Travel Tip Thursday: A Midsummer's Night Gleam

Yes, I do realize it is Wednesday. I’m time zoned challenged.

I’ll bet everyone thought we’d be going to the beach today. No worries. That post is lurking out there in the not so distant future.

The first Travel Tip Thursday is brought to you by “Check Out the Free Festivals.”

Last Saturday I was looking forward to having the house to myself in the afternoon, since everyone else was working. My daughter, who works as an assistant for a magician as one of her two jobs, was trying to talk me into going to the function she was working.

I probably wasn’t listening as well as I should have, because I had just assumed it was a magic show at some children’s function. Which it usually is. But she wore me down with enough information coming at me to peak my curiosity.

She, the magician, and some of his magic students, were volunteering their time as ballonatics at a summer festival.

I let her talk me into going and am very thankful she pushed and got me out of the house.

We went to Foster Botanical Gardens in downtown Honolulu. In the 27 years I have lived here, I have never been inside these gardens. I really need to do stuff like this more often.

The gardens are incredible. They are not up in a tropical, rainforesty valley; these gardens are surrounded by apartments and busy streets. You could not guess at what is inside until you actually get through the gate.

The event at the Foster Botanical Gardens was an annual fundraiser called A Midsummer’s Night Gleam. Loosely based on the frivolity of the play, the festival offered a variety of activities and performances. From medieval jousting to tons of art and craft activities for kids, there was a ton of stuff going on.

But let’s show rather than tell here, shall we? Don't forget you can always click on a photo to enlage it.

I feel a little explanation is in order on this one. This activity was a "wishing tree." There were strips of construction paper and one could write down one's wish and tie it onto the tree. Don't know how protocol this was, but me, I read some of the wishes. Lots of admirable wishes for the greater good. There were some stand outs. One little scrawler wished for a little sister. Another one wished for a pet monkey. But my favorite? In beautiful adult cursive one wish read, "I wish my daughter would behave herself." I'm thinking this kid might be the same one who wished for a monkey.

This puzzled me to no end. All five of these people with their kick ass cameras taking photos of the tiki torches.

All these white paper bags had candles in them, which were lit at dusk. It was beautiful.

My daughter and I had our hands painted with henna. It had actually been on our wish list for the summer.

And now for a little slice....

The travel tip? Find out what is going on at your vacation destination and get in on some of the free action. If you are coming to Oahu, you can start with The Honolulu Advertiser’s TGIF section.

The staycation tip? Take advantage of the seasonal festivals and activities going on in your own area. Break out of your routine every once in awhile.

What's your tip? Grab the badge over in the sidebar and play along...