Choosing a Swimmable Mermaid Tail – Neoprene Tails
January 27, 2012 | 
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In my first article of this series I wrote about nylon-spandex (swimsuit fabric) mermaid tails. In this article we will look at buying and owning a neoprene tail – made from wetsuit material. This is a different kind of mermaid tail for swimming.
First of all, neoprene is very different from swimsuit fabrics. Made for wetsuit and scuba diving, it is made from foam of varying thicknesses, some with rubber on the outside. It is designed to float and to keep a person warm in cold water.
It is also thick fabric. Even the thinnest neoprene is thicker by far than swimsuit fabrics. So the first thing to know is that this fabric will last much longer than spandex tails, and will be much less likely to wear a hole through it. Neoprene fabric is also much more expensive than spandex swimsuit fabric, so you’ll be paying quite a bit more for a neoprene tail, and getting a much better, longer-lasting tail.
Because it floats, you can throw this tail into the water and it will simply float along on the top of the water, which looks rather funny. This buoyancy will aid you in floating, but if you’re mermaiding in salt water you will probably have to use a weight belt, like free divers and scuba divers use, in order to dive down. (Salt water pushes you up, it is so buoyant.)
Neoprene fabric stretches like spandex fabric, but not as much. Some thicker or rubber neoprene tails, which don’t stretch as easily, should include a waterproof zipper, or it will be very hard to get in and out of it, and even harder to dry out the foam on the inside of it.
Just like spandex mermaid tails, there will be some rubbing and friction going on at the fluke, whenever the swimmer stands up in the water in their tail, or pushes against the concrete pool in swimming. Neoprene won’t tear easily, but you might notice some wear at these friction points.
Note: Never, ever stand up or hop in your tail on dry ground. This is very dangerous and will certainly wear holes in your tail very quickly, no matter what it is made of.
The downside of neoprene is that it is limited when it comes to colors and prints. There is a rubber neoprene with a mermaid-scale-like texture to it, but it comes only in black. Most rubber neoprene comes only in black. The neoprene foam fabrics have some colors and prints, but they are very limited. And a plain solid foam color doesn’t look much like mermaid skin. Painting black rubber neoprene looks good enough for pictures, but the paint too easily rubs, bends or flakes off. Research is being done on other possibilities for adding shimmery colors to rubber neoprene tails.
Caring for neoprene is similar to spandex tails. Like the other, the neoprene tail needs to be rinsed out well after each swim session, to get the chlorine or salt water out of it. Since neoprene is thick foam, it needs to be unzipped and opened up, so that it can dry completely inside and out. Remove the monofin each time; with a zipper this is a cinch. You don’t want the foam inside to get moldy from not drying completely after each use. You’ll find that neoprene dries very quickly. A neoprene tail can be hand-washed in the bathtub whenever you feel it needs it.
In a subsequent article I will discuss owning a silicone-rubber mermaid tail, the most realistic-looking one available.
A Guide to Los Angeles Public Car Auctions
If you want to live or work in Los Angeles, it is essential that you have a car. Sure, there is public transportation, but unless you are going around downtown, it is just too slow and inconvenient for getting about the huge metropolis. Pretty much everybody in LA owns a car. That makes Los Angeles a great place to find public car auctions.
There are numerous public car auctions in Los Angeles, and it is fairly easy to find out about them. One of the best places to start is with the official police garages or OPGs. These are city garages that have official responsibility over the towing and holding of impounded cars in LA. Several hundred thousand vehicles are impounded by the LAPD every year. Of these, around two-thirds are redeemed by the owners, but the rest of the cars become city property and are divested through public car auctions. The OPGs hold these auctions, known officially as lien sale vehicle auctions, once a week. You may contact your nearest OPG to find out when the public auctions take place. The auctions help the city of Los Angeles to recoup unpaid fees while offering an opportunity to the public to bid on and purchase cars at low prices.
There are also a number of firms in Los Angeles and its outlying areas that hold public car auctions. A search for “auto auctions” on an online search engine turned up 26 firms around LA that hold regular auctions. A few of these firms specialize in certain types of vehicles. For example, Spectrum Auction Co. in North Hollywood and Palm Springs Exotic Car Auctions specialize in auctions of classic and luxury vehicles. Other firms hold auctions specifically for towed or repossessed cars.
Public car auctions are open to everyone, but it is important that you register beforehand. To register for a public auction, you need to provide proper personal identification. You may also need to pay some nominal registration fee. When you have registered, you will be assigned a bidding number, which must be presented to the auctioneer when you make a bid. Only people with bidding numbers are allowed to participate in the auction.
The cars at public auctions are sold “as is” and therefore a potential bidder must possess a “let the buyer beware” mindset. However, there is usually an inspection period prior to the auction, that make take place a day or two or even a few hours beforehand. You should take advantage of the inspection period to see what is being offered and get an idea of the vehicle’s quality.
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12 Free Things to Do in Orlando, Florida and Still Have Fun
Orlando, Florida is a top vacation destination for families all across America. There are amazing things to do in Orlando, such as Disney World and Gatorland, but there are also plenty of freethings to do in Orlando that are great ways to spend your vacation time.
Orlando is known for its first class attractions, but there are also plenty of natural attractions for visitors to explore. Directly located in central Florida, Orlando has the great advantage of being immersed in both beautiful natural surroundings as well as fantastic waters on each side. Orlando’s great setting provides plenty of Free things to do too!
Lake Eola Park: This downtown Orlando centerpiece offers 43 acres for exploration and recreation, including fountains, a walking path, playgrounds, swans to feed and swan shaped paddle boats and gondolas (for a slight fee.)
Harry P. Leu Gardens: Admission is free on Mondays. Guests can enjoy three miles of walkways, rose gardens, a butterfly garden, ancient oak trees, and more.
Ocala National Forest: A great place to experience natural Florida. The Florida Trail is a popular hike, where you can view hardwood forests, swamps, springs, and prairies. You can also canoe, picnic, hike and more.
Kelly Park: This park offers over 248 acres of outdoor fun and excitement! A crystal clear spring is the focus of this park, with water sports, including tubing, and rock climbing available!
Orlando’s rich history also makes its museums a can’t miss experience. Plus, they’re open Free to the public
Cornell Fine Arts Museum: This museum showcases over 6,000 art pieces ranging from the Renaissance to the Baroque period. Art lovers of all ages will not want to miss one of the oldest collections in all of Florida.
Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art: Home to the most comprehensive collection of Louis Comfort Tiffany. There is also an extensive American Pottery collection, as well as 19th and 20th century paintings collection. Admission is free on Fridays.
Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center of Central Florida: An informative center dedicated to remembering the millions if people that were lost during the rule of Nazi Germany.
Fort Christmas Historical Museum & Park: Visit the full size replica of Fort Christmas, including seven restored pioneer homes and showing pioneer life from the 1870s through the 1930s. Key themes are homesteading, cattle, citrus, hunting, fishing and trapping.
There are even more free things to do in Orlando, Florida!
Downtown Disney Marketplace: Explore the World of Disney store, which is an experience in and of itself. Also visit the Lego Imagination Center, where your kids can enjoy the free Lego building stations and nearby playground.
Disney’s Boardwalk: Stroll along Disney’s boardwalk for a charming step back in time, complete with water views and street entertainers.
The Town of Celebration: Visit this Disney-made town where you can adrmire the gorgeous houses, well-groomed yards and magic of Disney living. Depending on when you visit, you may see machine generated snow or falling leaves.
Old Town: On Saturday nights a free rock-n-roll concert and a parade of 300 vintage cars are offered.
A visit to gorgeous Orlando, Florida is the perfect way to get away with your family. Although there are amazing deals like Cheap Disney World Tickets, there are also plenty of FREE things to do in Orlando that are great ways to spend your vacation time. And best of all, many of the great Orlando experiences are fun, free and unforgettable.
How To Recognize The Symptoms Of Adult Ear Infection
While ear infections in children are common, they can still affect adults and are caused by bacteria getting inside the ear.
Cause Of Adult Ear Infection
Bacteria enters the middle ear through what is known as the eustachian tube. When this happens, infection usually occurs. The resultant infection swells the middle ear lining which in turn causes blockage in the eustachian tube. This leads to the formation of fluid build up and as it increases, can cause temporary hearing loss and pain. Unchecked, the fluid build up can reach levels pressuring the ear drum and damaging it.
While there are several reasons adult ear infection can surface such as bacteria and viruses or from the common cold, it must be noted an adult doesn’t necessarily have to be ill to become infected. Water in the ears which is left to sit or mucous deposited into the eustachian tubes from blowing the nose can lead to infection.
Adult Ear Infection Symptoms
The following are the symptoms of adult ear infection:
- blockage in the ear
- temporary hearing loss
- pain in the ear
- fever and dizziness
It’s important to see your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms especially for any length of time. Caught early, infection can be treated quite comfortably and any further complications can be halted.
Adult Ear Infection Treatment
When infection is suspected, your doctor will conduct a standard examination to confirm whether the symptoms being experienced are as a result of adult ear. Bear in mind if the initial examination is a little clouded then further tests may be required.
Bacterial related infections are treated with antibiotics. If infection is diagnosed immediately or you go in to see your doctor at the first sign of symptoms, antibiotics could be delayed. This is because in adults, improvement can occur without the use of medication.
If the situation doesn’t improve following a couple of days, then a course of antibiotics will usually be prescribed. As with the use of any antibiotic treatment, a prescribed course should be completed from start to finish.
Viral infections are a little more troublesome to treat. In fact, in some cases, minor surgery could be recommended to help dissipate the build up and drain the fluid in the ear.
While using cotton buds is usually frowned upon by the medical profession, leaving water in the ear from either showering or swimming is not a good idea. The use of an approved flush could be recommended for the ear or for the nose, nasal sprays, which have proven effective as a way of washing out bacteria.
8 Easy, Low-Cost Ideas for a Very Special Mother-Daughter Day
There is something truly special about spending quality time with your daughter that bonds you together, allows you to focus only on each other, and create special memories that she will cherish in the years ahead. Here are eight easy, low-cost ideas for your very special Mother-Daughter Day:
Go Window-Shopping: Make sure she understands that this trip is for being together and teaching her how to window-shop. Try on shoes, try on crazy clothes and hats. Live, love, laugh together. And if you do choose to purchase something, tell her it is a very special purchase to remember your wonderful time together- she will treasure it always!
Have a Spa Night: Fill the tub with bubbles, light scented candles, put on relaxing music. Sit together and talk. Afterwards, paint each others toenails with sparkling polish!
Afternoon in the Library: Allow her to fill her basket with any books that catch her fancy. Choose several and sit quietly and read them to her.
Jewelry Swap: Break out the jewelry boxes and trade necklaces, bracelets, rings. She will love wearing Moms jewelry almost as much as seeing her pieces on Mommy!
Tea Party: If you have a special tea set, get it out of cupboard and use it for this special occasion. Dress up in a fancy hat and dress and spend time preparing a special snack of sandwiches (cut off the crusts, of course!), cookies and tea (or apple juice works just as well). Use cloth napkins for your tea party and mind your manners. If you want to include others, invite some other special mothers and daughters to join you.
Nature Walk: Take a trip to a park that you have never been to or one of your favorites and pick a new trail. Enjoy the outdoors, walk leisurely, hold hands and talk together about nature, love and life.
Get a Manicure Together: A rite of passage for any little girl is getting her nails done for the first time at the salon by a professional. This can be a special treat over and over again for moms and girls to do together. Let her pick her own polish and even splurge if she wants a special design crafted onto her nails. While you engage in this girls-only activity, you will have uninterrupted opportunity to talk together and simple be together.
Learn Something New Together: Pick an activity that neither of you know well such as tennis, sculpture or cooking and take a class together or simply experiment on your own. This is most meaningful to your daughter as you will not be in the ‘teacher’ role but a novice as well. You will laugh at your own mistakes together as well as show her how fun it can be to try new things.
Adult Slumber Party Ideas For Women: Sleep Parties Are No Longer Just For Kids
Most adult women have an unforgettable slumber party in their memory. These parties continue to be a fun way for girlfriends to get together and spend time with one another. It’s unfortunate that with busy schedules and family commitments that spending time with friends is something that many people often neglect. If your life has found you overwhelmed and wondering where the fun went in your life, getting your girlfriends together for some fun and laughs at an adult slumber party could be just what the doctor ordered.
An adult slumber party is not much different than those for the younger crowd. One big difference is that all who are attending are adult age and are legal to drink. A round of homemade tropical drinks is a good way to start off this adult party. It will help everyone transition to the relaxed atmosphere. You don’t need a bar or blender to make great drinks. Many stores sell pre-mixed drink packages that either have all just about all the ingredients. With these mixes all you need to add are fun glasses. Having some light snacks (veggies and dip, for example) on hand to go with the drinks is recommended.
Once everyone has a drink, the real fun begins. Everyone can change into their sleeping attire. Depending on the group’s general personality, the festivities could include high-energy activity, such as singing along with CDs and dancing, or mellow entertainment such as watching a popular “chick flick.” If the ladies have not seen each other in a while, a simple time to reflect on the past and bring everyone up to speed is perfect. Experimenting with each other’s hair and makeup is also a fun activity. The main focus of an adult slumber party is to get away from the routine and have fun. As long as you accomplish this goal you can’t go wrong with what you decide to do at this adult party.
Living in an Apartment Versus Living in Your Own Home
As the economic recession continues to make its full blown impact, more and more families are making the perceptually difficult transition from living in private homes to living in apartments. While no doubt it takes some getting used to, there are a few aspects that one needs to be wary about. In this article, we examine some of the pros and cons of living in apartments, vis-a-vis living in private homes.
Privacy
Privacy is one factor that is definitely affected, somewhat negatively, when it comes to apartments. There are families all around, and invariably some of them are rather curious about what you are doing. Further, apartments invariably tend to have thinner walls than private homes, with the end result that what you are doing inside your home might also end up getting known by your neighbors, even if you try your best to keep the noise level to the minimum. And in fact if you inverse the situation and heighten the noise element, say when you are having a party at home, there will invariably be protests from your neighbors, which is an unlikely scenario in private homes that often tend to insulate sounds from going too far.
Shared Resources
This is a big help – a big positive, when it comes to apartments. Invariably, a lot of the costs tend to be shared, be it the cost of cable, of allied services such as garbage collection, Internet, and more. The cost of the same things, in private homes, tends to be much higher, as the number of dwellings are much less, and the cost per household is always ascertained on the basis of aggregate cost of the aforementioned, divided by the number of households; with the latter being reasonably higher in number, in the case of apartments, the unit cost for the same for each household tends to be significantly low. That said, shared resources can be a bit of a problem as well; take the case of water – while in your private home, you had the luxury of enjoying your entire water supply, all to yourself, in an apartment, you will have to share the same with all the other occupants of the complex. God forbid, if there is a rationed supply of water in the complex – for whatever reason, chances are good that you will be affected much more by the same, than if you were in your own private home.
Security
The element of privacy that we mentioned earlier, actually has a positive side to it as well; in case of trouble, you have people around you who could assist. In private homes, in case you are alone and find yourself in trouble, chances of somebody else coming to your rescue, simply off the cuff, are quite less. This aspect gets heightened when we take note of the fact that a lot of apartment complexes have additional provisions for security, which is often completely missing, in the case of private homes. Thus, when it comes to the aspect of security, apartments tend to have an edge.
Space
Space is one of the foremost aspects that previous private home owners, now living in apartments, sorely miss. Undoubtedly, apartments tend to have much lesser space. The sizes of the apartments is a major area of concern. Additionally, other aspects such as space in the driveway as well as space to park one’s car(s) also tends to be much less. And if you are thinking of having your own little garden, invariably you might just have to drop the idea altogether! Thus, as you can clearly see, there are both advantages as well as disadvantages to living in apartments. Ultimately, it is about how well you are able to adjust to the same, as well as which are the factors that actually affect you, either way.
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The Advantages of Renting an Apartment vs. Owning a Home
Compared to owning a home, living in an apartment rental is incredibly easy. Why do the work yourself when you can enjoy the following benefits:
· Dedicated property and maintenance staff to call if anything goes wrong
· No back-breaking snow shoveling, lawn maintenance or pool/sauna care
· One single monthly rent cheque usually pays for everything (instead of several separate bills and fees when you own a house or a condo)
You Get More for Your Money
Believe it or not, you can usually rent an apartment or house for much less than the cost of buying it – especially if you live in a larger city. And if you want to be right downtown, renting is almost always more affordable than owning a condo (and you get a lot more living space, as well, as downtown apartments are usually much larger than downtown condos).
As well, apartment renters don’t have to come up with the thousands of dollars in down payments, closing costs and fees for things such as building inspections, legal counsel, land transfer taxes and insurance.
And this doesn’t even factor in the cost of borrowing – in the first five years of ownership, most mortgage payments are applied only to the interest, not the capital. This is money that you won’t get back when you sell your home (and you’ll still have all the hassles and extra costs of putting your house on the market).
That Tax Break is Not Guaranteed
Getting a big tax break is supposed to be one of the greatest advantages of owning a home – but you can’t always rely on getting this break. If your annual mortgage interest payment, plus any other deductions you are entitled to, isn’t greater than your standard tax deductions, you will not receive any tax benefit from owning a house.
If you rent an apartment, however, you’ll always receive some form of tax relief, as a large portion of your rent is tax deductible every year.
Maximum Flexibility
Renting provides an enormous amount of flexibility. You can pack up and leave immediately at the end of your lease (which can be monthly or yearly, whatever best suits your lifestyle) – there’s no waiting to sell and no agonizing about the housing market before you move. For many people, the freedom to live where you want and when you want is a huge benefit that simply cannot be overlooked.
Minimum Risk
For homeowners, the stakes are enormously high should their finances crumble. When they can’t pay the mortgage, the lender has great leverage – the house and all the equity invested in it could be in jeopardy. That’s not to say there aren’t consequences if a tenant can’t pay the rent – but the financial devastation that comes with losing your home is far greater than being evicted from your apartment.
In addition, there are several social service programs that are run by all levels of government to help people in need pay their rent so they won’t be evicted. Are the banks as lenient or supportive when it comes time to pay the mortgage?
Ultimately, making the decision to either rent an apartment or buy a home involves much more than simply comparing rental rates, mortgage payments, lease lengths and tax breaks. It’s a combination of all of the personal circumstances happening in your life – both now and several years down the road.
The Art Of Tracking Animals
The Native Americans believe that tracking animals is a sacred responsibility. They believe that it is a gift that enables you to enter the centre of the lives and homes of animals, and therefore you must treasure it and respect the animals by being non-intrusive. Should you get too close and disturb them, the results can be disastrous, especially for the young that may be abandoned. It is vital that you remember that you are visitor in their home and no more. In Africa the art of tracking is being lost as new generations lose interest in nature and instead choose technology and modern city living over outdoor activities. As a result special programmes have been developed to try and save the unique art of African tracking, so far with a moderate degree of success.
Tracking involves studying and knowing all the signs of animal presence i.e. ground spoor, vegetation spoor, scent, feeding signs, urine, feces, saliva, territorial signs, shelters, incidental signs, circumstantial signs shelters etc. Footprints are the most important signs in tracking, as they provide the most information regarding the identity, movements and activities of the animal. The trail is also very important in providing other signs and adding detail.
Just like footprints and gait can identify people, each animal can be identified by its spoor and unique way of walking. Spoor can indicate age, weight, gender, and health. Larger mammals and birds can be identified right down to a particular species by its spoor, but in smaller animals it is only possible to narrow it down to a genus, family or order, as the smaller the animal gets the more difficult it is to distinguish its spoor from other species.
The best footprints to read are the ones found in slightly damp earth or in snow. It should always be remembered that footprints are easily distorted by an animal running, slipping or twisting. The hind feet may also step where the fore feet have been, thus distorting both prints. The shape of the prints will indicate the activity that the animal was involved in at the time.
Other tracking signs include: scent, which is influenced by temperature and weather. When the weather is cool and calm, scent lasts longer than if it is hot and windy. Mornings and evenings are also better times for scent than noon, and obviously, winter is better than summer for temperature. Wet ground is more favourable than dry ground, but rain will obliterate all scent. However, after it has rained for a few days and the air is humid, a tracker may be able to scent animals in the right wind conditions.
When it comes to identifying droppings it is easier to associate them with fresh footprints on the scene, this is also a good way to learn to recognise droppings. Fresh urine and droppings provide additional information on the age of the spoor, while the feces will reveal a great deal about the animal’s diet. The position of the urine patch in relation to the position of the footprints can indicate the gender of the animal.
Incidental signs are things like tufts of hair, feathers or porcupine quills and may not even be related to the spoor concerned. They may belong to the animal being tracked, but they could have been blown there by the wind or they could have been there for a long time and have very little to do with the animal’s current activities.
Circumstantial signs are indirect signs, usually some behaviour by other animals, which give away the presence of the animal being tracked. For example the Oxpecker bird, which rides on Buffalo, Eland and Kudu to feed on ticks and blood sucking flies, will fly away in the event of anything approaching, thus alarming the animals but also giving away their position. Baboons also draw attention to themselves by moving about rapidly and making a great deal of noise.
Trackers must be intimately familiar with their surroundings and must know the pattern of nature undisturbed so that when something in it is disturbed, they will recognise it, even if the disturbance is slight. When it comes to tracking spoor it is best done if the spoor is kept between the tracker and the sun, that way the shadows cast by the ridges in the spoor will show up well. Tracking is easiest in the morning and late afternoon when the shadows of the ridges are longer and stand out more than at midday. If possible, trackers will look ahead of themselves and not at the ground at their feet as this will slow them down. However, if the terrain is tricky they will have to look at the ground nearby, not only to see where they are going but also to keep a close look out for any minute change in direction of the spoor.
Good trackers should be able to imagine themselves in the place of the animal and anticipate the way it would have gone. They should then be able to expect where to find signs without wasting valuable time looking for them. This also requires intimate knowledge of the surrounding area and terrain in order to anticipate paths taken and possible stops at water holes.
Once a tracker has sighted the animal, it is important to remain undetected by all the other animals in the vicinity. This means avoiding dry leaves and twigs and moving as quietly as possible through dry grass. It is also important to stay downwind of the animals i.e. the wind must blow towards the tracker and away from the animals.
There is definitely an art to tracking and a great deal of knowledge that must be learned in order to do it successfully. Very little of that knowledge can be gained from books, as nearly all of it has to be taught on a practical level and once the lessons are done and the course is over, all the novice trackers will find the real lessons have only just begun.
Downtown Activities of St Paul Minnesota
If you are planning to visit the lovely downtown St. Paul area, more than likely you are interested in finding some great downtown activities to be involved in. The St. Paul history is long and deep, and there are many exciting historical attractions to visit while you are in the area. So, if you’re looking for some great places to visit and for some wonderful activities to check out while you’re in Saint Paul, Minnesota, here are a few great activities and places that you’ll want to check out during your stay.
James J Hill Mansion
While you are in downtown St. Paul, you’ll definitely want to take the time to check out the James J. Hill Mansion. This is the home of James J. Hill, who is the well known railroad baron of years ago. Today the home is owned by the Minnesota Historical Society. You can take a tour of the mansion, getting a glimpse of the amazing wealth that Hill had and all it could by in the early 1800s. There are 42 rooms in the home, more than 20 fireplaces, and 13 bathrooms. You’ll also find beautiful stained glass windows, lovely woodwork, and even a huge and old pipe organ. There is also an art gallery, and the tours of the mansion start on the half our. The price is only $8 for adults, $4 for kids, and $6 for senior citizens.
Como Park Zoo and Conservatory
If you’re in Saint Paul Minnesota, another great place to stop and visit is the Como Park Zoo and Conservatory. In fact, it’s a great place to go with the entire family. Not only will you get to see all the great animals that are currently in the zoo today, but you’ll get to see the older cages from years ago where the animals used to be held. If you go during the summer, you will not want to miss the “Sparky the Seal” show, which the whole family will love. Going to the zoo is totally free and there is also an amusement park beside the zoo that you can visit as well, where you can find rides for the kids, cotton candy, and other great treats that everyone will enjoy.
Minnesota History Center Museum
Another excellent place to visit if you’re interested in St. Paul history is the Minnesota History Center Museum. There are better than 500,000 documents housed in the museum, not to mention over 100,000 different objects. Whether you are a tourist or you’ve lived in the area for years, this is a wonderful place to visit. One exhibit you’ll encounter is called “Minnesota A to Z.” It shows how Minnesota life has been and how it has developed in the past 150 years. There is a huge boxcar that is life size that you can go in, and there are many other great exhibits and videos to check out. Admission is free, so you won’t have to pay a thing to have a great time.
Science Museum of Minnesota
The Science Museum of Minnesota is a great stop in downtown St. Paul. The museum is built so it is right in the bluffs above the Mississippi River. The museum is 370,000 square fee and it has a nice theater that seats 415 people as well as a special hall devoted to human biology. Exhibits rotate and you’ll find interesting things like human heart exhibits and even holograms. The Omnitheater on site has a variety of films available and the main entrance is guarded by a steel iguana that is 40 feet long.
Alexander Ramsey House
Another excellent stop if you’re interested in St. Paul history is the Alexander Ramsey House. You can get tours of the house by guides who are dressed up in costumes from the period. This mansion was actually build by the first territorial governor of Minnesota, Alexander Ramsey back in 1872. You’ll be able to see the home and many great pieces that are originals as well.
Minnesota State Capitol
While you are in Saint Paul, Minnesota, you will definitely want to make a stop at the Minnesota State Capitol. This capitol building is considered to be the most beautiful one in the entire nation. It was designed by Cass Gilbert, who is an architect in the area. It was first opened up in 1905 and the cost of the building was $4 million and it took 6 years for the building to be completed as well. It is actually somewhat modeled after St. Peter’s, which is located in Rome and it has a huge dome and the interior is extravagant. It is located up on a hill where you have a great view of St. Paul and there are free tours available each hour. Tours are offered each hour and the cost is $5 for adults, $3 for children, and $4 for senior citizens.