Dining?

We post our impressions of where to go and enjoy a great meal but when you go to other cities this maybe a great way to get ahead on your dining experience.

Sniff out critics' favorites

If you're more interested in getting a recommendation on the spot, download Urbanspoon. The app makes a game of finding a restaurant: Search options are displayed slot-machine style, with neighborhood, cuisine, and price as the categories. Refresh with a simple shake of the device, or click off for critics' reviews and some menus. Free. Download it: Android, iPhone/iPad.

Make reservations

Instead of calling 12 restaurants to find one that can seat your party of four, let OpenTable do the work. Search more than 15,000 restaurants in Canada, the U.K., Mexico, and the U.S. by the number of diners and your desired reservation time, and then sort by cuisine, price range, and neighborhood. And in about five taps — voilá! — you've got a reservation. Free. Download it: Android, BlackBerry, iPhone/iPad.

Sip smarter

With more than 1 million bottles of wine from Chile to Cali cataloged, the Cor.kz app is like a pocket sommelier. Search by region or varietal, peruse an exhaustive glossary, or scan a bottle's bar code with your smartphone to call up expert ratings and tasting notes. $4. Download it: Android, iPhone/iPad .

Avoid menu mistranslations

Foreign phrases can be unforgiving — and that's where On The Menu comes in. A database of more than 1,400 terms from all over the globe allows users to solve culinary conundrums with a quick Google-style search. Bagna cauda? That would be Italian for anchovy fondue. $2. Download it: iPhone/iPad.

Rub elbows with regulars

It's no easy feat to cut through the restaurant-of-the-moment hype in an unfamiliar city, which is where the no-holds-barred user reviews on Yelp's app come in. Using your GPS-mapped location, the app reveals the highest-rated places near you, as determined by the people who know best. Search thousands of dining options in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., and Ireland by price, neighborhood, or the handy "what's open now." Free. Download it: Android, Blackberry, iPhone/iPad.

Ask the experts

Crowd-sourced restaurant reviews on Urbanspoon or Yelp can be telling, but you never really know who's behind them. The owner's mom? A foodie fussbudget? LocalEats relies on (relatively) objective parties-food bloggers, newspaper dining critics, alt-weekly columnists to compile its top-100 lists in America's 50 largest cities. Locally owned spots are in, national chains are out, ensuring you'll find an authentic meal without too much legwork. Android, iPhone/iPad, $1; BlackBerry, $3. Download it: Android, BlackBerry, iPhone/iPad.

Traveling with Children?

There’s nothing worse than a crying toddler or bored grumpy teenager to put a king-sized damper on family vacations.  Maybe these tips can help?

Don't forget the diapers

Why is it that the tiniest travelers require the most baggage? Baby Pack & Go supplies packing lists that you can customize for each child. It also sends reminders to ensure globe-trotting doesn't disrupt baby's routine: Ding! It's lunchtime. Ding! Naptime. $1. Download it: iPhone.

Bring storytime on the road

Dr. Seuss goes digital with iPhone- and iPad-ready versions of his best-selling stories. Let The Lorax app be your on-the-road babysitter: It reads the story aloud, and when you tap an illustration, the machine will speak its name ("Trees." "Grass." "Pond."). $5. Download it: Android, iPhone/iPad.

Color without crayons

The ultimate airplane toy for antsy tots, Dora the Explorer Coloring Adventures is a virtual coloring and sticker book for kids ages 2 to 6, with five scenes they can infinitely redesign. Here's to no more stray crayons under the seat! $5. Download it: iPad.

Scream for ice cream

First, give yourself some elbow room. Then fire up Scoops, a highly addictive game even a technophobe could master. Your only goal is to position a virtual ice cream cone under colorful scoops that fall from the sky, using the phone's motion-sensitive accelerometer to direct the cone with a tilt of the wrist. Free. Download it: iPhone/iPad.

Upscale Shopping!

Shopping is not a sport for everyone. In fact, you may know people who absolutely hate to shop. Probably as much as I dislike basketball, baseball, tennis — in fact, any other sport you can name(except football... I do love football). If they had a competition in shopping, however, I would win hands down.

Probably the toughest shopping endeavor is bathing suit shopping. Any woman who can find a flattering yet relatively inexpensive bathing suit should win a gold shopping medal for sure.

But another less publicized shopping division is in purse purchasing. You have no idea how difficult it is to find just the right purse. I will lead you through the required parameters.

First of all, you have to determine what color purse you want. Purses come in every color you can imagine and some come in plaids or florals and other prints. If you are going to carry just one purse every day, you have to pick a color that will consistently compliment your wardrobe.  Once you have determined the color, you must decide on the fabric. Leather is a common choice but purses come in fake leather, fur, suede, microfiber, patent leather, silk and a myriad of other coverings. The weight of the purse is another important consideration. If you are going to carry the purse all over for travel, you want it to be lightweight to begin with. After a while, as it fills with maps, guides, cameras and snacks, it can end up a hefty 20 pounds.

With color, weight and fabric confirmed, the external nature of the purse comes up for consideration. Do you want an outside zippered pocket? Do you want a zipper as a closure? How about a snap? Do you want a short handle? Do you want a strap that will cross your body for protection against purse snatchers? Do you want a strap that will hold the bag on your shoulder? Do you want a backpack style or one that attaches to your waist?

It is a good thing that I eat high carbs before beginning a purse purchase competition, let me tell you. You need an awful lot of endurance as you can probably tell already. But don’t relax, there is more.  Purse configuration is by far the most intricate part of purse purchase competition there is. Do you want a section that holds credit cards so you don’t need a separate wallet? Do you want several zippered internal compartments? Or, if you are not as structured, will a large central undesignated repository do for you?

One day I managed to buy a purse at a department store in only 20 minutes. That was the amount of time allotted to me by my husband who was anxious to get home for a basketball game on TV. By now you realize that 20 minutes must be an all time record for purse purchasing and, if life was fair, a gold medal would be around my neck.

Royal Wedding

Whether you tried to avoid, watch every minute or throw a party for this event this was a happy occation that shut England down.  What a momentous occasion for Will and Kate!  And a few billion of their friends thanks to television and internet coverage.

Prince William and Catherine Middleton sealed their wedding vows with a traditional kiss on the balcony of Buckingham Palace Friday as people in London and around the world roared their approval. I too found myself caught up in the euphoria.

The short peck — and a slightly longer smooch a couple of minutes later — followed a glittering service at Westminster Abbey in which the prince and the newly created Duchess of Cambridge were pronounced husband and wife.

The kisses were followed by a traditional fly-by of vintage and modern planes from Britain's Royal Air Force.  I couldn’t even afford doves at my wedding but I’m not jealous.

About two hours later, the couple surprised crowds gathered outside the palace by emerging in a blue convertible Aston Martin and driving around for a few minutes. The car was decorated with a multicolored ribbon across the hood and dragged what appeared to be tin cans, a traditional British touch. 

William said "I will" in a clear confident voice, when asked if he would "love, comfort, honor and keep" Middleton, 29. She appeared slightly emotional as she repeated her vows.  The prince was spotted winking at his new bride — the first "commoner" to marry a prince in close proximity to the throne in more than 350 years — after they exchanged vows. 

My well wishes are with the new bride and groom and may they live their “Happily Ever After!”

Denver's Outdoor Adventures.

Our Friends allowed us to repost thier information with our audience.  I hope you find it as informational as we did!  Thank you www.visitdenver.com/what-to-do/itinerary!!

The Mile High City and the nearby Rocky Mountains are filled with outdoor recreation thrills for the whole family. Here are just a few of your options.  

Rocky Mountain National Park

CO

970 586-1206 Located 71 miles (114 km) northwest of Denver, Rocky Mountain National Park features 400 square miles (1,036 sq km) of scenic beauty, including Trail Ridge Road, the highest continuous highway in the world crossing the Continental Divide at over two miles above sea level. The park has two information centers, hundreds of miles of hiking trails, tranquil lakes, waterfalls, wildlife and horseback riding. Estes Park is a resort town on the edge of the park with restaurants and shops.

Kayaking in Confluence Park

2373 15th St., Unit B

Denver, CO 80202

303 433-3676 Ride the man-made kayak chutes in Confluence Park, just minutes from downtown, right near the REI Flagship store. Confluence Kayaks, Denver's ultimate paddling shop, offers kayaking adventures on the whitewater chutes at, including lessons, rentals, retail sales, pro outfitting and service.

Denver Bike Paths

CO With 850 miles of bike routes/trails and 300 days of sunshine, Denver is a two-wheel paradise. Denver Bike Tours offers guided mountain bike rides and skill instruction on beautiful singletrack in the foothills of Denver as well as guided tours of the city by bike. These tours accommodate riders of all abilities. Or explore the city using Denver B-Cycle (http://denver.bcycle.com), the city's pioneering bike sharing program. For a small membership fee, you can pick up a shiny red bike at one of 50 conveniently located stations throughout the city, go for a spin, and then drop it off when you're done.

The Trails at Red Rocks Amphitheatre & Park

18300 W. Alameda Parkway

Morrison, CO 80465

720 865-2494 Red Rocks is known the world over for its summer concert series, but during the day, it makes for a gorgeous hiking and biking destination. The Trading Post Trail is 1.4 miles in length, and goes through spectacular rock formations, valleys and a natural meadow. Some of the terrain is rough, so hiking boots/ shoes are recommended. Also, hikers should be prepared for adverse weather conditions as the weather can change very quickly. If mountain biking is your pleasure, the Red Rocks Trail, which starts at the lower north lot is just the ticket. The trail splits with one segment going north to connect to Jefferson County’s Matthews-Winters park and the other segment goes east to connect to the Dakota Ridge Trail. The Red Rocks Trail continues on to Matthews-Winters, creating a dramatic 6-mile loop.

The Wild Animal Sanctuary

1946 County Road 53

Keenesburg, CO 80643

303 536-0118 Lions, Tigers and Bears, Oh My! Visit this 320 acre rescue and educational Facility, located just 30 miles outside of Denver, where more than 300 large carnivores roam free. One of the only places in America where you can see Lion Prides and groups of other carnivores living in natural habitats.

Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge

5600 Havana St.

Denver, CO 80239

303 289-0930 Just 10 minutes from downtown Denver, the Refuge is a massive re-vegetation effort to restore the land to native shortgrass prairie habitat. More than 330 species of wildlife including bison, deer, and burrowing owls live here seasonally or year-round. Outdoor activities here include birdwatching (majestic bald eagles are regular visitors), fishing, and viewing the amazing bison herd.

Hot Air Balloon Rides

6375 Nautilus Dr.

Boulder, CO 80301

303 939-9323

Coupons/Specials You've never really seen the Rocky Mountains until you've seen them from a hot air balloon. Enjoy spectacular views of the majestic Rocky Mountains as you float high above the the Front Range. There are several options, including Fair Wind Hot Air Balloon Flights & Rides in Boulder (http://www.hotairballoonridescolorado.com), Adventures Out West in Colorado Springs (http://www.adventuresoutwest.com) and Colorado Hot Air Balloon Rides in Dillon and Boulder (http://www.coloradoballoonrides.com).

Denver Botanic Gardens

1007 York St.

Denver, CO 80206

720 865-3585 See what's blooming! This 23-acre oasis in the middle of the city has 45 different gardens (some 33,000 plants), as well as one of the nation's top 10 conservatories. Relax in the Japanese Garden, climb through the Rock Alpine Garden and explore the new Mordecai Children's Garden. And don't miss the Gardens' Chatfield location, a picturesque nature preserve among the grasslands, ponds and cottonwood banks of Deer Creek. Facilities include nature trails, a wildlife observation area, a historical farm, a 19th century one-room schoolhouse, working beehives and picnic areas. The new Deer Creek Discovery childrens area includes a whimsical tree house and a water feature.

Mount Evans & Echo Lake

CO Mount Evans has the highest paved auto road in North America snaking its way to the 14,260-foot (4,346 m) summit. The road ($10 for a three-day pass) is open only from the Friday before Memorial Day through the first Monday in October, and frequently has snow on it, even in August. (The road closes at Summit Lake after Labor Day, preventing you from reaching the top). The view from the top takes in the entire Front Range. The summit is 60 miles (97 km) from downtown Denver. On your way up the mountain, be sure to stop at M. Walter Pesman Trail (maintained by Denver Botanic Gardens) for a wildflower hike; you won’t see anything like the rare flowers and 1,500-year-old bristlecone pine trees anywhere else in the world. The trail winds through subalpine and alpine areas where wildflowers and animals of the fragile tundra live. Volunteer guides from Denver Botanic Gardens give interpreted hikes that follow the trail throughout the summer (call 720-865-3539 for information).

EagleRider Motorcyle Rentals & Tours

2350 Lawrence St.

Denver, CO 80205

303 531-5890 EagleRider of Denver has the largest selection of Harley-Davidson® motorcycles for rent in Denver, Colorado. The staff will help you get set up with everything for your Denver adventure vacation including one-way rentals, guided and self-drive tours, protective riding gear, riding accessories and more.

Whitewater Rafting just 30 minutes from Denver

431 Chicago Creek Rd.

Idaho Springs, CO 80452

970 423-7031

Coupons/Specials Brave the rapids! Clear Creek Outpost in Idaho Springs is only 30 minutes from Denver, and Arkansas Valley Adventures offers whitewater rafting adventures for all experience levels all summer long. It's the adventure of a lifetime for a great price.

Pinball, Pinball, Pinball!

 

DENVER - No quarters needed as the eighth annual Rocky Mountain Pinball Showdown takes full tilt this weekend at the Embassy Suites in the Denver Tech Center.

Over 100 pinball machines are set on free play so you are sure to find a game or two that suits you. The Showdown features new and classic pinball machines of years past.

The weekend is packed with seminars from pinball experts in design, art and repair.

With over $2,500 in cash prizes the showdown's tournament gives everyone an incentive to play.

Admission is $20 for one-day adult pass and $50 for a three-day adult pass; $10 for a one-day kid pass and $25 for a three-day kids (7-12 years) pass; kids 6 and under free. The show is in a new location near Interstate 25 and Arapahoe Rd. at the Embassy Suites Denver Tech Center, 10250 E. Costilla Ave, Centennial, Colorado, 80112. Doors are open 9 a.m. to midnight Friday, April 29; 9 a.m. to midnight Saturday, April 30; and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, May 1.

For more information and a schedule of events, visit www.pinballshowdown.com.