Gaeddert's Vacations

1976    Colorado Springs, Colorado
                Skiing- Monarch Pass
                Skiing-
1977    Taos, New Mexico
                Skiing
1978    Acapulco Mexico
                Beach, Speed Boats, Scuba Dive, Zig Zigler
1980    Europe 5 Weeks
                England, Belgium, France, Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, Amsterdam,
                Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Monaco
1978    New Orleans, Louisiana
                Radio Shack Convention
                World's Fair
                Bourbon Street
1981    Seoul South Korea
                Seoul Tower, Gardens Convention
           P'anmunjom North Korea
                DMZ, Camp Kitty Kawk
            Shung Chuug China
                Country side, Small Town
            Hong Kong China (Province)
                Harbor Cruise, Hilltop Restaurant, Harbor San Pan Cruise, Air boat Ferry
1984    Honolulu Hawaii
                Beach, Island Flight & Tour, Diamond Head, Rain forest
1984    Washington DC
                Need list
1985    Nassau
                Parasailing, Casinos 1985   
1985    Los Angles, California
                Disneyland, Universal Studios, NBC Tour, Queen Mary, Spruce Goose
1986    Branson Missouri
                Silver Dollar City, Marvel Cave, Shepard of the Hills Play
1988    Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Naples, Marco Island, Key West Florida
                Disney world, Kennedy Space Center, Keys, Cypress Gardens.
1990    Freeport & Naussau, Bahamas
                Carnival Cruise Fantasy Ship , Shopping, Dolphins Beach, Scuba Dive
1990    Las Vegas Nevada
                Strip, Hoover Dam
1992    Arizona, New Mexico and Juarez Mexico
                Grand Canyon, Biosphere, Carlsbad Caverns
                Juarez Market Customs and Walking Tour
1993    Albuquerque and Santa Fe, New Mexico
                Balloon Festival, San Dista Mountains Cable Car Ride.
1994    St. Louis Missouri
                Arch, Subway, Church, Market (Chris's Report)
1995    Winfield Kansas
                Crayloa Factory
1996    Kansas City Kansas
                Steamboat Museum, Hallmark Cards, Casino
1997    Manhattan, Brooklyn New York
Coney Island, Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Museums, St. James Theatre, Times Square, Central Park, Night Court, Walked Across Brooklyn Bridge at night Wall St., Regis & Kathie Lee Show, David Letterman show twice, Carnegie Hall, Cruise around Manhattan, NY Knicks game, Radio City Music Hall, World Trade Center, Empire State Building

                1 NBA Game, Saw 25 Famous People, 18  Districts, 10 types of Transportation, Went in 125 Buildings, Saw 7 Shows, Eat out 14 times, Saw 30 Homeless but nice Saw 14 good views of NY(3 amazing one's a Day), Walked 8 Hrs per Day Went to 6 Scary Places, Took 12 rolls of film and 4 hrs of video. bought 20 post cards, Went in 6 big stores, heard police car once per hr, Did 15 different thing in Central Park, every 50th  car was a lemo, 20 street artist, went to time sq. 5 time, Crossed Broadway 30 time, 6 bridges, 4 tunnels, 4 Boats, 5 Cub, 2 bus, 50 subway, 1 bike, 2 trams, 1 Carriage, 2 sky rides, 4 planes Video1 2 3 4 5 6 

1997        Las Vegas, Nevada (Our Video)
                    Monte Carlo Resort, Fremont Street, Hard Rock Hotel, Circus Circus, Hoover Dam
                    Hard Hat Tour, Stratosphere Tower Rides, Luxor, MGM, Champagne Breakfast at
                    Caesar's Place, Mirage, Treasure Island, NY NY Hotel, Excalibur King Arthur's
                    Tournament, Penn & Teller Magicians

1997       Albuquerque & Santa fe New Mexico
                    Balloon Festival, Sandia Mts., Cable Car, Nature Walk

1999 Oct - New England Fall Foliage Tour, "The Best of Vermont, New Hampshire, Quebec City and Montreal” (Our Video)

    We began our vacation travel by air to New Hampshire. We stayed two nights at the Black Bear Lodge nestled in the White Mountains. Our motor coach tour traveled on the Kancamagus scenic highway. We experienced covered bridges, a train tour and ice skating. That evening we dined at the Wild Coyote Grill. The tour continued on into Quebec City, Quebec, Canada.  We spent two days guided by a step on tour guide to the Citadel and a Cabaret were popular crooners Paolo Noel performed. We traveled on to Montreal Canada to cruise the St. Lawrence River in a glass top boat. Sunday morning we attended French services at the Notre Dame Basilica. Our step on tour guide showed us the 18-mile underground city, the Biodome and we viewed the city from the top of the Olympic Tower and again on Mount Royal, from which the city was named. We saw an actor James Hong at the Montreal Casino. We traveled back to the U.S.  Through New York state to Vermont. It snowed as we left Canada. We toured the Teddy Bear Factory. Our last 2 evenings was at the St. Catherine Inn on Lake St. Catherine. We canoed the lake together and tour Bennington Battle Monument. We went on a tour of Hilden, the home of Abraham Lincoln's son. We were entertained by a ladie's choir the first night and a duet the next night. On our last day we traveled back to New Hampshire, seeing covered bridges, beautiful scenery and topping the day off with a picnic at the Quechee Gorge. The total miles traveled by motor coach were 1,300.

2000 April 15, and 16 - Fort Worth Arts Festival by Amtrak

    Boarded the Amtrak Heartland Flyer Saturday morning, 2 level cars with a snack bar. We brought our own snacks. Arrived in Fort Worth Around noon.  Stayed at the Radisson Hotel on Main Street where the Fort Worth Arts Festival has been held in the past but moved due to the tornado in March. We saw glass still falling from the high rise buildings. We took a cab to the  Cultural District where the Arts Festival was moved. Watched the Fabulous Thunderbirds and  Sourdough Slim entertainment. Went to Sundance Square Tandy Center's ice skating rink and subway. Sunday morning rode the trolley to the Stockyards Watched a Long Horn cattle drive, and I road a LongHorn. Went to Billy Bob's and back to Sundance Square and ate at Billy Miner's Saloon. Went the the Water Gardens. Fort Worth also known as Cowtown is where the West began, and the beginning of the  Chisholm Trail. Boarded the train  Sunday evening about 5:30 traveled over The Red River and the Arbuckel Cannons and watch the sunset. Arrived into OKC at 10:00 pm.

Tony and Margee's First Mardi Gras Vacation 2001

See Our Mardi Gras Web Page for a better view.

    Thursday February 22, 2001 - Navigated by Satellite using our GPS and our notebook computer to the Holiday Inn in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

    Friday - We drove around the Louisiana State Capitol buildings in Baton Rouge and stopped at scenic views of the Mississippi River. Traveled on to New Orleans and bravely traveled through the city to scope out the place. We crossed the Causeway Bridge to our room at the Best Western Inn Covington.

    That night we went to Pat O’Brien’s in the French Quarter. We couldn’t find a seat so we enjoyed Hurricane drinks as we stood on the fountain.  As we strolled down Bourbon Street we negotiated for beads (lace only for Margee). We stopped to enjoy the Cats Meow Karaoke bar with live broadcasts on the Internet as we sipped frozen White Russian drinks, yummy!

    Saturday - Cruise and tour on the Natchez Steamboat. We ate lunch on board while listening to a Jazz trio. The engine room was available for viewing the large steam engines and paddle wheel. We walked through town and then relaxed and leaned up against a tree at Lafayette Park to enjoy the Tucks Parade. Our first parade grandstand seating was for the Endymion Parade at Lee Circle.  We caught our first parade beads!!!

    Sunday -

    Monday Gras or Lundi gras - Mardi Gras Festival sponsored by Krewe of  Zulu on the Riverwalk. Jazz entertainers. Mr. Big Stuff and the Governor from the Krewe of  Zulu arrived by boat on the Mississippi River and marched with a Dixie land Jazz band to the Riverwalk stage. The Governor handed two golden coconuts to the audience, coconuts are very special prize.

    Tony and Margee marched with Mr. Big Stuff, The Governor and The Band to the Riverwalk round stage to the sound of the sweet Louisiana marching jazz!

    We had Po-Boys for lunch at the Jackson Brewery Mall. Headed on over to Bourbon Street for the Krewe of Elvis party at the Famous Door Bar. We were greeted by some of the Krewe members outside door and escorted into the party. The members gave us gifts of KOE beads, beanie Elvis doll, Elvis Get Out of Jail Cards, KOE cards, souvenir New Orleans cards and Elvis’ last prescription. We celebrated with the members with King Cake and drinks. Some of the members danced on stage and were a part of the chugging contest. One couple would be married that evening in the House of Blues. We met Dan and Cocoa KOE members from Oklahoma City and visited with other members as a parade went by the Famous Door.  We walked to Jackson Square and Margee had a palm-tarot card reading. She is basically healthy, rich in love and money, very generous and loving, but is misbehaving the last two days!!! We traveled over to Harrah’s Casino by Street Trolley Car for dinner. Yummy scrimp Creole and Crawfish. We had tickets for the Orpheus parade grandstand. The parade included special guest star Whoopi Goldberg who energetically tossed throws to the crowd. The sky poured rain and we called it an evening back to the hotel.

    Fat Tuesday - Mardi Gras - Tony transformed into “Elvis” and Margee transformed into “Cilla” to march in the 2001 Krewe of Elvis Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans French Quarter. We had to walk fast to greet the members in front of the St. Louis Cathedral in Jackson Square. As we rushed along people yelled “Hey Elvis, sing me a song” from their cars and people on the street said “Hey, Elvis is alive and he is in New Orleans!”  or  “Hey, Elvis I thought you were dead?” Tony would say “Hello” (with his hand in the Elvis salute) and of course “Thank you very much” when they complimented his attire! The ladies loved my poodle shirt with can-can. As we approached the Square we could see the white suits glowing! We celebrated with the KOE and of course the wonderful Elvis recordings. The crowd loved our creative costumes. There was Dead Elvis and Elvira, Spinning Elvis and Creole Elvis. Suits of Gold Red, White, Silver and Black, an African American Elvis and several ladies dressed as Elvis. We had a group picture with the banner and the crowd again loved the KOE and gathered to take a shot too! We began out march at 10:30 am through the streets of the French Quarter. We threw beads, the crowd threw beads and several of the Elvis’ shook and sang. Everyone loved the KOE!! After we pushed through the crowds and the cars tried to push through our parade we stopped off at the Famous Door Bar. All the Elvis’ were invited on stage to perform. The stage was full of Elvis’ and rocked to the Jail House Rock! We partied inside for a while then spilled out onto Bourbon Street to start our parade again. We met other Elvis impersonators, Aliens, almost naked people, Doctors with their nurses, Caesar, and various masked partiers. The parade was such a blast and a great way to become a part of centuries old Mardi Gras!! We made it back to Jackson Square and said see you next year we hope. Elvis (Tony) and Cilla (Margee) walked to Canal Street to catch some of the Zulu parade. Several people just had to have a picture with Elvis and Cilla, even an 87-year-old lady celebrating Mardi Gras! We changed in the car and headed to the grandstand to watch the Rex Parade. We timed it beautifully, Rex arrived just minutes later. We watched the toast to Rex and his parade and enjoyed sunshine and the joy of celebrating Mardi Gras!

    Our journey was over and we headed home…but our minds and hearts will stay in Mardi Gras until next time! Let the Good Times Roll!!!!!  

Our Videos Bourbon St  Parades  City Sights  Krewe of Elvis

More Photos Jester's Pre Party  KOE 1 KOE 2  KOE 3  Jester Video Baldwin's KOE

Branson Trip – November 21 through 24, 2002          

Thursday, November 21, 2002
Departed Oklahoma City at 8:05 to Bentonville, Arkansas. Arrived at 11:05 to visit the Wal – Mart Museum on the town square in the Visitor’s Center. Highlights of the museum included the one millionth square footage of the store. The history of the Wal-Mart stores USA and International…even in Japan! The history of Sam and his family and the actual truck Sam drove around to hunt in with his dog.We ate lunch at the little café next door…real American style hamburgers and shakes.Departed to Branson at 12:00 Arrived in Branson, Missouri at 1:30 after a winding trek through the Mark Twain forest. Too late in the season to enjoy the fall foliage, but it was still a pretty drive. Our lodging was at the beautiful Pointe Royal condominiums in Branson. The condo had three bedrooms, one master for Leona and two upstairs for Tony, Margee and Dale, Sandy. Nice comfy country décor, with patio and deck. Full kitchen, laundry and large living/dining room. We unpacked and headed to the first show at the Mel Tillis theater to see…you guessed it….Mel Tillis. Before the show we shopped the gift store and viewed Mel Tillis’s painting in the gallery at the theatre. The art instructor at the gallery gave us an overview of his paintings and that he was only a 3 year student, definitely shows talent. The show started at 8:00pm with all the Christmas trim and music. Mel delighted us with his own brand of hu...hu…humor. Daughter Pam Tillis was a hit with her wide vocal range and power. They joined in a duet and they sang with two of her sisters and the nieces and nephews even got in the act. Beautiful dresses and lots of snow (artificial that is). Friday, November 22, 2002 Off to Siver Doller City with a side stop at the Lace store. Beautiful, beautiful lace filled the store, curtains, tablecloths, wall hangings and ornaments. The German lace was the most beautiful and pricey. Arrived at SiverDollar City and peered upon the 25ft. wreath! Ventured inside to enjoy the strolling quartet of men dressed in 19th century attire. The Opera House loured us in to watch a Christmas show. Beautiful singing, costumes and clever set – the log cabin opened and closed to create new settings! Really good show. We wound around the shops and sights to an outdoor show with…you guessed it…Christmas music! As the day progressed so did the appearance of the 4 million twinkling lights on everything…trees, building and even on Santa hats! It was just lovely. After we stuffed ourselves with Kettle Korn…yummy we all watched the 25ft. Christmas Tree perform! Complete with music synchronized to the hundreds of lights and angels and stars on the tree. A cute little parade marched by with Christmas characters for our pleasure. It was fun sunny COLD day! The show that evening was Dino at the American Mansion Theater. BeautifulAntebellum style theater. The seats were great, third row back and center with complete view of Dino fingers caressing the keys! Absolutely beautiful music…guess. You’re right…Christmas music! His opening number started with him suspended in air at the grand piano…really cool. Super costumes and very talented performers. His wife also sang. Saturday, November 23, 2002 Off to the Branson Belle to cruise Table Rock Lake. Unfortunately the wind was too strong for the paddle boat to cruise on the lake, so we just ventured around the four story outside deck with full view of the lake. The dinner show included and fully meal and desert with a variety of entertainment. A Dixieland jazz band, singers, dancers, and acrobats. The entire audience physically performed A Partridge in a Pear Tree song – ourarea of tables performed nine ladies dancing. Good food, show and beautiful boat along with super nice weather around 70 degrees!! The show for the evening was the grand finale of our trip and what a finale! Shoji Tabuchi just fiddled around for all of us! He fiddled…yep…Christmas music country to Classical! We just loved the variety of acts and costumes. A special act included the use of a black light with neon colored characters seeming to “float” on stage along with a fiddle and bow appearing only as Shoji played. The mice, the bears, the reindeer and the Santa’s were so clever and funny. A wind-up ballerina, rockin’ guitar girls and dancing cows just made the show such fun. Snow, confetti in all shapes with balloons would pour from the ceiling to everyone’s delight during different parts of the show. The beautiful costumes decorated with lights added a dreamy touch. Even a handbell choir performed! Just a lovely way to usher in the season. Shoji graciously joined the audience at the intermission for autographs and photos, Tony had his photo taken by Sandy with Shoji. Sunday, November 24, 2002 Heading back home, stopped by a block long gift shop to see the snowing Christmas tree. We enjoyed a wonderful fun lunch at Lambert’s Restaurant Ozark, Missouri. The waiters would actually throw hot fresh rolls at you if you raised up your hands to catch as they carted by. Interesting way to be served your food as well. Dale and Sandy’s food was served in a skillet and waiters would pass by now and then with servings of different veggies, fried okra, fried tators, etc. delicious! Quick stop at Springfield to chase through the Bass Pro Shop arriving into OKC at 6:30
 

Sturgis SD  August 6th - 15th  2004

 Sturgis Bike Week Photos      The Video       Full Report

11/2004 Cruise to Cozumel

11/16/2004 Houston Trip