All posts by starspiritadventures

TK is an adventurer who loves writing and photography. She is the award-winning author of two fiction novels. She believes every day is a new adventure and should be lived to its fullest. Star Spirit Adventures is a lifestyle blog which explores everything from books, to vacations, to the meaning of life.

Art, Bands, Nashville, Tennessee

The Country Music Hall of Fame

February 15, 2023 starspiritadventures Leave a comment

What’s the number one thing you should do if you’re a country music fan visiting Nashville? Okay. Maybe it’s not number one on everyone’s list, but it is a prime activity choice. You must visit the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. At least once, right?

Last month, I took some time to check it out. I enjoyed looking at everything, but oddly, as a writer, I didn’t care to read about every single detail. The clothing, cars, albums, and plaques were what I was most interested in. I wandered around searching out memorabilia from Taylor Swift, Elvis, Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, Patsy Cline, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, etc.

You could spend hours looking at and reading everything. They have an area where you can choose different music videos to watch and look at all kinds of videos from the Grand Ole Opry. It was interesting and enjoyable. I won’t need to do it again for several years.

The one downside was that I wanted to see more items on Garth Brooks, Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, and Patsy Cline. Some singers who had displays were surprising to me. I didn’t realize how big of a deal Martina McBride is. I enjoyed looking at her display and learning more about her rise to fame.

My favorite part of this excursion was looking at the records displayed on the walls and the room at the very end that held the bronze wall plaques for each star. I also loved seeing anything related to Taylor Swift. She has an entire wing dedicated to children’s learning.

Not my top favorite museum, but worth a visit all the same. New exhibits come along here and there. Perhaps I visited during a less exciting time.

Here’s a fun fact. It’s cheaper to buy your tickets in person than it is online, according to the museum front desk.

For more information, please visit: Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum – Top Nashville Experience and Tours

Bands, Bars

Let Krystal Steel Your Heart In Nashville

February 1, 2023 starspiritadventures Leave a comment

With the holidays having ended and winter in the Midwest in full swing, my husband and I took a brief trip down to Nashville to escape the plummeting temperature and rising snow accumulation. Now, you would think this would be a genuine trade for warmer weather, but, the wind came gushing in and the temperature dropped into the thirties, making the evenings chilly. We didn’t let it stop us from having a good time. It was the entertainment in Music City that warmed us up.

We wandered Broadway and stopped at several bars, but the place that grabbed my attention most was Ole Red. For those of you who do not know, Ole Red is Blake Shelton’s bar. At first, I was none too excited to be there because many patrons were standing in wait for a table to open up. We got lucky and a few groups left, securing us a spot near the right side of the stage.

We stayed for two hours and happily bobbed to the smooth vocalizations of Krystal Steel and her band, who she lovingly refers to as Hot Pockets. I’ll be the first person to admit that I’m a hard sell with cover bands. My father is in a band and has been my entire life. I nitpick everything, but this group was solid, which had me thinking, Blake Shelton, give The Voice a break and come see this woman belt it out! She was by far the most intense and exciting performer I saw the entire time I was in Nashville. If anyone deserves a chance at stardom, it’s her! On top of it all, one of the band members is a Keytar player, which I find fascinating.

Krystal has a great vocal range. When we walked in, she was belting out an Eminem song. The band takes requests for twenty dollars. A smart idea, if I do say. She sang Lady Gaga’s Always Remember Us This Way (fantastic!), Zombie, Tennessee Whiskey, Whole Lotta Lovin’, and Sweet Emotion by Aerosmith. The rest of the band was as impressive as she was. They sang Watermelon Crawl, Blue on Black, Rocky Top, and a mix of Queen songs. At one point, they received a request for the song Tom Sawyer, which the drummer admitted he had never played to completion but would give it his all. If I wasn’t a fan before, this would have won me over for certain. I have a soft spot for drummers, as my father is one, and one of his favorite drummers was none other than Neil Peart. He kicked that song’s butt. I couldn’t stop cheering. It was exceptional!

If you’re looking for some fun, check out Krystal and the boys. They frequently play at Ole Red. You won’t be sorry. They’re brilliant musicians with wonderful chemistry and a bit of comedy thrown in for good measure.

For more information on Krystal Steel, check out Instagram @KrystalSteelMusic and Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/KrystalSteelOfficial/

Las Vegas - The Strip, Shows

Experiencing Mad Apple

October 19, 2022 starspiritadventures Leave a comment

The latest Cirque du Soleil show to appear on the Las Vegas strip is none other than a tribute to New York. Mad Apple is like a luxurious mix of Zumanity meets Criss Angel, with some sick beats mixed in. This show does wonders for all the senses, and let me tell you, even while pushing through a mad bout of food poisoning, I genuinely enjoyed the experience and will happily return for another helping.

There isn’t a bad seat in the showroom, but you can get up and personal with the actors if you pay a few bucks extra. If you are more of the sit and observe, and don’t touch me type, then I recommend you sit in the fourth row or further back. My group was in the front section toward the back and I felt great about my seat.

The show is a bit risqué, so I don’t recommend bringing children, but grab your significant other or your pals, and it makes for a fun evening activity. You’ll view everything from magic to acrobatics. The singers and the band are amazing and I wish I had the music to take home with me.

The price for tickets can range. At this time there is a Groupon available, though I don’t know how much the extra fees stack up to be. We paid around $130 per ticket without the Groupon.

If you’re visiting Las Vegas soon, check out Mad Apple. You won’t be sorry. I give this show five stars and two thumbs up.

For more information, please visit: Mad Apple at New York-New York Hotel & Casino | Buy tickets | Cirque du Soleil | Cirque du Soleil

All-Inclusive, Hotels, Mexico, RCI

Revisiting The Crown Paradise Golden

April 5, 2022 starspiritadventures Leave a comment

This spring break my family went back to the Crown Paradise Golden in Puerto Vallarta. Our last visit was three years ago, prior to the pandemic. We stayed thirteen nights and it was one of the best trips I have ever been on.

Since our last visit, the resort finished building a new tower of rooms as well as a new restaurant. I did not stay in the new tower but spoke to a traveler who did. She also has experienced several other rooms on the property and assured me I was not missing out. The new tower is, “nothing special,” as she put it. The other rooms on the property were more to her liking. What is special, however, is the view from the rooftop pool and bar in the new tower.

The seventh-floor pool is gorgeous and most people do not realize it is there. We found out about it while having a conversation with another guest. It has a swim-up bar called Sky Bar and the most breathtaking view of the beach, surrounding resorts, and marina. There are not many chairs and the square footage leaves you wanting, but it’s worth a visit, even if you do nothing but take photos.

The new restaurant is called Los Pollos and it is their Mexican restaurant. If you are expecting tacos and burritos, you will be disappointed. The food is not what we Americans think of when we envision Mexican cuisine. I heard several guests say they were not impressed and that it was their least favorite restaurant. I have to agree. It was the only restaurant that my family visited once.

All of the other restaurants had awesome food, but due to Covid, there is still a staff shortage. The second time we ate at the Mediterranean restaurant, ALL of our food was cold, which to me, is unacceptable. The other restaurants delivered hot and tasty food without fail. The ambiance was wonderful and dinner was by far one of my favorite parts of the trip.

Outside of the restaurants, the resort could use a little work. There were clumps of hair blowing around in the stairwells. For several days, they experienced plumbing issues and overflows in the men’s bathroom by the front desk. At one point during our stay, they had to tear up the flooring in one hall leading out to the tennis courts to fix what appeared to be another plumbing issue. It is possible this resulted from a surge of spring-breakers due to the desire to escape being couped up by Covid. Beyond the plumbing issues, the resort could use a little sprucing up. Better furniture in the RCI suites. The couch’s cushions look to be too small for the frame. More color added in, because almost everything is white.

Nit-picky things aside, our stay was awesome and we may go back sometime down the road.

For more information on our previous visit to the resort, please see my blog post entitled The Crown Paradise Golden In Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, from June 26, 2019. I should also add that as a guest of the Crown Paradise Golden, you may eat at and use the family side of the resort, which is called Crown Paradise Club. The restaurants at the Crown Paradise Club are exceptional.

Keep an eye out for more posts about the excursions we experienced while in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

For information on the Crown Paradise Golden, please visit: http://www.goldencrownparadisevallarta.com/

Crown Paradise Club Puerto Vallarta – Puerto Vallarta – Crown Paradise Vallarta All Inclusive Resort – Accommodations

Life

Dear Friends & Family

October 12, 2021 starspiritadventures Leave a comment

It is with great excitement that I write to tell you about my latest experience. To say the least, it’s a gas. To say more, it will make you feel like a brand-new person; refreshed and emptied of all the crap you no longer need.

Some of you might be wondering, will it make me lose weight? Indubitably. Will it curb my appetite? You couldn’t eat if you wanted to! Will it allow me to explore new horizons? That’s a double yes! You will conquer a new territory of which you could never have imagined and you won’t even have to walk in order to do so!

This experience will make you feel light and most likely, a great deal flushed, but don’t worry, it’s totally worth it!

This ride is recommended normally for ages 50 and up, but if you are like me and have an in via your family, then you can experience it at 40, or sometimes earlier, if you are an extra special person with even greater potential.

You too can enjoy your very own colonoscopy for the small price of all your dignity and a few hunger pangs. But wait, there’s more! If you act now, we will throw in an upper endoscopy for twice the delight! A true bargain!

What are you waiting for? Schedule yours today!

All my love,

Trish

PS: All joking aside; if you are of the proper age, get your colonoscopy. It’s not fun, but it could save your life. I’ve had one once before and while I felt nothing, I did get the chance to drive the staff mad by asking questions regarding what I was seeing on the monitor after each turn. 😉

Life, Uncategorized

A Letter on racism

June 8, 2021 starspiritadventures 1 Comment

Dear America:

We have a problem. Well, in actuality, a set of problems. Most of us do not even realize our own country is burning. Our feelings, the catalyst to the fire-fight that rages on. To put it bluntly, we are at war with one another.

We fight about politics, sex, freedom of speech, illegal immigrants, how to take care of the planet, and worst of all, we fight and divide ourselves by skin color.

Racism is a nuclear button, of which we continue to press. We are in a place where everyone is hurt and scared and calling for the executioner, but not actively fixing the problems at hand. I am going to be upfront with you; I am a white female. Now, if you are thinking, she has no right to speak about race and injustice because she’s white; you are part of the problem. When you see a white woman, a black man, or any other skin color, you fail to see that we have the blood of other races running through our veins.

The problem isn’t our skin color, but the feelings we associate with skin color and how we choose to act upon those feelings. You would be naïve to say your race holds no prejudices within. We all know that different countries hold prejudices against each other because we all believe our countries are great.

Within our skin color issues, lie several racial stereotypes. Some common examples might be the foods we eat, or the way we dress, or our body type. A stereotype is a generalization, and sometimes we match them, but it is naïve to believe everyone in a group is the same. Also, understand that every single race has their group of people who make poor decisions that hurt the rest of us and feed stereotypes. This too, is something we cannot change, unless human beings suddenly overcome the pull to commit crimes or hurt others. The human condition and racism must be separated out with the understanding that there is a difference. We have all been raised differently. Get to know each other, don’t judge one another by outward appearance.

We cannot control what others think or remove the past crimes committed against other races. We will never reach a point where prejudice does not exist. It’s too big and too hard to remove this elephant from the room, but we can choose to control ourselves. How can we expect to grow or change, if all we do is scream, yell, and curse at one another about how bad things are? I challenge the American people to stop feeding the fire with accusations, anger, and hurt. We can choose a path of healing, patience, kindness, and love for our fellow Americans. We can choose to teach and learn from one another. Choosing not to move forward in this manner will allow history to destroy us. We are a powerful people. We deserve better. There is no reason we cannot come together and live within the same country with justice and equality for all.

Hold yourself accountable. Choose love and kindness over hate, and if you do not understand what people of color are going through, talk to them. Learn from them. Only with kindness and love for each other, can we begin to heal the pain and hurt of our past. I want to see the American people succeed. I am ready and willing, America. Are you?

With love for all,
T.K.

Books, Life, Uncategorized

A Brief Hiatus

February 15, 2021 starspiritadventures Leave a comment

Hello Friends!

I am writing to inform you that I am taking a brief break from my regular blog posts in order to finish writing two books. Both books are in final stages, but require a little extra attention as I bring them to completion. I assure you, I will try to write regular posts, but if you do not hear from me much in the next month, you will know why.

Best wishes,

T.K.

Las Vegas - Off Strip Activities, Outdoor Activities, Travel

Rail Explorers of Las Vegas

February 2, 2021 starspiritadventures Leave a comment

If you are like me, you can only take so much of the Las Vegas strip before you crave a change of scenery. Most likely, this is exactly why people go to Vegas for shorter periods of time. I am not one of the people who goes for a long weekend. I book ten-day trips to see family and explore all of the possibilities outside of the strip.

If you like the open air and traveling at wind-roaring speeds, give the Rail Explorers of Las Vegas a go. You will get a chance to fly down the tracks on one of the black and red pedal cars, viewing beautiful scenery as you kick-back and relax. There are several different ride options to choose from. We decided to do the night lantern package and it was a total blast, though the ride does go by quickly.

If you are worried about pedaling, it is not all that bad. There is only one short stint toward the end of the ride where you have to pedal uphill. Your other party members will be pedaling along with you, so it really is not difficult. Once the ride has ended, you will board the train and return to the station.

Along with the railcar experience, you will be able to view the small train museum located on the premises. It was fun to wander around and check out the different artifacts and read about the history. As per the norm, I took tons of photos.

This is an experience that most anyone can enjoy and appreciate. If you would like further information, checkout the below website. Be sure to choose the Las Vegas location, since they are located in other states as well.

Experience the magic of the railroad like never before – Rail Explorers USA

Life, Outdoor Activities, Uncategorized, Wisconsin

Winter Fun for adults

January 26, 2021 starspiritadventures Leave a comment

It’s winter in Wisconsin, which means no one wants to go outside because of the cold. This year, however, has been quite unusual with it’s daytime highs in the balmy thirties. Possibly, winter just showed up this week with the more usual single to below zero digits, but that does not appear to be lasting for long. With the warmer winter temps, it should be easier for everyone to get outside.

My Dr. wants me to go outside and walk. Walking in the cold is highly unappealing to me. What I might do, however, is drag my wonderful husband outside to build a snowman. You heard me right. There are tons of benefits to this particular activity.

First, it allows you to do something playful and fun with your significant other. What better way to get in touch with one another than to play in the snow? Snowball fights will most likely happen, but that is completely okay as long as you do not pepper each other in the face with ice. The rolling of snowballs for your snowman will force you to use your muscles to push and lift. You will be laughing at how much strength you no longer realized it took to lift a giant snowball, which in turn will release endorphins. To top of the benefits, you will also be soaking in some much needed vitamin D, which will lift your spirits further. The whole process is a win.

If snowman building isn’t your thing, then maybe you want to try something more creative such as building a snow castle? This activity can provide several days of work and exercise and is best done with a partner. The benefits listed above apply to this situation as well, but I would recommend researching how to build a proper ice castle, prior to beginning. Ice castles can be dangerous if they are not stabilized properly.

For more information on the benefits of winter, as well as going outside to play in the snow, please see the below links:

5 Benefits to Building a Snowman – Dickinson & Branon Dental Care (dbdentalcarevt.com)

How to Build a Snow Castle with Your Kids (yahoo.com)

10 Surprising Health Benefits Of Snow Very Few People Know About – Women.com

5 Incredible Benefits of Playing Outside in the Snow (creativehealthyfamily.com)

8 Ways Snow Makes You A Happier Person | HuffPost Life