Plan The Ultimate Black Family Vacation With Soulofamerica.com
SoulOfAmerica.com offers a wealth of information on the places to go and things to see for families wanting a soulful summer vacation. The site lists more than a dozen special-interest categories that provide travel-planning details ranging from information on upcoming summer festivals to which cities have museums devoted to African-American history and culture. Vacation planning information can be accessed at the Family Travel channel (http://www.soulofamerica.com/travel/family_travel.html) on the SoulOfAmerica.com homepage. Want to find Black-oriented festivals and street fairs? Interested in taking heritage tours to visit sites significant to Black history? Looking for Black restaurants and places to worship in the city you've already chosen for vacation? SoulOfAmerica.com is a one-stop resource for these and many other travel considerations for African-American families. Special emphasis is given to traveling with little ones.

"Our information was compiled by travel experts who also happen to be parents," said Thomas Dorsey, CEO and Founder of SoulOfAmerica.com. "Consequently, we can provide general vacation planning guidelines and the more specific information for Moms and Dads looking to maximize family fun with as little stress as possible." For example, SoulofAmerica.com provides links to guidelines for "Flying with Kids" and information on children's programs aboard major cruise lines.    "Black-owned and travel publishing since 1994, SoulOfAmerica.com is the first, only comprehensive, most quoted and highest traffic Black Travel Website (http://www.soulofamerica.com/corpfldr/company.html).

Travelling to the USA
When you are planning your trip to the USA make sure you have all the correct details of the baggage allowance, these have recently been changed and are smaller than they were. If you intend to do lots of shopping some airlines allow you to book extra bags online when you check in and this is usually cheaper than doing it at the airport when you arrive to check in to return home once you have found that you have bags that are way over the allowance after all that shopping ! Before you travel to the USA now you must complete an Esta form. These can be completed online and are very easy to complete - once you have done this you will be given an ESTA number and be able to print off the completed form. These originally were meant to replace the old green Visa waiver forms but at the moment they are still being used as well as the new Esta forms. You need your passport number and also the address of where you will be staying in Florida at hand when you complete the form. These are valid f...
A preview of The Harry Potter park.
As I write there has been no date fixed for the opening of the new Harry Potter park, but all signs are pointing to spring 2010. This long awaited park stand in the grounds of the Universal Islands of Adventure and has been styled by the artists and directors of the Harry Potter films. These include Alan Gilmore and Stuart Craig. J P Rowling has been consulted all along the way with the organisers making trips to London to speak with her. In the 2007 licencing agreement Universal were granted the privelege of using footage from The Order of the Phoenix and High Blood Prince. Although this has not been confirmed it seems likely that this footage will be used in some way in the park. So here is a little insight in what you might expect. The Forbidden Journey is a collection of scenes and sets that you access through Hogsmeade. As you enter listen for the steam and whistle. Above you is a turretted building that appears to be 700 foot high. And it is here that you will find a Dr...
Ice at Gaylord Palms
Every Christmas time for the last few years there has been a spectacular event held at Gaylord Palms, called Ice. This features spectacular ice sculptures and lasts around 7 weeks; this year (2010) it runs from november to after Christmas. Gaylord Palms select Chinese artisans to create their displays. These artists are drawn from the participants in the International Ice and Snow Festival which takes place in China every year. In all they use a staggering 2 million pounds of ice to create the displays which are kept at a chilly 9 degrees farenheit. 3 kinds of ice are needed to make the sculptures. White ice has the appearance of compacted snow and this effect is created by freezing the water very quickly which lends an opaque appearance to the ice. Crystal Ice is made from de ionised water that has been multi filtered. Each 400 pound ice block uses 45 gallons of water and takes 72 hours to freeze. Coloured Ice is made by simply adding a bright colourant that makes a nice c...
Sanford Museum
Sanford Museum is located in East St Ist opposite Fort Mellon Park and is dedicated to Henry Shelton Sanford. Henry was a diplomat, lawyer and businessman whose importance in the Victorian era can not be over played. He was born in Connecticut and after qualifying as a lawyer took several diplomatic posts in Russia, Germany and Belgium. He also was a delegate at many important conferences dealing with such diverse subjects as expeditions, anti slavery and geographical events. His first venture in Florida was to buy an orange grove in St Augustine (this was after the Civil War) there after he invested part of his fortune in various business ventures in Florida with little return. It is thought that he spread his business interests too wide for success. His wife (though disaffected by their Florida experience) acceeded to his request to donate his papers to the museum. Also bequethed were various works of 19th century decorative art. The papers owned by the museum number a stag...
Kissimmee Air Museum.
If you are at all interested in aviation then put Kissimmee Air Museum on your ' to do' list and you can look forward to a treat on your next visit. This museum will not be too far from any villa that you are staying in. Here you can take control of a World War 2 air plane while sitting in the front cockpit. Rather surprisingly, there is no experience required to do this. Here is an idea; if your Florida visit is still in the planning stages, why not surprise your partner by booking a flight for him as an awesome birthday or Christmas gift? He would not forget that one! They also put on various displays and have an interesting array of exhibits and of course you are surrounded by people who are passionate about aviation and will happily answer your questions. Among the aircraft that are still flying are a North A SNJ6, Ryan P T -22, a Fokke Wolf 190A3 and a Boeing Stearman P. /T M. On display but not flying are a Mig 17 f Fresco, a Focke Wolf 19 oa 3 and a Boeing Stearman P T...
The Wells Built Museum.
The Wells Built Museum is in honour of Dr William Monroe Wells. William was a black doctor in the times of strict segregation who did much to improve the lot of the down trodden black American of those times. In those times no white doctor would ever treat a black person. He moved to the area after qualifying in 1917 at which time he was 28 and built a home here in 1921. THe good doctor served the entire area of Orlando and it is recorded that he delivered 5000 babies. Many of his patients were too poor to pay him anything but he treated them anyway. Shamefully the black people were not allowed to use any of the facilities that were reserved for whites and these included police protection, leisure facilities and good schools. This is despite the fact that they paid their taxes like everyone else. DR Wells resolved to solve at least one part of this and in 1928 he completed the building of a hotel for the black people. Shortly after he had a casino next door constructed which bo...

We provide extensive research information and photographs covering U.S. Cities, Caribbean islands, Family Travel, Cruises, Spas, Holiday Travel, Black History Month and International Destinations. Black travel experts are also available for interviews."Media Contact:             Thomas Dorsey, 310-214-8554.