Carol Stone asked:


Here is a vacation idea that won’t break the bank. It will give your family many fond memories and that well-deserved rest AND will keep you eco-friendly (get more tips and join the movement on being eco-friendly at www.ecofriendlymovement.com). ESPECIALLY IN THESE TIMES OF HIGH GAS PRICE TIMES…

Take a “Staycation”

You say “What in the world is a Staycation?” Well, very simply it is a vacation where you stay home, you do all the fun things that you don’t have time to

do while you are working or going to school, AND you’ll have fun doing it right in your home or in your local area. Staycations are very eco-friendly because you are limiting your use of precious fuel by not traveling to a destination; your home is your destination. You will also see Eco-tips mentioned throughout this article.

Okay, are you ready to have fun! Here are the steps you need to take:

As with any “traditional” vacation, you need to plan and make some decisions before you “embark” on your trip. REMEMBER—The planning and anticipation of the trip is part of the fun.

PLANNING AND PREPARATION PHASE:

Coordinate calendars

1. Decide when you will all be available

2. Who you will invite (other than immediate family); don’t forget to ask Grandma, Grandpa or that favorite aunt to join you on your Staycation. Be sure to mention that this is a staycation and fun times only…no worries or problems discussed.

3. How long will your “trip” last?

4. Choose a trip coordinator to be responsible for ascertaining from the family what activities/ideas they would most like to see happen during the staycation and this person is responsible for setting the daily planned activities (see below). TIP: In our family Mom or Grandma is the coordinator.

Planned activities for each staycation day

5. Delve into interests of each staycation member and form activities around that interest…take turns with each member…this will also get everyone thinking about each other and sharing each others interests.

6. Play tourist and go to your Chamber of Commerce or Convention and Visitors Bureau. Pick up brochures, maps, or anything that will get you thinking about “short trips” in your area. You will be surprised at the places you didn’t know about, right in your own back yard. Don’t forget to go on-line and learn about your town, city, or state and see what you can see (It doesn’t hurt to slip in a few educational items; along with the fun…nobody will know the difference if you do it correctly).

7. Produce a planned activities calendar and post it in your staycation home (see below for Planned Activities Ideas). This will let every staycation member know what’s going to happen during the staycation. Remember no stress…if someone wants to suggest changes or has some other fun things to add to the schedule…that’s what you want to see…PARTICIPATION!

8. Plan downtime in the activities calendar. This is time when everyone can do their own thing; like hide it their rooms, go on-line, nap, or just plain do nothing. Every vacation needs a certain amount of downtime. TIP: Remember to schedule this time, but if someone is not feeling well, don’t stress just let them have a bit more time. They will come around when they feel they are missing out on some laughs. Also remember it is like a vacation, so get up late and stay up late.

9. Planned Activities are fun to create specifically geared toward your staycation members. Here are some ideas that have been successful:

a. Visit museums, aquariums, historical sites, or any places of interest in your area. Most of these places are free, fun, and educational. Don’t forget even libraries can be fun places to visit. No matter how small your town is you can ALWAYS find something to see that is interesting.

b. Visit any national parks, state parks, town parks or even school ball fields. Getting outside is the best way to have fun and be healthy at the same time. It’s a great place to have a picnic, play ball, swim, hike, walk, and fish or just plain read a book under a tree. Eco-tip: Remember to not pollute; whatever you take with you, bring home with you and dispose of probably.

c. Visit your own backyard. You can have a bunch of fun right in your own backyard. Have a cook-out, invite people over (remember to have every member of the staycation invite a friend), cook ‘smores, tell ghost stories, do star-gazing astronomy, arrange a scavenger hunt, run a drive-in (outdoor) movie (you can put blankets on the grass, bring your biggest TV/DVD outdoors, rent a family-friendly movie or pay-per-view event, serve popcorn and let the fun begin.

d. Plant a tree in your yard, have a dedication ceremony, invite the neighborhood (maybe they’ll get the idea and will want help the environment by planting their own tree). This is a big Eco-Tip!

e. Hold game night, every night. You can play cards, board games, build jigsaw puzzles, charades, interactive electronic games, movie night, scavenger hunts or you could go to a local arcade or movie theatre. This is one that you try to get everyone to participate in, the more the merrier. TIP: Some families do this kind of activity at least once a week; even when it isn’t a staycation.

f. Run a Talent Night, if your family is so inclined to be performers or possess any special talents. This is a great way to have a lot of laughs (Remember to laugh with someone not at someone, haha!).

g. Join an organization as a family and donate your time and effort to helping the “cause”. With this staycation article you are already well on your way to becoming environmentally eco-friendly so why not join the eco-friendly movement as a family by going to www.ecofriendlymovement.com you can join and learn all the ways your family can begin to SAVE THE PLANET. Another Big Eco-tip!

h. Get out the old family photos and remember the good times. Tell stories about people, events, remember people you have lost, remember the “good times”, somebody draw a big tree and start your family tree. Also remember to take plenty of candid and planned digital pictures of your current staycation. You are, after all making new memories.

You could also take this opportunity to do some scrapbooking, depending on the interest level from the staycation members; this could be a lot of fun. Some staycationers have even gone to cemeteries to trace genealogies, AND they had fun doing it.

Eco-tip: Remember save paper and take digital photos and create computer generated photo albums.

i. Do a Spa Day for the girls (or anyone who wants to join in).

You could go to a local spa or plan spa treatments for at home; like manicures, pedicures, or back rubs. Eco-tip: Remember you can make all natural organic products (see the free bonus books on the webpage www.ecofriendlymovement.com)

j. Do a Sports Day for the boys (or anyone who wants to join in). The boys could go to a driving range, batting cage, rent a sports DVD, etc.

k. Do some Arts & Crafts finish those projects you have had forever or just start new projects with the entire family. Even if you are not crafty try painting or even coloring, its fun.

Eco-tip: Use items you already have around the house…reuse items for crafts.

l. Take a walk, run, or jog family-style. Have an “adventure”, depending on the age of your children it is great fun to make-pretend on your adventure. Eco-tip: While you are walking pick up trash along the street!

10. Theme Staycations are loads of fun. You can plan for the entire length of your vacation as a theme or just a Theme Day. Here are some theme staycations that could fit into your plans:

Outdoor Adventure-Try this one whether your family has camped outside or not. It involves sleeping, cooking, and eating outside. This activity is great fun for all ages.

Tropical Island-You don’t even need to be near the beach. Dress in island wear; shorts, flowered Hawaiian shirts, flip-flops, drink tropical concoctions, and lay around reading books. Remember to make the food island appropriate-usually grilled.

Sports Theme-This can be themed with your local team colors, your favorite NFL, NBA, MLB, NASCAR, or whatever sport. You can dress for your team, decorate for your team, and have a tailgate party (even in your driveway). TIP: If you are into NASCAR, you can have matchbox races.

Food preparation menu

Develop meal and snack menus for each day of the vacation.

(Remember no dieting, splurge on foods that make your family happy, comfort foods are great). When it comes time to prepare the foods, it’s Mom’s vacation too, so all pitch-in to help, take turns cooking, and most of all prepare easy clean-up meals. Don’t forget grilling, grilling, grilling is fun and easy clean-up.

Make reservations at local restaurants. This is your chance to try out that local place down the street that you go by everyday and “just haven’t had time to stop to try out”. You can also do take out meals, anything that is fun and makes it an easy part of the staycation.

Make grocery list and food shop in advance of staycation. Except for some pick-up items like milk or bread, have all the food purchased well ahead of the start of your Staycation. Eco-tip: Bring reusable grocery shopping bags.

STAYCATION DATE ARRIVES:

#1 Have FUN, FUN, & MORE FUN with the family, tell jokes, laugh a lot, and be silly.

#2 Play music all day and create a fun atmosphere.

#3 Follow the planned activities calendar as closely as possible (but do no

stress over it).

#4 Take loads of digital pictures-candid and staged.

#5 Eat too much food and diet after the vacation.

#6 Send postcards, letter, or emails to friends telling them about how much fun you are having on your staycation (you may inspire them to go on Staycation). Always use recycled paper.

#7 Remember both during this Staycation and in your daily life to reuse, recycle, reduce, and to limit your footprint on the planet. Visit www.ecofriendlymovement.com so you can begin your eco-friendly quest like so many other families have done.




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Danuin Mumm asked:


Drawing representations of the Earth’s surface goes back as far as centuries B.C.  Some of the earliest discovered “maps” date back to the ancient Babylonians and indigenous peoples.  Of course we all know that the ancient Egyptians used to draw their maps with hieroglyphics.  It was the ancient Greeks, however, who really began drawing detailed maps.  It was Ptolemy’s historic map of the world that made its mark on the world. Ever since then, human kind has been studying the details of the world and drawing them. 

Some of these antique world maps are still around today, and are being collected by history buffs all around the world.  All though it’s possible to collect historic maps representing every country and land that’s ever existed, its’ the antique world maps that offer the most appeal.  Size does matter with antique world maps — it appears that the larger, the better.  The greater sized world maps show the most detail.  The more rare and large an antique world map is, the higher its worth. 

Replicas can also be made of historic maps to make them more easily affordable.  Although they’re not the real thing, well made copies can still have a “vintage” feel to them.  Many people enjoy looking at historic maps for genealogic purposes.  They are curious about what the world looked like to their ancestors over the centuries. 

There are others who like looking at ancient maps that contain images of “UFO’s” or “mythical creatures”.  It’s interesting to see that the ancients had imaginations just like we do.  Or perhaps they truly DID see the strange things they were drawing, but we only interpret them wrong.  Regardless, there have been many unidentifiable things drawn by the ancients on historic maps.  The point is, there are many reasons why people find looking at historic maps interesting.  While some people are only somewhat curious, there are others who truly love collecting history by buying antique world maps.




Research Your Family Tree

Danuin Mumm asked:


Humans have been trying to map the world since the beginning of our existence.  Ancients all around the world have tried mapping out the area(s) surrounding them.  Even though we’re living in a time where the entire world is mapped out and recreated as a globe, it’s still interesting to look at the world as our ancestors saw it.

No matter where your ancestors are from, looking at historic maps is a great way to see the world through their eyes.  There are antique world maps that are centuries old.  European maps, Asian maps, Australian maps, North and South American maps, and African maps can date back hundreds of years.  There are even historical maps dating back thousands of years to ancient empires!  Whenever ancient emperors successfully conquered another part of the world, the maps would be updated.  Studying the ancient Roman Empire maps, for instance, can be very intriguing.

These maps have either been handed down over the centuries, or discovered through archaeological searches.  There are companies that specialize in recreating ancient maps, straight down to the last detail.  Have you ever wondered what America looked like during the Civil War?  What did Europe look like under Roman rule?  What names did your ancestors give to their lands?  Would you like to see how the United States evolved through historical maps?  How have the sea levels changed over the last several centuries?  What if you found out that your ancestors had their own personal maps of the land(s) they owned?

Thanks to the Internet, it’s possible to browse through historic maps.  You can even order replicas of antique world maps as well as genealogy maps.  Whether you’re a history buff, a genealogy buff, or simply curious, looking at ancient maps can be a very interesting experience.




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Danuin Mumm asked:


Antique world map collectors are a group of people that have an interest in seeing the world as it has changed over ages.  Antique collectors are not only interested in watching history evolve through maps, but the quality of map making, as well.  Many map collectors also have an interest in historic military and cartography.

Maps have been used to help with the discovery and colonization of the world.  Antique world maps were often beautifully painted and made.  Historical map artists were very talented at drawing and painting landscapes with perfect detail.  Historic maps have evolved from the days of ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics, to Native American tribe territory drawings, and to the European drawings of their naval discoveries. 

Since then, historic maps have been drawing detailing the colonization of the United States of America.  Not only did the Native Americans draw maps of their tribes throughout the ages, but immigrants have been drawing detailed maps of boundaries and territories from the time they begin coming over here, throughout the Revolutionary, Mexican, and Civil Wars, to where we are today.

Because of these maps, many of us today are able to study the world as it was for our ancestors.  There are some who now collect historic maps to help them with genealogy projects.  Historic maps used along with old census records makes it easy to track our ancestors’ moments over the years.  No matter what continent our ancestors originated from, genealogy maps gives us the ability to trace their footsteps all across the globe!  Those of us with Native American ancestry can follow them as they moved all around North and South America over the centuries.

The market for antique world maps is increasing with new buyers every year.  The excitement that historical and genealogy maps give us, for whatever reason(s), is spreading to others.  Historic maps truly give us an insight to not only our own family heritage, but the entire world’s.




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Danuin Mumm asked:

Every inch of the world that has ever been observed by humans, has been mapped out. Maps play a very intriguing role in not only world history, but family history as well.  An increasing number of people are interested in looking at genealogy maps to find out about their family history. 

Historic American maps, for example, show detailed images of territorial boundaries, exactly as they were for several centuries.  There are historic maps detailing the tribe territories of Native Americans for a thousand years!  And ever since immigrants began coming here, their colonization of North America has been mapped out, as well.  You can see how much every state has changed over the centuries.  West Virginia was once part of Virginia, for example.  Before Vermont became a state, it was once a part of New York. 

No matter where your ancestors lived, you can see the world through their eyes by looking at historic maps.  You can narrow the maps down to a specific time period, and see the boundaries and territories exactly as they were then.  Make sure you look at more than one map, though; if your family lived on a large farm, it’s possible their boundaries could have changed over the years.

If you want to go back even more in the past, you will be able to find historic maps from every part of the world.  No matter what countries your ancestors come from, you can study maps of those countries to see how they have changed over the centuries.  You can practically track every single footstep your ancestors ever took by studying antique world maps!

Copies of antique world maps are easy to obtain these days, along with genealogy maps.  Whatever reason(s) you may have for wanting to study the past, historic maps are your best bet.  They also make great gifts for other family members who have an interest in history and genealogy, as well.

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Danuin Mumm asked:

If you’re trying to complete your family tree, you may find genealogy maps to be helpful.  Maps are great tools to use for genealogy research.  They can provide details and clues about where your ancestors lived. 

Historic maps can show how every bit of land has changed over centuries.  If you have gathered enough facts about your family history from researching census records, birth certificates, death certificates, etc., it’s time to turn to the maps!  Old, historic maps can come in handy, since they show how the world has changed over the years.  All types of land, ranging from entire countries to small towns, have changed over the centuries.  Historic maps show these changes.

If you know the name(s) of the town(s) your ancestors lived, you can look the places up on historic maps.  Even if those towns have new names name, you can pinpoint their exact location on the maps.  You can find copies of these maps at your local library, or you could even look them up on the Internet!

Using the Internet to help with genealogic work is great.  Some genealogy sites will allow you to download software so you can view historic maps, and others will actually sell you real copies of the maps!  If you want to do genealogy research the old fashioned way, you should consider ordering vintage maps!

Wouldn’t it be nice to see how the world has changed through the centuries?  You can compare the world you now see with your own eyes to how all of your ancestors saw it.  Towns and cities that you’re now familiar with may have changed a great deal through the ages.  Historic maps allow you to see these changes in full detail.  What was the name of your town 200 years ago?  What about 500 years ago?  Was your town even really a town then?  Historic maps will show you the answer!

Great Ancestry Site

Danuin Mumm asked:

Have you ever wondered what the world was like when your ancestors lived?  Thanks to genealogy maps, you can!  No matter where in the world your ancestors existed, there are historical maps detailing the land as it was during those times.  Whether you’re a lover of history, a student, or a genealogist, you will be fascinated over ancient maps.

There were historic maps drawn during every year of recorded history.  The ancients did a great job drawing detailed maps with what limited resource they had.  There are literally thousands of historic maps that are still available for us today.  Not only can we read about history, but ancient world maps give us the opportunity to actually *see* history! 

Imagine seeing the world as the ancient Romans saw it.  Yes, it’s possible to see the rise and fall of the Roman Empire through historic maps!  It’s also possible to watch how America changed over the course of the Civil War.  Civil War maps were updated every day during the war.  There are even historic maps showing the location of many Native American tribes over the centuries!

No matter how far back into the past you’d like to go, you’ll be able to find a historic map dating back to that time.  Some of them even go back to 500 BC!

Modern technology gives us the opportunity to make exact copies of ancient maps. Replicas still have the look and feel of antique world maps.  You can collect physical copies of the historic maps, as well as download them. 

You can also buy them as gifts for family members.  If you have a genealogy freak or history buff in your family, antique world maps would be a perfect gift for them!  You can give them a chance to see the world through the eyes of their ancestors.  Allow them to see the immigration routes that their ancestors took, exactly as they took them.   Historic world maps are truly ideal gifts for anyone who is interested in either their own family history, or world history in general. 

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