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When Was the Last Time You Enjoyed a Shower Together?

I’m not talking about the kind of shower you take in your bathroom, but, rather, a meteor shower. The Perseids The question of when was the last time you enjoyed a shower together came to me because earlier this morning was supposedly the peak time for best viewing of the Perseids meteor shower. However, the shower activity period spans from July 17 through August 24. Depending on where you live, tonight might also be a prime viewing night, but even until August 24 there’s still a chance you can spot a “shooting star” or two. (In doing research for this … Continue reading →

Photo Workshops in Paradise

I’ve always maintained that if you are looking for photo inspiration you should book a trip to Hawaii. (Okay, so I am slightly biased.) And now more than ever the Big Island of Hawaii is the spot to be to capture nature at its finest. In an effort to keep avid photographers’ creative energy flowing the Fairmont Orchid Resort located on the South Kohala Coast is offering a new stargazing program every Friday evening. Famed local astronomer Wayne Fukunaga and his team from Star Gaze Hawaii will lead the sessions. In addition, crewmembers from the Hawaiian outrigger voyaging canoe Makali’i … Continue reading →

Learning More About Shooting Constellations

As I continue my series on astrophotography I thought it might be helpful to discuss some of the places that are available for you to receive hands on lessons in the subject. I got my first taste of astrophotography at Chicago’s Alder Planetarium. Located along the banks of Lake Michigan, the center is a premier public resource for learning about astronomy. It is also staffed by some of the nation’s best astrophotographers. If you live in the area or are planning a trip to Chicago sometime in the near future I would highly recommend attending Alder’s Planetarium’s “Far Out Fridays.” … Continue reading →

Winter Family Fun in Chicago

In my previous blog I listed some of the spectacular outdoor activities that await you in Chicago this winter. I failed to mention that the city also offers a host of family friendly events for those of you who can only tolerate the cold for a short period of time (that would be me). I can’t stand the cold (being born and raised in Hawaii does that to a person), but my love for Chicago outweighs my distaste for Mother Nature’s brutal winter assault so my family makes the trip no matter what the weather. We just stick to the … Continue reading →

Saving Money On The Road

One of the best gifts I received upon graduating from college was a membership to AAA. Sure the AAA membership and a new car would have been even more reason to celebrate… But, seriously, I consider the auto club membership one of the smartest travel investments a person can make. And these days who isn’t looking for a way to save money while on the road? From record high gas prices to sky-high airfare—family travel is not exactly cheap. However, there are a few ways you can make it from point A to point B without breaking the bank. The … Continue reading →

Weekend Wanderings: Honey I Shrunk the Solar System

I’m back to bring you another Weekend Wandering that I took my daughter on, it’s a week late, but this time last week I was at the hospital for surgery and I wasn’t quite up to my usual par for typing. But as I detailed in my first weekend wandering, my daughter and I are now trying to spend our weekends on adventuring through our local area and discovering the hidden treasures that are hosted by our city. Honey I Shrunk the Solar System For this particular weekend wandering, we took a drive out to the University of Texas at … Continue reading →

Go Lunar In Chicago… Or In Your Own Backyard

If you’re looking for something fun and educational to do with your family Saturday evening—-simply turn your eyes to the sky. For the first time in more than two years, a total lunar eclipse will be visible in clear skies for nearly the entire continental United States, Europe and Africa. A lunar eclipse occurs when the full moon passes through the Earth’s shadow. Viewers tend to see the moon’s appearance darken (basically, the eclipse makes the moon appear to be reddish or grayish). Unfortunately for those of you who live on the East Coast of the U.S. the moon will … Continue reading →