find a hobby - 4

Become a Sports Reporter

Get Your Sports Reporter Career Started on the Internet

After several decades as a sports fan and avid reader of the sports pages, somewhere it dawned on me that some of the best stories and writing I’ve ever seen have been sports related articles. The most talented sports reporters have the storytelling ability to lift the game, the players and us to another level.
For the most part, we live in a world where there are no clear cut winners or losers, no clear outcomes, and sadly few heroes who hold up under scrutiny. Many times, it’s tough to draw out life lessons in our world of grays and blurred lines.
But with sports, our Sports Reporters are able to identify winners and losers on a nightly basis. Strategies are immediately judged and lessons learned. Sports are often the source and proving ground for cliches. All of which make for colorful stories and articles from our Sports Reporters.
For all of us ex-jocks who never made it to the pros, our best shot may now be that as an internet based Sports Reporter. The Internet is opening up incredible opportunities for wannabe Sports Reporters and journalists.
Through the power of blogs and the internet, with fair and accurate reporting and commentary, you can begin your writing career today and over time develop a devoted audience.
Imagine being invited to cover your favorite teams’ news conference. Or imagine, your team’s coach or GM answering your email queries with great material for your readers to enjoy. Sports bloggers are doing just this. Learn about blogging. Sharpen your writing skills. Pick a topic, sport, or team that you are a passionate fan or follower. And, start your reporting career.
Go ahead, it’s up to you to start your new career as an Internet Sports Reporter!

Sports Writing Articles & Links:

He Clicks, He Scores! – How to Use the Internet to Break Into Sports Writing

Poker

Welcome to the World of Poker!

For years, poker has been a popular hobby with plenty of books, poker supplies, local games, video poker, casino play, and tournaments for fans to enjoy. But over the last few years, the popularity of poker has exploded due primarily to the televised poker tournaments and the emergence of online poker rooms.
Poker has a number of unique characteristics that makes it such an enthralling hobby.

1. Statistics, odds, and incomplete information challenges your decision making skills.
2. Psychology factors in with bluffing, intimidation, decoys and traps.
3. Poker is easy to come up to speed on the basics but yet will keep you learning and challenged for years to come.
4. The pressure and excitement increases when real money betting begins.
5. Small tournament buy ins, give you a shot at winning big money stakes from a small stake.
6. Poker is a social activity with local home games with friends.
7. For the do-it-yourself types, equipping your rec room to handle the weekly or monthly poker game will offer you some fun to-do projects.
8. For the collector, poker offers unique opportunities for collecting vintage poker chips, cards and poker books from over the last hundred or so years.
9. And for vacation ideas, poker adds nicely to any destination which has casinos or card rooms.

If poker sounds like something you would like to consider, here is our roadmap that we suggest you follow.
First, come up to speed on the basics of poker. Learn the rules, types of play and players, get comfortable with the poker terms, rules and determine if this interests you.
Next, start to play poker either online or against the computer in free games. This will give you the chance to test out what you’ve learned and give you some practical experience.
As you begin to play, you need to continue your education. There are a number of excellent advanced poker resources to help you to take your poker skills to the next level. Learn, learn, learn, it’s part of the fun and necessary for you to compete, and not lose your money!
Soon, you’ll be ready to test you game against others in casino and tournament poker play. The excitement of sitting down at a table raises the fun to another level. Do your homework first, be prepared, but then the game becomes a blast!
You’ll soon crave the poker action on a regular basis and you’ll find yourself organizing a regular poker game with your friends. For this you’ll need to outfit yourself with the right poker supplies. Depending on your budget, creativity, and available space at your house, the options are endless for how you can setup a poker room to suit your games.
Now, you’ve got your game improving on a regular basis. You’re playing online, in tournaments, and in local games with friends. Finally, you may want to turn back to the history of the game and become a collector of poker memorabilia. Chips, books, cards, and other aspects of poker history may take on a new light of interest for you.
And finally, you may now find your poker vacation schedule looking to include poker tournaments and casino play as part of the fun.
Remember, as with all forms of gambling, poker is only fun when controlled with moderation, so don’t bet the family farm and rely on poker to pay the monthly electric bill!
Somewhere along this path, you’ll hear stories about the guy who won a satellite online poker tournament with $25 buy in. This led to a seat at a major tournament where he placed in the money and is now playing poker for a living.
Yes, that could be you! But, remember that you’ll probably be turning a great fun hobby into a job with its own grind.
Poker is a game of decisions based on incomplete information. At times it is a game based on mathematical odds, pot odds and risk vs reward. At other times its a game of psychological warfare where you must dominate the table and intimidate your opponents with aggressive play. Understanding and mastering the subtleties make this simple card game a lifetime passion for many. Here’s how you can begin to master poker.
Assuming that you’ve mastered the Basics, now its time to switch focus to your opponents. We recommend the following books for taking your game to the next level.
The Theory of Poker – by David Sklansky
Hold’Em Poker for Advanced Players – by David Sklansky
Starting with the David Sklansky books will be time well spent.
The focus of this next phase is in analyzing your opponents and using this information to your advantage. You’ll need to understand when to bluff, semi-bluff, put out feeler bets, slow play, and mix up your style.
You’ll also need to understand the subtle differences of limit vs no limit games, tournament play and how to balance conflicting principles in situations where you have only limited information.
DEFINITION: Wikipedia states that “Poker is a card game, the most popular of a class of games called vying games, in which players with fully or partially concealed cards make wagers into a central pot, after which the pot is awarded to the remaining player or players with the best combination of cards”.
We recommend three great books for those getting started:

• Poker For Dummies –
  A thorough, readable introduction to many facets of poker.
• Fundamentals of Poker – by Mason Malmuth and Lynne Loomis.
  A short but effective introduction to poker.
• Hold’Em Poker – by David Sklansky and Mason Malmuth.
  The first definitive book ever written on the Texas-derived world championship poker game.

Poker Basics

For a roadmap on learning the Basics, we suggest ….when you’ve mastered the Basics:

• Understand the Poker Hand rankings. Gain some confidence by making sure you know these inside and out.
• Understand the basic terms in poker. This will help you to follow the action and speak the same language.
• Learn the basics of betting, when to check, fold and raise. Understand why you should never fold when you can check.
• Learn which hands you should play and which hands you should normally fold. New players will play far too many bad hands, putting them at a disadvantage.
• Understand the significance of table position and why betting last has its advantages.
• Learn what it means to be tight or loose and when to recognize a tight or loose table.
• Learn what it means to be passive or aggressive.
• Understand Outs and Pot Odds and when the statistics are for and against you.
• Focus on you and your cards in the first phase. Don’t worry about reading tells, bluffing and your opponents.
• Master the Poker Basics first before moving to the next level Advanced Poker.

Keep in mind that when you play with play money, there’s little incentive to fold, so bluffing doesn’t work. Instead, work on understanding the Basics of the game.

Poker Hands: Best to Worst

• Royal flush: Ace, King, Queen, Jack, Ten of the same suit
• Straight flush: cards of the same suit in number sequence
• Four of a kind: cards of the same value (e.g. four aces)
• Full house: three cards of one value, two of another (e.g. three aces, two kings)
• Flush: all cards are of the same suit
• Straight: cards are in number sequence, but not of the same suit
• Three of a kind: three cards of the same value
• Two pair: two pairs of cards with the same value (e.g. king, king and ace, ace)
• Pair: two cards with the same value

Poker Vacations

Las Vegas hasn’t lost its luster as the top poker destination. With the emergence of local poker rooms, the spread of Indian Casino gaming and Riverboat gambling, Las Vegas could have lost its edge. Instead, the oasis in the desert continues to remake its skyline with new hotels and attractions and is drawing more visitors than ever. For poker fans, trips to Las Vegas to test your poker skills or just to watch the poker pros in the major tournaments adds to the fun of the hobby. Check out more Vegas fun on Getaway Vacation Ideas.
For those of you who enjoy the high seas with all you can eat buffets, then adding poker may be just the ticket. Try this website, Card Player Cruises, for updated schedules on poker cruises.

Filed Under: Fun and Games, Money Making Hobbies 

Card Games for fun… and profit?!

History of Cards and Card Games

China is often credited with the creation of playing cards and by some as early as the 10th Century. These cards were created to either represent paper dominos or were based on their paper money.
Playing cards then made their way from the Far East through the Middle East, then on to Europe where they became hugely popular in France starting in the late 14th century.
France was responsible for the four suits and mass exporting the cards to England and then to America.
During the 19th century Americans began to create enhancements including the corner indexes and the Joker.
The famous Bicycle brand of playing cards began in 1887 and continues to be a world leader in playing cards.

Major Card Games:
• Black Jack
• Bridge
• Canasta
• Concentration
• Crazy Eights
• Cribbage
• Gin Rummy
• 500 Rummy
• Hearts
• Pinochle
• Poker
• Solitaire
• War

War

Due to its simplicity, War is a card game easily played by children as there is no strategy involved.
A standard deck of 52 cards is used. The deck is divided evenly between the players, face down. Taking turns, each player reveals his top card, and the player with the higher card puts both the cards on the bottom of his deck. If the cards are of equal value, that is known as a “War”. Each player then plays three face-down cards and a fourth card, face up, the higher-valued card wins all the cards on the table. In the case of another tie, the process is repeated until there is no tie.
A player wins when the other player runs out of cards. If a player runs out of cards while dealing the face-down cards of a war, he may play the last card in his deck face-up and still have a chance to stay in the game.
Two decks of cards can be used, occupying children for longer periods of time – a great game for car travel.
Visit this site for variations to the game of War.

Filed Under: Fun and Games

 

Bucket List

What’s in your Bucket?

Some call it a “Bucket List”, a list of things you’d like to accomplish before you “kick the bucket”. A more positive description would be a list of things you’d like to accomplish before you reach a certain birthday. 30? 40? 50? It’s your choice.
We’ve compiled a list of things that you may wish to accomplish at some point in your life. Some of these suggestions may turn into a life-long hobby once you try them out, others may just be something you only wish to accomplish once in your lifetime, just for the satisfaction of doing it. Or, “filling your bucket” one item at a time can, in itself, turn into a life-long hobby. See if any of these suggestions appeal to you. If so, get started! You’ll get a feeling of achievement with each completed task. Sometimes, striving for these goals is the one thing that keeps you going.

• Never flown first class across country? Even if you’re economy-minded, treat yourself at least once in your lifetime. You deserve it!
• Participate in a Marathon.
• Start your own home-based business.
• Initiate a new holiday tradition.
• Each day, do a good deed for someone. See how good it makes you feel.
• Start an exercise plan and stick with it.
• Fly in a hot air balloon.
• Try some spontaneous travel.
• Put a little excitement into your life. Try white water rafting.
• Sleep under the stars.
• Commit yourself to a worthwhile community project.
• Travel to a foreign country.
• Work to become debt free.
• Learn to ice skate. It will give you confidence on the ice as you age.
• Teach your children >survival in the woods and the appreciation of nature.
• Climb a tree.
• Go to the beach at dawn to catch the rising sun.
• Volunteer to help at a soup kitchen during the holidays.
• Step into the world of Magic – Learn at least 6 magic tricks.
• Memorize your favorite poem.
• Visit a different church each week for 1 year.
• Take a Cruise.
• Learn CPR.
• Take Ballroom dance lessons.
• Do something that will leave the earth a better place.
• Write a letter to your Congressman.
• Look up your family tree.
• Take flying lessons.
• Take the “scenic route” whenever possible.
• Brew your own beer.
• Learn the art of self-defense.
• Visit your birth place.
• Greet a new neighbor with a cake as a house-warming gift.
• Parachute out of a plane.
• Learn to play a musical instrument.
• Build a sand castle.
• Take an RV across the country. Visit as many of our beautiful 50 United States as possible.
• Order from the menu without first checking the prices.
• Practice smiling at everyone you see each day.
• Find out how to change a tire in an emergency.
• Fly a kite – the kid in you will love it.
• Ride a roller coaster at least once in your life.
• Learn a foreign language.
• Read your Bible, cover to cover.
• Lose weight – and keep it off.
• Swim with the dolphins.
• Get a massage.
• Go on a Safari.
• Learn to drive a stick shift.
• Write a book.
• Visit a movie studio.
• Break a record.
• Be a contestant on a game show.
• Have “game night” with your family once a week.
• Go whale watching.
• Try rock climbing. It’s a great workout.

Filed Under: Featured Hobbies

Aquariums

Aquariums, whether they are the small tanks in your living room or the massive museum-sized tanks, they are beautiful, immensely colorful, and filled with incredible creatures and sea life.
This section will feature tips on how to get started building your own tank, tips on visiting some of the great aquariums, and finally, hopefully a great photo gallery.

Recommended Aquarium Research Centers:

• The Monterey Bay Aquarium located in Monterey, California is one of our favorite aquariums. Look for Sea Otters, Sharks and the Kelp Forest. Cannary Row offers some great restaurants for lunch. Carmel California is also nearby with a great downtown along with the beautiful golf course drive. (link)
• Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institute in La Jolla, California makes an excellent half day trip. Top feature: the tide pools and sharks. Although trendy La Jolla with its traffic and confusing streets can be a driving nightmare, try to also make it down to the main beach area where you can find a tunnel down caves along the ocean. Accessible via a gift shop, of course. (link)
• The nation’s largest tropical reef aquarium located at the Maui Ocean Center. As if you needed one more reason to visit Hawaii. (link)

Filed Under: Pets

Include a Pet in Your Life

One of the most enjoyable and rewarding hobbies is to open your home and hearts to include a pet as part of your family. With over 296 million people in the US, some reports show over 52 million dogs and 64 million cats are counted among us.
But statistics can only scratch at the surface. We often divide ourselves into groups dog people, cat lovers, and others.
Dogs and cats are part of the family coming with many of the tidings that doting parents bring on their own children. Pet gifts during the holidays are big business with the gift giving reaching extravagant proportions for some animals. Bringing new meaning to “you lucky dog!”
For those who love the outdoors and are in areas of the country that are horse friendly, consider yourself lucky. Horse fans realize why in the Old West they shot people for horse stealing.
For a somewhat different approach, aquariums offer surreal beauty with fish of magnificent colors, sizes and shapes. Underwater scenes are out of this world and are an easier way to step into the responsibility of owning pets, especially for children.
Taking on an animal as a pet is a huge responsibility, sometimes at significant cost. Don’t take it lightly and do your research. Consider the Animal Rescue and local animal shelters to help you in adopting a pet.
Even if you don’t want to own a pet, you can enjoy animals through trips to zoos, animal photography and appreciating and supporting nature. Also, collecting stuffed animals and animal figurines are favorite hobbies.
We are stewards of the land and are responsible for not only our own actions but for the survival of all animals and the state of nature.
Choosing to include an animal in your life is an excellent way to enhance your life’s enjoyment and to support our (sometimes furry) friends who are looking for a good home and loving family.
When considering a new best friend for your life, you’ll quickly think of pet stores. But please consider various animal rescue services to help find a home for an animal in need. Also, many of these organizations are asking for your support. So please consider these worthy causes. And, don’t forget to search for local animal shelters.

Animal Rescue Resources:

• The Animal Rescue Site
• PetFinder.org
• The Ark R.A.I.N. Foundation. Exotic Animal Rescue.

Hot Weather Animal Care

Don’t forget “Man’s Best Friend” during the hot, humid summer days. A few common sense precautions can mean the difference between life or death for your beloved pet.

• Animals, like humans, need to be protected from sunburn. Shaved, sensitive areas should be protected by either a specially prepared animal sunscreen or by using a baby sunscreen. Be sure to protect the tips of the ears, top of the nose, and anywhere the fur is thin. Check the ingredients in any sunscreen you use on your pet as certain ingredients can be toxic if ingested. If in doubt about any ingredient, check with your veterinarian.
• The sun is at its hottest between noon and 4 pm and people are advised to be extra careful during these hours. The same holds true for animals. Walk your dog in the early morning or early evening hours. Cooler temperatures during these hours will provide cooler pavements and help prevent footpads from blistering from the hot pavement. Also, it’s a good idea to slow your pace in extreme heat so your animal doesn’t overheat.
• Always have fresh water available for your pet. Do not let them drink ice water as it can shock their system. Water should be cool and clean. Never let them drink from puddles.
• Never leave pets in parked cars. Temperatures can rise to 120 degrees within minutes, even in the shade, and heat stroke may occur.
• Fertilizers and insecticides can be fatal to an animal if ingested. Be extra cautious with your pet during lawn care seasons.
• Be sensitive to your dog’s reaction in the summer to heat, large crowds, and noises (fireworks etc.). If the animal seems stressed out at a summer concert or fair, it’s better to leave the pet home in a familiar environment.
• Always be sure to have a collar and identification tags on your pet.

Filed Under: Pets

Remote Controlled Toys

The toy industry has come a long, long way in regards to remote controlled vehicles. Speed, reliability and style are all way up. Your airplanes can now reach cruising speed and top altitude. Your submarines can dive to the pool’s depths and your monster trucks won’t get stuck in the kids’ sandbox.
Whether these toys are for your kid or the kid in you, you can build a nice collection of radio controlled models that look great on the shelf and are a ton of fun at the park. For the airplanes, sorry, no indoor flying, a large park is required for enough room for flying.
Prices range from as low as $5 for some of the radio controlled cars and easily up to $200 for the airplanes. Durability becomes an issue with the airplanes since they pick up speed quickly and crash landings are the norm at the beginning until you get the hang of it.
Planes are incredible and require the most skill to operate. Boats and subs tend to have the most problems due to the stress of operating in water. R/C Cars are a great value for the dollar and can be the most reliable.
If you are planning on operating two r/c models at the same time, make sure the models are working on different frequencies to avoid radio control conflicts.
Visit our October Hobby Ideas page for information on the International iHobby Expo.

Filed Under: Fun and Games, Hobbies for Men Tagged With: Toys

 

Train Ride Trips for Fun!

ALL ABOARD!!!

I think you’ll find most children who love model trains will also be captivated by “the real thing”. A train ride can be a fun and exciting adventure for young and old alike.
Many years ago I recall taking my three children on a train ride and experiencing a “holdup” by a group of masked, gun-toting cowboys. As the four men rode up on their horses, the train slowed down as they entered and proceeded to confiscate play money from the passengers.
The adults, of course, knew this was part of the planned entertainment, but the younger children, who were surprised by all this, had a peek at what the old west was like and thoroughly enjoyed the excitement.
In today’s society with all the fear of guns and shootings, it might not be a good idea to surprise a child with a trip like this. However, back in the 70’s a re-creation of the wild west life was easily accepted as good-natured fun. And it still can be with all the theme parks now depicting frontier life in a fun and enjoyable manner.
Depending on your location, you might want to check out a few of the sites listed below:
Grand Canyon Train Tour: Enjoy 2 hours and 15 minutes of beautiful scenery, gunfighters, fiddlers, and guitarists on the train, plus 3 hours of site-seeing at the Grand Canyon.
Another Grand Canyon old west train ride. Watch out for the desperadoes targeting the train to the Grand Canyon. But, don’t worry, you’ll arrive safe and sound.

Filed Under: History Buffs, Outdoor Hobbies Tagged With: Trains

 

Legos… Bring Out the Kid in You!

You remember, Legos are small plastic blocks that fit together to create things. They also strengthen our imagination. More importantly, we get to make cool stuff out of Legos, like Lego mansions for the Lego people, or an awesome amusement park. Legos allow you to build just about anything, even the White House or the Grand Central Station!
Bring the kids to Lego Imagination Center in Downtown Disney Marketplace, Lake Buena Vista, Fl. where they’ll enjoy a 3,000 square foot area loaded with bins and bins of Legos to build anything and everything the imagination could possibly conceive. There’s a demonstration area, hands on events, building contests, as well as professionally constructed motion activated scenes. Visit the Imagination Center’s website for calendar of events, newsletter, map and directions, information on birthday parties. Call for hours 407-828-0065.
Another fantastic place to visit with the kids is The Mall of America in Minneapolis, with four stories of Legos and over 90 full-size models including dinosaurs, astronauts, a giant blimp with over 135,000 bricks. Building demonstrations and competitions weekly. Call store for more information. 952-858-8949.
Read about the BrickFair Lego Fan Festival on our August Hobby Ideas page.
Visit the Official Lego web site.

Filed Under: Fun and Games

 

 

Children Love Model Trains

Model Railroading continues generation after generation in part to the all-consuming love affair children have with trains. Young children have an incredible obsession for trains and this passion has predictable stages.
Children usually begin with Thomas the Tank Engine toys and the Thomas television show. Also, during this very early stage, children will love watching real life trains on television. Train videos have a soothing and mesmerizing effect that some kids will absolutely love and can be a godsend to parents.
Next, is the Brio Train Set era which enables children as young as four years old to build some impressive train layouts. My children have spent a huge amount of time over the years playing with Brio. By far its the best toy set we’ve ever bought for them. My kids are in the pre-teen years now where the Playstation dominates their life. Yet still there will be days where they choose to unplug and retreat back to their Brio set for some quiet layout building.
As they enter the pre-teen age, trains and train layouts are replaced by the excitement and danger of speed with the roller coaster. Knex Building Sets offer some great roller coaster models which easily get 4 to 5 feet long and 4 feet high. The roller coaster phase also spills over to watching videos and television specials about coasters. My son was an avid coaster fan at age nine and could name all the top coasters across the U.S. and at which theme parks. Too young and too timid to go on these, thankfully, he still loved watching these super trains.
It’s this early love affair with trains that sets the stage for them to become life long Model Railroad fans. And even if they don’t, they’ll still appreciate it when we bring out the train tracks once a year for our Christmas tree decorations.
Visit our October Hobby Ideas page for information on the International iHobby Expo.

Filed Under: Fun and Games Tagged With: Trains

Haunted Houses and Hotels

HAUNTED HOUSES…NOT JUST FOR HALLOWEEN

If you’re interested in the paranormal and love the excitement of Haunted Houses and Hotels, then you know they aren’t just popular in October when Halloween rolls around. It can be a year-round hobby wherever you live.
Who doesn’t get a chill down their back when presented with a true story and the possibility of ghoulish ghosts haunting the grounds.
When traveling, many cities offer Haunted Ghost Tours, either walking or riding. And, don’t forget, ghosts aren’t only found in houses and hotels. Ghost Towns, cemeteries, brothels, taverns, and old-time gambling establishments are also popular places for ghost hunting. There also are fascinating stories aboard Ghost Ships such as The Queen Mary in Long Beach, CA. Come aboard for paranormal tours, dinner, dancing, and an overnight stay in one of their 365 state rooms. See more on this popular Ghost Ship on Haunted Vacation Ideas.
Get started by checking out your own area. To find Haunted Houses close to home, check out Haunted Houses. Just click on your state on the map for some nearby suggestions.
Another site you may want to check out is Haunted America Tours for their choice of the top 10 Haunted Tours in the U.S.
HAPPY HUNTING!

Filed Under: Seasonal Hobbies Tagged With: Ghosts

The Sky’s the Limit with Hot Air Ballooning

There’s nothing like the view from a hot air balloon. If you haven’t been on a balloon ride before, don’t consider them just for the tourists that visit Arizona. The whole experience is less about where you are and more about the actual experience of being high in the sky without anything around you. It’s as close as most of us will ever get to actually flying like the birds. Bring your camera because hot air balloons make great pictures.
A simple call to Hot Air Expeditions in Phoenix booked me on a spring afternoon flight. We’d had a lot of rain, but I hoped for a break and got one with the skies blue and pollution zero. A few clouds hovered in the distance but not enough to scare anyone off.
We met in the parking lot of the Deer Valley Airport in North Phoenix off of I-17. It’s an easy spot to gather, and watching the planes take off and land, it gets you in the mood for being aloft. Three vans leave full of passengers, some bringing tourists from Scottsdale resorts, and others waiting for us locals that want to see what our house looks like from a mile up. We are quite a crowd, with couples from all over the United States and Canada, a family with a young teenager up for some adventure, and a couple from Fountain Hills. We’ll be flying in 3 balloons – the baskets differ in size depending upon the number of guests they’ll have that day, but the average size fits about 12 people. Though it seems like a dozen is a bit of a crowd, once you’re aloft, there is plenty of room to get a view of the world without someone else in the way.
One van takes off first and the others follow, keeping in touch by radio. We head to an empty field south of Carefree Highway and East of I-17. This area was once a prime take off area, but the housing development is quickly making the area impossible for balloons. They send up a helium balloon to test wind speed and direction, and decide that the site isn’t quite right. Ideal is wind speeds under 8 M.P.H. – too windy and inflation gets difficult and landings a little tricky. Apparently, something’s not quite right here, so we all head out for the empty land south of Carefree Highway and West of I-17.
There’s much more free space here. In fact, we drive for 10 minutes on a muddy, rutted road that had passengers joking about getting a jeep tour as well as a balloon ride. But the result is worth the bumpy ride, as the vans stop in a serene, quiet area that seems far from development.
We sign something that says we know that ballooning is potentially a hazardous activity. Meanwhile, the crew jumps out to set up and inflate the balloons, and what results is one of the most beautiful sights of the day: Three giant swaths of color slowly filling with air, covering the ground and the sky. Like lumbering giants, the balloons slowly fill, aided by giant fans pushing air into enclosure. The heavy wicker baskets connected to the balloon start on their sides, but sway upright as the balloon is fully inflated. I’m lucky enough to climb inside one as it makes that journey, carried by the buoyancy of the balloon.
The rest of the passengers climb inside, and it’s not long before we’re in the air. The pilot of our balloon is an experienced balloonist, Captain Mike. He’s dressed in a white captain’s shirt, imparting a vague feeling that we’re about to depart on “The Love Boat.” He reminds the passengers several times that we are not to get out of the balloon until he tells us so. Apparently, there is more than one story about passengers that have climbed out of a balloon as it reaches the ground but before it is tethered, and, according to the laws of Physics, a balloon one person lighter will just take off again, leaving that lone person wondering where his fellow passengers are going. We chuckle, but take his advice seriously.
The air starts to cool as the balloon quickly climbs to about a mile above ground. The view is awesome, and the world is quiet except for the occasional roar of the propane pushing heat into the balloon. Tourists admire the landscape and the nearby mountains, while I look for my house in Anthem. Lake Pleasant is off in the distance, and we can see (and hear) Ben Avery Shooting Range a little closer. Black mountain in Cave Creek is clear as well. The desert is green, a condition that we all know is quite unusual because of the plentiful winter rains. He instructs everyone to look for wildlife, but frankly, there is none to be seen. Perhaps the morning flights may be better for wildlife viewing.
Wind currents differ at different altitudes, and Captain Mike drops something (I’m not sure what and not sure I want to ask) and watches it fall to the ground. He’s looking for the altitude where the wind is going in the direction he wants to go. Today, the wind isn’t doing much of anything, but that doesn’t really spoil the adventure, because there is plenty to see for miles in every direction. Every few minutes, Captain Mike pulls some rope that turns the basket around so every passenger has a different view. Just about at our altitude, a propeller stunt plane flies by and does a few acrobatic stunts, for our benefit perhaps?
After about an hour, we land, and the crew on the ground moves in with their truck to help. They set up a portable picnic table with appetizers and champagne, which, throughout hot air balloon history has been served after a balloon flight. While we get to know each other, the crew deflates and folds the balloon. There’s an incredible amount of logistics behind managing people and the balloons. After seeing the attention and experience the crew takes to every detail of the adventure, I can see why the whole 4 hour event costs over a hundred dollars. By the time the champagne bottle is finished and the balloon is packed back in the truck, the sun gave us a final show, setting behind the mountains.
I’ve never been up in a balloon before this adventure, and now have to say that it should be one of those things everyone should put on his list of “things to do before I die.” Do you take a balloon adventure here, or some other place? I’m thinking a balloon expedition in the south of France would be cool, but just in case I never go, perhaps just down the street from where I live is the best place of all. It won’t be long before these balloons will no longer be seen from our back yard. Development is eating up all the open space and the balloon companies will have to move on in a few years. But for now, we have a unique opportunity to get a true “bird’s eye view” of where we live.

 

Gardening

Gardening  can be fun for people of all ages. And the therapeutic value is priceless. Here are some of the benefits of gardening you will obtain.

• Gardening, even a light to moderate degree, increases flexibility and mobility by strengthening muscle and bone, thus warding off osteoporosis.
• Being one with Nature helps relieve stress, lowering blood pressure.
• Fresh air and exercise help to eliminate sleep problems.
• You’ll be getting your daily dose of Vitamin D the natural way, from the sunshine.
• Those suffering from diabetes will benefit from the garden as they eat more fresh fruits and vegetables that they lovingly grew from seed. And, if you don’t have diabetes, you also will benefit from eating healthier.
• Expect to lose some unwanted pounds as you burn calories.
• No more need to worry about pesticides. Grow your own organic herbs, fruits, and vegetables without having to pay extra at the supermarket for this luxury.
• Think of the money you’ll save by not having to hire a gardener.
• Creating, planning, researching information to produce a garden keeps the mind active, staving off Alzheimer’s, and the beauty of your finished product produces a sense of accomplishment.

Start ‘em young!

Teach your children to appreciate the wonderful magic of Mother Nature, while learning the importance of eating fruits and vegetables for a healthy lifestyle. Kids are more likely to eat fruits and vegetables if they’ve grown them from scratch. Using your location as a guideline, give them a choice in what they want to grow. As they tend their garden, they’ll take on a responsibility that will follow them throughout their lifetime. Fun, fresh air, and a great learning experience – what more can you ask for in a hobby.
Kids Gardening is a helpful website to start your children off on the right track with imaginative ideas to hold their interest such as garbage-can gardening, fun classroom projects, tips on what’s of interest to the younger set, and going green to preserve our environment.

See what Better Homes and Gardens has to say about getting started. Just follow their easy 10 step plan to a beautiful garden.
For those of you who prefer gardens of beautiful flowers, trees, and shrubs (instead of fruits, vegetables, and herbs), take some pointers from magnificent presentations of Gardens across the country such as the Atlanta Botanical Gardens, Virginia’s Historic Garden Week, and Elk Rock Gardens in Portland, OR. Find information on these impressive Gardens on April Vacation Ideas.
Read about Virginia’s Historic Garden Week.

Filed Under: Outdoor Hobbies Tagged With: Gardens

 

Springtime Floral Shows

This year, more than ever, due to the hard winter weather we’ve all experienced, people are anticipating spring all across the country. And, of course, our thoughts turn to the popular floral shows featured throughout the country. Whether it’s rare and exotic flowers and plants, seasonal cherry blossoms, or rolling gardens, many find peace and contentment meditating in these tranquil surroundings. To jump start your spring, you might also want to:

• Check your local newspapers for gardening lectures at your library and schools
• Visit your local gardening center and farmer’s markets
• Join a local gardening club to share ideas with people who have similar interests

See our March and April Hobby Ideas for Floral Shows across the country.

Filed Under: Hobbies for Women, Outdoor Hobbies Tagged With: Gardens

Apple Picking

Want to bring the family together in a fun activity? Get some exercise and plenty of sunshine? Well, how about apple picking? Generally speaking, and depending on the area where you live, apples are in season from August through November. Check your local orchard for exact dates. Just think – homemade apple pie, apple sauce, apple butter, fritters, candied and caramel apples – all luscious treats to bring back memories of days gone by with Grandma in the kitchen.
And today, Apple Orchards offer more than just apples. Petting zoos can be a side attraction to draw in the young. Country stores are also popular at the orchards and bring a cozy feeling, usually with mouth-watering aromas of home baked breads, pies, jams, jelly, honey, apple cider, and crafts and souvenirs of the area. Many of the farms will be selling flowers, plants, and trees. In many instances, there’s a restaurant or food court to accommodate your family’s needs as well as a play area for the children.
Going later in the season (October or November) also focuses attention on two of the most popular holidays around the country – Halloween and Thanksgiving, with decorations to suit the season. Plan on picking up your seasonal decorations right from the farm. Choose from pumpkins, gourds, colorful centerpieces for your table, stalks of dried corn for your door, scarecrows for the front lawn. If possible, find an orchard with a hayride or tractor rides. This always adds to the enjoyment of the day for the whole family. And, remember, call first to check on days and hours of operation before making a long trip. After an enjoyable experience, you’ll find you want to return again and again at any age.
Visit Getaway Vacation Ideas for great family fun at The Apple Harvest Festival in Gettysburg,PA.

Filed Under: Food and Drink, Outdoor Hobbies Tagged With: Apples

 

Bike Tours

What better way to experience the beauty of our great country than on a bicycle. Ride alone or with family and friends on short trips or, with a little planning, you can have a fun-filled vacation, travel the countryside, and come away with some amazing memories.
Whether you plan your biking trip in the Autumn, when the fall foliage is at its best, or early Spring, as Mother Nature brings back to life all the beautiful colors we missed during the long, cold Winter, or maybe you prefer Summer adventures near the water. Whatever your choice, you’re sure to find something on goSojourn that will interest you. Biking Tours around the country throughout the year are their specialty.

Our Top Five Choices For Bike-friendly Cities:

• Austin, TX – Try the Lady Bird Lake with its 10 mile bike trail on the waterfront.
• Portland, OR – Read about Portland’s Providence Bridge Pedal when the bridges over the Willamette River are closed to cars for 20,000 bicyclists. Or, try Forest Park, Portland’s largest park, a favorite for bike riders.
• New York City – Read about New York City’s Five Boro Bike Tour in May. Or, check out Central Park and Prospect Park for bike races.
• San Francisco, CA – Enjoy the incredible Bay area views.
• San Diego, CA – a bicyclist’s paradise.

Some Basic Bicycling Safety Tips:

• Always inspect your bicycle before a ride to be sure it is in good working condition, particularly the brakes and tires.
• Wear a properly fitting helmet to protect against head injuries.
• Wear bright colors and reflective markings to be highly visible in all kinds of weather.
• Obey all rules of the road, signs, and signals to avoid accidents.
• Stay alert at all times.

Filed Under: Outdoor Hobbies Tagged With: Bicycles

Last Minute Travel

Everyone needs a break from their daily routine. Are you planning a fabulous vacation next year? Saving for that once in a lifetime trip? Sounds great, but a quick weekend getaway can be just as exciting and refreshing as that long anticipated trip you had planned. A weekend adventure may be just what you need. Last minute getaways stave off boredom, and, with careful planning, you can find a lot to do in any given location. So much so that you may want to return time and time again. As a matter of fact, many people, after enjoying these mini vacations at a particular location year after year, choose to make it their permanent home or look to purchase a vacation home if it meets all their lifestyle requirements.
Do you like the beach and swimming? How about historical towns? Is skiing an important part of your life? Are you interested in family-oriented activities? Whether it’s Theme or Water Parks, Music Festivals, or Golf excursions, you’ll find plenty of places across the country just right for you. Many people enjoy simple things like Farmer’s Markets, antique shopping and flea markets, which all can fit in a weekend getaway, while giving you a closer look at the local culture.
Try some of these great places for a last minute getaway. Don’t over-extend yourself. Just try a few activities at a time with the thought of going back, giving you the opportunity to discover new and different things to do on your future trips.
Nevada/California’s magnificent Lake Tahoe – beautiful anytime of the year, with great skiing and winter sports during the long, cold winter months. Hiking, swimming, fishing, year round festivals, marathons, fabulous restaurants, and breath-taking views to see around the Lake.
So much to see and do in San Francisco, you’ll never tire of returning. Fisherman’s Wharf, Muir Woods, and the San Francisco Zoo will get you started.
How about Atlanta? The New World of Coca Cola, Turner Field, and the Underground Atlanta Historic District offer some interesting choices.
The above ideas are just a sampling. For more great ideas across the country, visit Get Away Vacation Ideas.

Filed Under: Outdoor Hobbies Tagged With: Travel

 

 

Stop Whining … and start Wine-ing

With Wineries in every one of our 50 states, what better place to learn all about wine than to visit them during your travels. Take the tours, see how the wine is made and sample fine wines in the tasting room. Talk to the Winemaker. You’ll find your host is usually most enthusiastic about his wines. It’s a common fact that many wineries have started out small, as a hobby. Many of the smaller wineries are family-owned and operated, thus giving them a stronger interest in their products.
If you’re interested in a guided tour through the very popular Napa Valley in California, take the Wine Train, a three hour, 36 mile train ride between Napa and St. Helena, about an hour north of San Francisco. Enjoy the view as you pass dozens of wineries and vineyards. Gourmet dining on board or excursions and wine tasting at the many local wineries. For reservations, call (800) 427-4124.
Check out NapaValley.Com to help you decide which wineries you might want to visit as well as recommended lodging, and dining.
If you’re interested in amateur winemaking, a helpful site would be Let’s Do Wine for wine making kits, equipment, accessories, and wine making information. Also, don’t forget to look into wine tasting courses and home winemaking seminars. Winemaker Magazine also offers up-to-date information on winemaking, wine competition, stories, and tips for the beginner.
Are you ready for a Wine Cellar? Check out Wine Cellar Secrets. How to build the ideal Wine Cellar to store your wine in optimum condition.

Filed Under: Food and Drink Tagged With: Wine

Volunteering As A Hobby

Have you ever considered helping others as a hobby?

They say in order to help yourself, you should do something to help others.
But sometimes you don’t want to commit to a long-term obligation. Your excuses may range from not having extra money to donate, not enough time in your busy life, what with family, jobs, and travel. In some cases illness or age may be holding you from committing to long-term projects. There are, however, many ways to give back to your community on your own terms, as little or as much, when you are available. Here are a few suggestions. Start slowly with these and before you know it, you’ll find yourself doing more and more and loving it.

• Go to a local hospital and read to the elderly. Distribute books, newspapers, and magazines.
• Work a few hours in a Food Pantry.
• Tutor a child.
• Bring your pet to visit at a Nursing Home.
• Donate blood.
• Help host a meal for the homeless.
• Knit or crochet for charities. There’s always a need for warm blankets, hats and gloves.
• Love kids? Be a scout leader, Sunday School teacher, or coach. Don’t want to make a full commitment? Volunteer to be an Assistant, filling in only when needed.
• Shop for a homebound neighbor.
• Save can labels and coupons for local schools trying to purchase school equipment. Every little bit counts and it‘s an easy way to “give” without feeling the pinch.
• Make a weekly phone call to check on a sick or elderly neighbor.
• Bake a cake for a local Bake Sale.

Still not sure how you can help? Try volunteermatch.org, a non-profit organization that matches people with opportunities in their area. Just enter your zip code and find out who needs a helping hand.

Did you Know?

The 4th Saturday in October is Make a Difference Day, a national day of helping others.

Filed Under: Featured Hobbies Tagged With: Volunteer

 

Relaxation Therapy

In this stress-filled world we live in, let’s face it, we all can benefit from Relaxation Therapy.
And, of course, Find Me A Hobby is here to help you find a hobby that can help you relax and get more out of life. And, if you’re looking for some ideas strictly for stress reduction and relaxation, here are some therapeutic ideas.

• Aromatherapy – very relaxing and can help alleviate discomforts from sickness while boosting the immune system.
• Meditation – to achieve a deeper state of relaxation, 10 to 15 minutes a day of quiet time can carry you through the most stressful of days.
• Exercise – as we all know, daily exercise is a must for our health and well being. See our page on Walking to get you started.
• Hypnotherapy
• Yoga
• Laughter Yoga – Laugh your way to a better state of mind.
• Music Therapy to promote wellness – quiet nature sounds, soothing waterfalls.
• Massage Therapy to rejuvenate the mind and body. Visit your local spa on a regular basis.
• Reiki – Laying on Hands.
• Breathing Therapy – just 15 minutes of deep breathing can restore your energy level to carry you through the day.
• Progressive Muscle Relaxation – tensing and releasing muscles throughout your body. This is highly recommended for fibromyalgia patients.
• Guided Imagery through Visualization. Have a favorite vacation spot? Picture yourself there, sitting on the beach, listening to the waves hitting the shore as you soak up the warm sunshine. Listen to your breathing.
• Curl up with a good book to take you away from the stress around you. Whether it’s an inspirational book, a good mystery or romance novel, it can serve as a necessary escape from everyday problems that plague you.
• Water Therapy. Soak in a hot tub. Use a little Epsom Salts to relieve muscle pain. Light a few scented candles. Create a home spa atmosphere as your personal getaway.
• Help a needy person – doing any kind of volunteer work helps you forget about your own problems, making you more appreciative of your own circumstances.
• Sing. Break out in song, sing in the shower, with the radio while you’re driving to work, or have a family sing-a-long. You’ll feel great.
• Holidays get you stressed out? Sit back and relax with a soothing cup of herbal tea.

Filed Under: Healthy Hobbies Tagged With: relax