Include Art Festivals in your Travels

Got a shovel, a rusted rake and screw drivers you don't know what to do with? Fred Jacobs of Lima Ohio (41-222-3659) uses his creative mojo to make something fun, interesting and useable. This is re-purposed, re-cycled, clever and a favorite item I recently saw at Upper Arlington Labor Neighbor Day and Arts Festival. I got his business card and had his permission to photograph his work. Assumed his business card would have his webpage url, sorry to say it doesn't. The Card reads Visions and Memories Fred Jacobs. I wasn't able to find him listed when I googled his name or Visions and Memories. There were lots of metal sculptures present at The Upper Arlington Labor Day Arts Festival. We traveled...lol, walking distance from the house for this event; but I do highly recommend it, and all arts festivals in your travels. We've been luck in our travels to hit one in Park City a few months ago, one in Breckenridge last summer and others. Check with your hotel desk staff to see what's in your area while you vacation. Support local artists. 99% of you will purchase souvenirs of your trips, why not make it art from a local artist while you're at it.
I considered buying this little guy (not the same artist). I didn't see business cards for this artist to share with you. Many of the metal scuptures were large and would be awesome in a beautiful garden, this one I thought might be cute sitting on my deck....and I love a good martini. Perhaps we'll come across this little frog another time in another arts festival. Cat lower right right is pretty cute too.
Hey Gator fans......think you need this one for your front yard. lol This is the same artist as the frog.
Pinon Designs. This Red Creek Agate looks great around my neck. I like interesting, and unique jewelry pieces. This is the 2nd necklace I've purchased this summer at art festivals. Leslie Heath and Christian Wig are the artists listed. Though no website is listed there is an email ccwig@bright.net.
This year the festival was held on September 5th from 10 am to 5 pm. It is always a free event with something for everyone. Often it's hot and dusty, this year it was cool and overcast; but that didn't stop the festival goers. It threaten rain all day; but luckily we all stayed dry.
Plenty of space to move around, to enjoy the art, to sit down and enjoy a snack or just rest your feet a bit. There were children's activities scattered about. Hands on art activities for the kids, face painting, bike races in the morning, a pet show and a family Wiffle Ball Tournament.
Neighbors catch up and celebrate the end of summer, the beginning of fall.
You can tell I was into the metal art this year, look at this Bumble Bee...........how cute he'd look in a nice large garden area. This years event had 350 applicants with 200 fine art, fine craft artists being selected to participate in this one day blind juried event. Mark your calendars for next and add this to your Labor Day list of things to do.

Park City, Utah (Marriott Time Shares)

Master Suite

Pool

Fire-pit

Our building, Silver Nugget


Our village view

Lockoff/quest room
kitchen

Living & Dining Room with fireplace

Pool

Park City, Utah at Marriott's Summit Watch Time Share. This is a wonderful location. It's pretty, there's lots to do, the facility if very nice. There are many ways to stay in a Marriott Time Share. The most common and obvious way is to be an owner. When you're an owner you have options of staying in your home resort, or trading it through Interval International for a different location. In addition, Marriott has a new program where you buy Destination Points and use those to book your stay. Personally, I'm not a fan of the new system; the old system seems a better bang for your buck. Even with the 2 systems in place there are often still availabilities and non Marriott Time Share Owners can book stays at these wonderful facilities. Some facilities (generally during off seasons) allow exchanges to be made using Marriott Rewards Points. Marriott Rewards Points are separate from time shares. If you frequently stay in Marriott's while traveling for business or on family vacations you earn Marriott Rewards Points. If you have a Marriott Charge Card you earn more points. AND, you can also rent/pay for a vacation in a time share just as you would a regular hotel room.

The advantage of booking your vacation in a time share location is flexibility. Flexibility to not eat every meal out, which in the ends saves you money and often is far more relaxing. The kitchen facilities are quite good. Additionally, out door grills exists so it's easy to do a cook out. Depending on locations the facilities have laundry available either in the villa/condo or on site; thus making packing easier. You can bring less and throw a load in. The villas/condo's are roomy. This unit had a King bed in the Master suite and private bath, a sleeper sofa in the living room, a King bed and another sleeper sofa in the quest room with it's own private bath. The quest room has a limited kitchen. This arrangement is what is called a lock off, meaning you could rent/stay in either side if you don't need the whole unit. The lock off works well if you want coffee and rolls in the morning; but plan to eat big meals out. The fridge though is large enough to have lunch items on hand, and you do have room for whatever meat you might want to throw on the grill.

It was cool there in the mountains at night and so sitting around the fire-pit outside with a glass of wine in the evening was fabulous. This is a ski village. The Marriott Summit Watch is located right on Historic Main Street, with everything within walking distance. Another advantage of staying in a Marriott Time Share is there are activities for adults, for children, and or families right on site, making it easy for family vacations.

The history of Park City is mining, that is reflected in the style of the buildings. There is much to see and do here, and I'll be blogging about those in the coming posts. Please return to read about the ski lift, things for "girl time", mountain biking, The Mormon Tabernacle Choir and more.