatural to face forward while talking to someone next to you, so rehearse this diligently. It may help to visualize the two of you driving in a car together; you can be talking, but not necessarily looking at each other. Don’t worry, it doesn’t look as strange to the audience as it feels to you.

Don’t look in the eyes. If you are giving a speech or monologue and must look at the audience, look at the tops of people’s heads, not directly into their eyes. This can be extremely helpful if you are nervous about public speaking as looking directly into someone’s eyes can be very distracting and unnerving. This way, there is no eye contact but from a distance, it looks as though you are looking directly at each person.

Keep movement to a minimum. If you are a persistent toe or finger tapper or you tend to ‘sway’ when you stand or otherwise fidget, make a conscious effort to stand still. Even the littlest movement can be a distraction on stage and you don’t want anyone to miss what you’re saying because they couldn’t keep their eyes off your jiggling leg.

Keep going! If you forget your lines, don’t stop and stare blankly at your fellow actors or the audience. Make something up and keep going. Always stay in character! It may take you a minute to get back on track, but if you stay calm and don’t panic, chances are that no one will even know you missed something. This is where the art of improvisation can be very helpful in getting you through those tight spots. Make it a point to rehearse this way as though it is “live” and keep going no matter what.

These few guidelines will get you off to a good start for your performance. Don’t worry if it feels very awkward and unnatural at first. The more you practice, the better you will get and the more natural these techniques will become. Then it will be your moment to shine in the spotlight!

For many of us that enjoy the great outdoors and wildlife, there is an area close to home that we often overlook when studying nature…our own backyards!  Yes, some of the most interesting forms of wildlife, the feathered and furred, can be found right outside your back door.

My own little wildlife haven is nestled in the suburbs, just outside center city Philadelphia.  It is a residential area bordered by busy streets and heavy traffic.  The street outside my door is bursting with traffic at least 16 hours a day.  However, the roar of buses, cars, and trucks, has little or no effect on the many animals that make our home-their home.

Unfortunately, in this day and age, because of over-development and crowding, many animals have learned to adapt and live in close proximity to people.  And for those of us that enjoy sharing our space with these intelligent and sometimes industrious creatures, we can derive much enjoyment from them, if we are careful and observant.

On almost any given morning just before sunrise, my yard plays host to a multitude of varying animals.  Some like the raccoon have been busy all night searching for food, while countless feisty squirrels are just awakening to start their busy day.  When the raccoon is about to retire for the day, the squirrels are starting their day.  The squirrels day is a busy one and their survival depends upon their success.  The chilly days of autumn are becoming shorter now and this triggers the squirrels instinct to find and store food for the long winter months ahead.

Another patient but busy little body is the eastern cottontail rabbit.  Every morning scattered about our lawn is a family of rabbits chewing away on a vast menu of grass and other green goodies.  Like the squirrels, the rabbits have become accustomed to my wife and I, and politely ignore our presence.  I find it fun watching the tiny newborns as they romp and eat alongside their mother.   Its also interesting to see how easily they get along with the more energetic and industrious squirrels.

Not all of our backyard wildlife are frequent visitors.  For example, I like to classify some of these critters as interlopers, or species,” just passing through.”  We don’t always see the raccoon or the opossum as often as  the rabbits and squirrels, but nonetheless, they make their presence known, and we see enough of them to enjoy their antics.

The slow moving opossum with its lack of keen vision saunters about our yard as though it is intoxicated, but this hardly impedes its ability to find food, even under the worst conditions.  The raccoon, that clever little masked bandit, is readily adept at opening trash cans to get whatever morsels it might offer.  One of my daily chores each day is to place the lid back on the trash can and replace the scattered food the raccoon refused to eat from its menu.  He is smart enough to sense that I like him, and on some nights will raid my trash can while I am watching him.  His antics are hilarious and we really enjoy his company.

Then there is the colorful variety of birds that fill our yard with their melodic chirps and beautiful songs.  We have robins, mockingbirds, blue jays, sparrows, juncos, finches and catbirds.   One of my favorite birds is the mourning dove.  Its song is sad and doesn’t seem to fit the beauty of this friendly bird, that returns each year to use the same nest to raise its young.

Sometimes, on occasion,  we have the opportunity to see an owl or hawk interrupt its journey to seek rest in a nearby tree.  They are a large and imposing figure as opposed to the songbirds, who immediately sound the alarm and vacate the area until the raptors move on.

In the winter months we miss our feathered friends when they migrate, but leave plenty of food in our feeders for those too old or weak to make the long journey.  This provides us with an opportunity to share the company of our avian friends all year long.

The natural world is fascinating and has much to offer us if we know where to find and enjoy it.  In this case, there are no travel plans needed, no reservations or expense, you need only step out your back door to discover and share one of nature’s greatest treasures.

Have you been looking for an easy way to earn money online? Well then it must be your lucky day! I’m going to give you my top three favorite easy to earn programs! All three of these are free to join so you will be able to get started earning easy money online in no time at all.

These three easy to earn programs are all GPT sites. If you are unfamiliar with GPT sites let me explain it a little. GPT is short for “get paid to”. Once you sign up you will get paid to-fill out surveys, complete free offers, or get paid to try things.

Each site has different rules, and different pay out levels. The one thing that all three sites have in common, other than they are all three GPT sites, is the fact that they all have the option of getting paid using your pay pal account. Getting paid through your pay pal account makes it easy to earn and get paid!

1. Order cash for free - It is very easy to earn cash here! I like the way this site is set up, they actually show how long it takes for each offer to be credited to your account. This makes it much easier to choose which offers you would like to do. You will only need to reach $25.00 before cashing out here! Trust me, it won’t take long to reach that here, there are many different offers to work on. Cash for free also offers a wonderful referral system, where you can get paid when your friends complete offers too. Again you can be paid through pay pal.

2. Fusion Cash-This is also an easy to earn program! You will earn an easy $5.00 just for signing up here. You will also need to accumulate $25.00 here to cash out, again that’s not hard. You will really only need $20.00 because they give you the free $5 sign up bonus! Fusion cash offers a great referral system too, making it even easier to earn more cash. This is a very well organized site. Fusion Cash also offers pay outs through pay pal.

3. Treasure Troopers - Pay pal payments available!  Treasure Trooper is a get paid to site with a bit of a twist. They actually offer cash for offers, surveys, and contests! This site is very interesting, easy to use, and is considered a top rated easy to earn program. At Treasure Trooper, you will only need to earn $20.00 in order to cash out!

There isn’t any restrictions on how much you are able to make in any of these easy earning programs! They are a wonderful way for beginners to make easy money online. You may pick one site, or sign up to all three easy to earn programs and make three times as much!

Getting paid through pay pal will make getting paid easy! You may also sign up for a debit card for your pay pal account making it even easier to get your money! So what are you waiting for, sign up for one of my easy to earn programs and start making your money now! For other ideas of how to make easy money online, please visit: Easy Online Money Makers

When you are planning a trip to Washington DC you know there are places you need to see.  Everyone tells you which places to go and when such as the going to see the monuments at night or going to the Air and Space Museum first.  Everyone is different and wants to do things differently or only go to certain places.  Though not knowing what to expect when you are going into the city can make it hard to decide where you want to go and what you want to see first.  Sometimes you may want to do a lot of research trying to plan the trip in advanced instead of just going into the city and making up plans as you go.  There are always things you can do and honestly you cannot do it all in a week, some say it could take months others say it could take years.  No matter what you plan are doing there are a few things that’s everyone should see.

Holocaust Museum:  This is the most powerful museum in Washington D.C.  No matter which ones you go to, this one NEEDS to be on the list.  While it can be difficult to make it through, it is far worth it.  You are taken through different floors talking about the history of the Holocaust.  It is a self guided tour so you go at your own pace and you and just bypass certain things.  Along certain walls are quotes from US Presidents, Authors like Eli Weisel and Adolf Hitler himself.  With his quotes you can see the evilness of his mind.  The Auschewitz section is probably the hardest section to go through.  They have an area called Voices of Auschewitz which is a room with audio recordings of survivors of the concentration camp talking about what it was like and the things they needed to endure.  The windows were etched with the names of those who survived the Holocaust and there was also a wall of Rememberance where you can light a candle in remembrance of the horrible things that happen during this time period.  We need to remember what happen and look to keeping it from happening again.

Natural Museum of History: This was a great place for families.  There are so many things to see and do.  You can touch certain items, play games, and take little quizzes about some of the things that you have seen and read.  One of the greatest things to see in this museum is of course the Hope Diamond.  It is so mesmerizing and holds your attention for as long as you let it.  If you can pull yourself away from the Hope Diamond there are exhibits on ocean life, mammals, dinosaurs, gems and rocks, western cultures and Korean culture as well as other things.  There is a new exhibit: the live Butterfly exhibit where you can go in and see butterflies in a man made habitat.  They can and will land on you and you can watch them eating, and hatching from their cocoons.  This is one exhibit that you would have to pay for but it is way worth the six bucks you are charged.  There are also special exhibits; different ones at different times.  When I was there (October 22) the special exhibits were photography of the Amazon and space things like meteors and things like that.  I’m sure in a few weeks the exhibits will be something new.  It also has a place outside the museum that is a little garden, there the squirrels are so friendly they will eat from your hands.

Museum of American Indian:  This museum is fairly new and another great museum in the Smithsonian Mall (The Holocaust Museum isn’t a part of the Smithsonian).  You will see different plants on the outside that are native to the area, so are still around others are just in that area.  Outside the main enterance is an obliesk that has many different designs significant to the American Indian culture.  Once inside you are flooded with amazing artifacts from the native Indians from the area.  You will see the bead work and learn of the significance of each one, as well as the different axes and what they were used for.  As you go on you will see the Native American culture from past to present.  It is great to see how a culture can evolve and the significance of different things like a mask used for celebrations of the creator.

Hirshorn Museum of Sculptures: The Hirshorn is an interesting museum of sculptures that make you think and sometimes wonder why they are considered art.  Some things just didn’t make sense and didn’t look like it could be art.  Other things were simply genius and I loved seeing the different sculptures in different forms like marble, sand, bronze etc.  There is also an observation deck on the third floor which gives you perfect view of the Smithsonian Mall.  You see the Natural Museum of History, the Sculpture Garden, National Gallery of Art and a few other things which make for a wonderful picture.  There is also a great fountain in the center of the building which changes height at different times, it is fun to watch sometimes.

National Archives:  Everyone has seen the movie “National Treasure” when Nicolas Cage steals the Declaration of Independence; this is where the Declaration is held safe.  There are many different documents that show the history of the United States, some I admit can be boring while others can be really neat to see.  There of course is a line to see the Declaration, Bill of Rights, and other important documents like Madison vs Monroe documents.  As you come into the room you are met with the Magna Carta which I was so amazed at how well preserved it was.

War Memorials:  These are always wonderful.  You can go to the museums during the day and visit the memorials in the evening.  The World War 2 memorial is amazing and awe-inspiring.  It makes you remember how special it is to be in the military and the risks that have been made to help keep this country safe.  Tucked away in the trees to the left of the Lincoln Memorial (as you are walking down) is a World War 1 Memorial to remember those who served in the war who lived in and around Washington D.C  Farther up from this memorial is the new Korean War Memorial.  It is a beautiful memorial and the stone soliders seem lifelike.  On the opposite side is the Vietnam Memorial.  The amount of names on this memorial brings tears to your eyes and heart.  Even if you don’t have a friend or family member on the wall it is still special to do a rubbing of one or two of the names.  Also near this memorial is one of three soilders and one for nurses that helped heal the wounded from the war.

National Gallery of Art: Sculpture Garden:  This is much like the Hirshorn Garden; it has many different sculptures, so cool looking and others somewhat confusing.  One of my favorites in this garden is a bunny on a rock which is made to mimic Roudan’s “The Thinker.”  It was really cute and differnt.  The cafe in the garden is a little expensive, but almost all the museums cafes are, so nothing new there.  It is just a nice place to sit down with a good book or take a walk with that someone special.  It helped make my trip with my special someone more special.

There are so many different things you can do and see within Washington D.C.  These are some of the greatest things you can see, but not everyone would agree, they are what I thought was the greatest parts of the city that I have seen.  Sure there were other things and some have more significance to me such as the Navy Memorial behind the archives building.  Next time you are planning a vacation for the family or for yourselves, you should really consider checking out Washington D.C.  Though I suggest getting a hotel outside the city and riding the metro into the city for less confusion and cheaper prices.