Announcing the Winners of our Inaugural My Favorite Summer Vacation Contest!

Members of wanderingeducators.com participated in the contest by publishing an article (300-1,000 words) on the theme, "My favorite summer vacation." At the end of the entry period, all articles were reviewed by a panel of judges. Winners were chosen according to the best interpretation of the contest theme.

We would like to announce the three winners of the 2008 My Favorite Summer Vacation Essay Contest, and thank everyone for participating!

Grand Prize Winner - Embug2000, for her entry, My Favorite Summer Vacation: Taking Europe by Storm!

The author relates a trip to Europe - and shares her powerful experiences.

"There are no adjectives in the English language to accurately describe my adventure. Just as there are no words to express what my adventure taught me about myself. I only hope that someday, everyone has the chance to experience the awe-inspiring world of travel and share their experience with everyone they know. I came back from that trip changed, changed for the better. I have a better sense of who I am and what my life purpose is. I have shared these stories with my friends, family and my students. Most think I am crazy, but some are inspired. Most inspired are my students. My students, who live in the self-centered teenage world, now ask when I will take them on their favorite summer vacation ever."

http://www.wanderingeducators.com/contests/my-favorite-summer-vacation-contest/my-favorite-summer-vacation-taking-europe-storm.html

Second Plance Winner - nonameharbor, for her entry, My Favorite Summer Vacation...

The author shares a family celebration in north central West Virginia - foodies, all of them! She even includes a recipe.

"Let me begin by saying ours is a family of foodies. Celebration = Food! So the daughters strut their stuff for Dad's birthday celebration weekend: char-grilled salmon with pastrami rub, cucumber cream mold, coconut jasmine rice, Passover brisket, summer's garden bounty. Did I mention fresh peach cobbler. And touches from the outside world: Carmelized tea, a merlot named French Rabbit, pomagranite water, a rare flower tea. Around the campfire, smores, marshmellows falling off hotdog sticks, campfire pies, simple pleasures."

http://www.wanderingeducators.com/accommodations/short-term/my-favorite-summer-vacation.html

Third Place Winner - kimlarge, for her entry, My Favorite Summer Vacation: Nica y Costa '08!

The author shares a 10-day trip from Nicaragua to Costa Rica.

"We started our trip by flying into Managua, Nicaragua. We stayed there for one night before moving on to Granada: the oldest city on the continent! It didn't disappoint. The buildings were fabulous and the city was beautiful. Having beento Panama and Costa Rica before I knew what to expect, but I had never seen such a colorful city before!"

http://www.wanderingeducators.com/contests/my-favorite-summer-vacation-contest/my-favorite-summer-vacation-nica-y-costa-08.html

The Prizes??

One (1) Grand Prize Winner to receive a year's
subscriptions to the following magazines:

International Living Magazine
National Geographic Adventure
Conde Nast Traveler
Caribbean Travel and Life
Islands Magazine
National Geographic Traveler
Sherman's Travel
Outside Magazine

Second place will consist of 3 subscriptions from the Grand Prize winner's list, winner's choice.

Third place will consist of 1 subscription to a magazine from the Grand Prize list, winner's choice.

Quantity, Prize, Approximate Retail Value (ARV):
(1) Grand Prize: $340.00
(2) Second and Third Prizes: $30.00 - $70.00

Substitutions may be made at the publisher's discretion.

Congratulations to our winners! and...keep traveling! Look for announcements for this year's contest mid-summer, 2009.