Sites for the Season

TALES OF TAILGATING

During football season, not all the excitement is on the field. Tailgate parties near stadiums have become like temporary neighborhoods filled with food, fun, friends, and families. And while tailgating is clearly a social event, it’s also serious business for many. Stop by these sites for tips from fanatical fans and you’ll be fully prepared for the pre-game, halftime, and post-game activities.

You’ll Fall For This Food
Score big with the fall tailgating recipes waiting for you at this site. They’re all specially selected to not only satisfy your hungry crowd, but be easy on the cook as well. Choose from winning recipes like Retractable Roof Spinach Dip, Victory Broccoli and Raisin Salad, Game Time Maple Pork Chops, and Touchdown Rich Espresso Brownies. There’s more to tailgating than just hamburgers and hot dogs. Next time, try a new game plan featuring more adventurous and flavorful fare.
http://www.razzledazzlerecipes.com/flavorsoffall/tailgating.htm

Head Tailgater
Joe Cahn, the Commissioner of Tailgating, presides over this site featuring tried-and-true tailgating recipes, tips to make parties a success, advice on gear, tailgating trivia, stadium and parking lot information, and tales submitted by tailgaters across America. Want to meet Joe in person? Check out his 2006 schedule and see if he’ll be tailgating at a stadium near you.
http://www.tailgating.com/

Join the Party
The American Tailgaters Association (ATA) was founded in 2004 to create a venue for tailgaters to join together as part of one national community. Their site celebrates the growing “sport” of tailgating as a recreational activity that involves between 35 and 50 million people a year. Check out the latest tailgating headlines, try the crowd-pleasing recipe of the week, and visit links to both professional and college sports organizations.
http://www.atatailgate.com/home.asp

Top Tailgating Vehicles
Sure, you want your vehicle to perform well on the road. But how will it do in the stadium parking lot? Some vehicles are just better than others at housing tailgating parties. Youíll want lots of storage space for gear and food, a good sound system for your favorite tunes, plus extra power outlets to plug in party lights and a small refrigerator. For lists of the best-equipped vehicles for tailgating, we invite you to stop by the sites below.
http://4wheeldrive.about.com/cs/tailgatingacc/a/aa092501a_3.htm
http://www.autosite.com/content/shared/articles/templates/index.cfm/article_id_int/800

REAL LIFE LESSONS

Fall marks the start of another school year filled with courses in science, history, math, and literature. To help supplement your child’s formal education, direct them to sites like these that teach practical lessons on real world topics. They can learn how to manage money, drive more safely, and organize their stuff — all valuable skills for passing life’s tests.

Making Sense of Dollars
Investing some time at this site could reap big rewards. You’ll find money advice directed specifically to young kids, teens, parents, and teachers. Included is a wealth of information about earning, managing, and saving money plus games and puzzles to reinforce the financial messages.
http://www.younginvestor.com/kids/planIt/articleBalanceSavingSpending.asp

Safer Driving Down the Road
Vehicle crashes are the leading killer of teenagers in the U.S., making driver education a vital subject for many families. Driving Skills for Life, a national Web-based program, offers teens the opportunity to develop safe driving skills beyond what they learn in standard driver education programs. The site offers lessons on hazard recognition, vehicle handling, space management, and speed management as well as games to test concentration skills, memory, and highway instincts.
http://www.drivingskillsforlife.com/

Get Organized!
Granted, trying to convince your 15-year-old to get organized may seem like an impossible task. But this site offers hope. It contains step-by-step instructions for teens on how to easily organize their room, school stuff, study time, activities, and social life. What’s in it for them? They can spend less time searching for that Algebra assignment and more time relaxing with friends.
http://www.organizedteens.com/index.htm

LEAF SPOTS

One of Mother Nature’s greatest shows occurs every year as the leaves on millions of trees change to their fall colors. It’s just business as usual for the trees but, for us, it’s a spectacular display of beauty and diversity. Leaf peepers will find plenty to look at online including regional updates on foliage conditions and advice on photographing fall color.

Tree-mendous Advice
Fall is often the best time of the year to plant trees because it gives them a chance to establish new roots before winter arrives and the ground freezes. Get ready for fall landscaping with the help of this site from the National Resources Conservation Service. It covers choosing the right tree, placement, planting, maintenance, and pruning.
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/feature/backyard/TreePtg.html

Local Color
The Foliage Network was developed to provide accurate foliage information for selected locations across the United States. From September through November, volunteer foliage spotters collect data twice a week to provide current maps of local fall color. If you want to see nature’s vibrant splendor at its peak, take advantage of this site’s guidance.
http://www.foliagenetwork.com/default.php

Fall Foliage Facts
Did you know the most intense fall colors occur in New England, while the most varied and longest lasting fall colors can be found in the southern Appalachians? You can rake in lots of fall foliage facts at this site including the scientific basis of autumn color, weather folklore, and links to regional leaf information.
http://ncnatural.com/fall-color/

PLANE ADVICE FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Flying during the holiday season has its share of challenges, most notably the increased number of airline passengers and the potential for delays. But you can take action to help make your travel days go more smoothly. Get detailed advice on trip planning, packing, airport security, and more.

Less Stress
Flying during the holidays can be especially stressful—our schedules and suitcases are often as overcrowded as the planes. Although you can’t eliminate all the stress, you may be able to minimize it. Relax, take a deep breath, and go online to learn specific stress management techniques for holiday travel. With a little help, flying doesn’t have to dampen your holiday spirit.
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=55330

Stay on Top of Security
To stay informed on airport security issues, be sure to visit the site of the Transportation Security Administration. Here you’ll find an explanation of the current homeland security threat level as well as any changes in airport screening procedures and baggage contents restrictions.
http://www.tsa.gov/index.shtm

Coping With Kids
Flying with small children demands a great deal of preparation, not to mention patience, from parents. If your family’s holiday plans include a plane trip, these sites provide helpful hints on how to plan your trip.
http://www.flyingrugrats.com/
http://www.flyingwithkids.com/links.htm