Vacation

Eagle Hurst Ranch is a great vacation destination

maureenflynn — Thu, 05 May 2011 20:56:36 +0000

Barbara Watkins | bwatkins@archstl.org

As the price of gas continues to rise, just in time for summer vacation, many families are rethinking their travel plans. And many others are grateful that they already have a destination picked out close to home that offers everything needed for a great family vacation.

It’s Eagle Hurst Ranch. Less than a two- hour drive from St. Louis, Eagle Hurst is a family-friendly resort nestled in a wooded campus in the Ozarks.

Family comes first at Eagle Hurst Ranch

lisajohnston — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 15:25:17 +0000

Barbara Watkins | bwatkins@archstl.org

Thumbnail (for Multimedia Slideshows)

Take a family vacation where "family" is the focus — Eagle Hurst Ranch in Steelville.

Divine Mercy message underscored at shrine in Massachusetts

maureenflynn — Fri, 06 May 2011 14:06:31 +0000

Rebecca Venegoni Tower | Special to the St. Louis Review

Visitors come by the thousands each year to Stockbridge, a picturesque town nestled in the Berkshire Mountains of Western Massachusetts. They come because of the faith of a Polish nun.

Stockbridge is the home of the Norman Rockwell Museum, but 40,000-50,000 faith-filled believers who visit annually have a different destination: Eden Hill and the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy.

Give Kansas City a whirl for a great vacation

maureenflynn — Thu, 05 May 2011 21:38:14 +0000

Barbara Watkins | bwatkins@archstl.org

“I’m goin’ to Kansas City, Kansas City here I come …” the words Wilbert Harrison’s 1959 hit ring true to many Missourians. A pretty straight shot across the state from St. Louis, about 235 miles on Interstate 70, it’s an easy four-hour drive. In these days of high gas prices and tight money, it’s the perfect spot for an out-of-town vacation that won’t break the bank.

I speak from experience. I love Kansas City. Every time I’ve been there I’ve had a ball, and I always leave with a mental list of things to do on our next visit.

Follow these tips for a safe hike

maureenflynn — Thu, 05 May 2011 21:26:06 +0000

Folks enjoying a vacation at Eagle Hurst Ranch can venture away from the resort for a day to enjoy hiking in nearby sections of the Ozark Trail and the Mark Twain National Forest.

But, as the Boy Scouts caution, be prepared. Even a hike of an hour or two requires a little preparation, even if nothing more than good, sturdy shoes and a bottle of water.

The helpful people at the Ozark Trail Association offer these helpful hints make your outdoor experience go smoothly.

Find Mass times anywhere with phone, Internet help

maureenflynn — Thu, 05 May 2011 19:53:52 +0000

Barbara Watkins | bwatkins@archstl.org

Going on vacation doesn’t mean skipping Mass. With few exceptions and with a little planning, you can find a Catholic church in or near almost any location.

The easiest way to do this is to use one — or both — of the most commonly used, easily available tools we have: the telephone and the computer.

Use the phone

Pope says don't take a vacation from helping others

maureenflynn — Thu, 05 May 2011 19:50:43 +0000

Catholic News Service

CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy — Don’t forget about helping people in need, even while on vacation, Pope Benedict XVI said during his annual summer vacation last July.

Speaking during his Angelus address at the papal summer residence of Castel Gandolfo, the pope said, “To be Christian means to be faithful to the words and example of Jesus, especially by living a love of God and neighbor.”

As the parable of the Good Samaritan teaches, Pope Benedict said, people need to be like Christ, who is motivated by love and charity, and to serve their brothers and sisters “with sincere and generous love.”

Annapolis has history, especially at little-known church linked to Catholic revolutionary patriot

Mon, 02 May 2011 18:27:51 +0000

Joseph Kenny | jkenny@stlouisreview.com

You won't find it on most websites highlighting places to see in Annapolis, the capital of Maryland, a city proud of its colonial heritage and reputation as a center of sailing and boating.

I was lucky enough to see a small photo of St. Mary's Church in a tourism brochure. The photo showing its unique interior architecture was enough to place it on a listof stops my wife and I made during a daylong visit to Annapolis last summer while on a trip to nearby Baltimore and Washington, D.C.

Women's retreat is annual highlight at Eagle Hurst Ranch

Sat, 30 Apr 2011 22:40:28 +0000

Barbara Watkins | bwatkins@archstl.org

The annual Women's Retreat at Eagle Hurst Ranch is "probably our best event of the year," said Steve Butz, one of the owners of the family-friendly resort on the Huzzah River. "My wife and other family members have gone, women from several generations. It's a wonderful event."