Santas Land - Christmas Charms

Tribe facing attack over bear zoos

23.02.96

It follows an incident last summer in which a 9-year-old girl was bitten at Chief Saunooke Bear Park while feeding a baby bear a mixture of Lucky Charms cereal and cat food. "It's affected my business earnings," said Barry Coggins, owner of the Cherokee Bear Zoo. It has flown in game show icon Bob Barker for a meeting with tribe leaders and is suing the U. S. Bureau of Indian Affairs in Washington over records related to the bear zoos. The group's efforts are starting to hurt, one zoo owner said. The billboard is the latest in a two-year battle that People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has waged against the zoos on the Cherokee reservation about an hour and a half west of Asheville. The sign along Interstate 26 near Asheville, N. C. , offers this warning: "Children Bitten at Bear Pits.

Source: USA Today

Family Vacation Suggestion: Southern Indiana

21.07.11

Your destination probably featured cheesy side attractions like alligator farms, tacky historic villages, unremarkable mini-golf courses and gift stands stuffed with authentic souvenirs, most of which were made in China. Even the once mundane side attractions, like miniature golf courses, are opulent and often feature other activities such as go-cart tracks. Worth the premium costs in most cases, these mega-establishments have taken something away from the family vacation of days gone by. Attractions are destinations unto themselves, priced accordingly. s not uncommon to fly to a destination like Orlando, Las Vegas, California or Hawaii and stay in a nice hotel. After one or two trips, the kitsch and camp were recognized by. even the youngest family members, and many of the sub-attractions were mocked or became the butt of inside jokes. headed for a popular vacation spot like an amusement park, beach or national. family truckster&rdquo.

Source: Cincinnati CityBeat