I had visited Prague in 1991 and been sent to fill an empty jug with beer from the best brewery in Prague. 

I stumbled through the streets, found the clock that hangs over the door, and filled the jug.  I enjoyed some of the best beer I had ever tasted. 

This trip, I was hoping to take my children to the same place if it still existed.

Memorial Day Weekend starts the begining of summer - and all the attendant travel plans! Our own national parks are becoming more and more popular for travelers looking for lower costs and higher values - and all that natural beauty! How do you avoid the big crowds on holiday weekends?

What Do You Know About America’s National Parks?

They Are Our Greatest Natural Treasures

What is a petrified forest? They look like trees, but when you touch them they're cold. Transformed by minerals in sediment, volcanic ash, and groundwater, the trees have become fossilized. No longer wood, these trees tell the story of the climate and ecosystem millions of years ago.

You've got a lot of stuff, you're tense, you're tired, you're waiting for a plane, and you have a 4 year old (or a 6 yr old or a 9 yr old - they're all restless at the airport).  Maybe you have one hour to relax before the first flight or, perhaps, you have 4 hours to enjoy on a layover.  Yes!  "relax" and "enjoy".