Links To get to the plant links section, click here. To get to travel links, click here. Other than that, in no particular order:
Ben & Jerry's. If life were fair, ice cream would be a health food. This site lists all available flavors, including those you can get only at their scoop shops (like my personal favorite, Coffee Coffee Buzz Buzz Buzz). You can even get ICBM -- Ice Cream By Mail, packed in dry ice and delivered to your door step. If this site ever goes belly up, please tell me. On second thought, don't tell me; I don't want to know.
Martine's Chocolates. Is money no object? If so, I'm currently unmarried...er, no, I mean that Martine's is my current favorite for boxed chocolates. They need to be eaten fresh. Some will last for a month, but others last no more than five days. What a wonderful excuse to finish the box.
Rheb's. OK, so money is an object. Rheb's has been a Baltimore, Maryland institution since 1917. They have plain but delicious truffles, at a mere $11/pound. They have other candy as well, but I've never been willing to pass up the truffles to try something else. For a while, I turned up my nose at these simple creations, in favor of the snootier brands. Silly me.
Tom Volk's Fungi. You've got to love a page that has a fungus of the month. Great pictures. And where else would you learn such stuff as the fact that Hypomyces lactifluorum, the lobster mushroom, is technically a parasite of other mushrooms, turning them into lobster mushrooms?
Hall Didjeridus. For the musically inclined - a glass didjeridu.
Rip Off Press. Hey, Baby Boomers, ever wondered what happened to the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers and Fat Freddy's Cat? They're alive and well at the Rip Off Press web site.
Prairie Tumbleweed Farm. For the person who has everything.
Plant Links
The Internet is full of sites about orchids and other plants. Instead of creating a comprehensive list, I've included sites that point you to other sites, or have a lot of good information.The Orchid Mall. If you want to buy orchids via the Internet, this is the place to start. It has links to many, many vendors. It also has links to photo pages, reading material, orchid societies, and more. A must for orchid fanatics.
American Orchid Society. Includes an orchid forum, list of vendors, and information about the AOS.
GardenWeb Forums. A large number of forums on various garden topics, many devoted to a particular plant family.
International Aroid Society. Aroids include Philodendron, Anthurium, Caladium, Spathiphyllum, and other well known plants.
Bromeliad Society International. The family that includes pineapple and air plants.
The Cactus and Succulent Plant Mall. The name says it all. Lots of links.
International Carnivorous Plant Society. There's a lot more to this group than Venus Fly Traps. Some will even grow outdoors in large portions of the United States.
Tropical Hibiscus. Tropical Hibiscus blooms may reach 10 inches in diameter, and come in almost every color of the rainbow. This site will get you started. If you want to get the latest and greatest varieties, try Hidden Valley Hibiscus. They have large plants, in bud, available through the mail.
Virtual International Plumeria Society. Plumeria can be grown almost anywhere in the United States, as long as they're brought indoors during the winter. This site tells you how to grow them, and where to buy them.
Travel
I'm a compulsive researcher when it comes to travel. Here are a few of my favorites.
General
Frommer's and Fodor's have been around forever. Sometimes I think they're boring, and too many of their reviews are positive. However, they have a lot of information about most tourist destinations, and are a good starting point in researching unfamiliar areas.
AOL cityguide. AOL has information on a large number of U.S. cities. They're strongest on music, nightlife, and restaurants. As usual, reviews tend to be overly positive, so do more research before falling for that wonderful sounding restaurant or club.
Las Vegas
Hike This! Neil Sobelson provides customized half day hikes in Red Rock Canyon (about 30 minutes west of town), just for you or your group of friends. He'll ask your preferences, physical capabilities, and will base the hike on that. It's a great way to see the area. Neil also offers rock scrambling.
Boulder City Outfitters. These folks will take you on an all day kayak trip in Black Canyon, below Hoover Dam. It's beautiful and a lot of fun - but very strenuous. Oh my aching arms!
Vegas Indoor Skydiving. A giant fan blows air upward at 120 mph, keeping you aloft.
Five Hundy By Midnight. Billing itself as The Original Las Vegas Podcast, it features a husband and wife team who are into everything Las Vegas. It provides some information, but mostly is just plain old fun to listen to.
Las Vegas Bikefest. Be a biker, or just look like one. Held annually in September, some 30,000 bikers descend on Las Vegas. There are numerous events, and a large vendor village. As a non-biker, I find it a lot of fun.
Miami/South Beach
South Beach Wine & Food Festival. Held annually in late February, this is one big festival. They set up huge tents on the beach, and hundreds of wine and food vendors provide free samples. There are also lectures, demonstrations, and parties. In 2005, over 20,000 people attended, so get your tickets early.
Miami International Orchid Show. Held annually in early March, this is one of the largest shows in the United States. Breathtaking exhibits of orchids, plus lots of plants for sale. The link is for one of the associated orchid societies. Enter the site and you'll find information on the show.
South Beach Surf School. Surf's up, dude! South Beach isn't known for its huge waves, but it's a good place to learn. The waves tend toward the small, easy-to-manage, side, and there's a sandy bottom. Be prepared to be flexible: not every day is a good surf day, and it's a small operation. Nonetheless, I had a great time. My instructor, Darren, was very friendly and very patient.
Winter Music Conference. If you're going to South Beach in early March, you should be aware of this event - either to be there, or to avoid it. It's a huge event for the dance music industry. South Beach goes crazy, and the already large and boisterous crowds become ... well ... larger and a lot more boisterous. It's fun to watch the spectacle on the streets, but be prepared for crowds and noise 24/7.
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