Amanda's Adventures and New Product Reviews

Tennis anyone? | Group Tour Magazine Blog THURSDAY, JULY 19, 2012 Photo: Wimbledon Championships The grounds of Wimbledon are open to tours year-round and include a visit to the museum. Tennis anyone? By Amanda Black Wimbledon closed with a bang this year: Serena Williams proved her strength and won her fifth title while Roger Federer smashed records on the way to a Grand Slam title. The same grass courts of Wimbledon will host the Olympic tennis events , beginning July 28. Both Williams and Federer will be playing in the games, and I’m sure I’ll be watching. I don’t follow tennis all the time, but it’s always enjoyable when I do. The big events are worth watching, and few events are bigger than the Olympics. Curiously enough,  odds makers  have Williams as their favorite, but they chose Novak Djokovic to win the gold over Federer. Djokovic lost to the eventual Wimbledon winner in the semi-finals. Part of the excitement of the Olympics is seeing how it all unfolds. Wil

Take flight | Group Tour Magazine Blog MONDAY, JULY 9, 2012 Photo: Amanda Black This duck doesn't mind one bit when people come to see him, especially when they bring food.  Take flight A blog explores how birds of a feather — and group tours — flock together By Amanda Black It’s one of those rites of passages, something that signals you’re grown up — like purchasing insurance or talking about oil prices. This, however, is much more pleasant. I’m not sure how I became a birder, but somewhere along the way, I crossed the line from casual admirer to a hobbyist. I dutifully fill the feeder once a week and enjoy the views out my window often. I’ve spent time learning the difference between a grosbeak and a grouse, and I frequent the  webpage of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology . I’ve spent a lot of time playing Angry Birds, too. Doesn’t that count? When I was flipping around this weekend, I ran across a showing of  The Big Year , a 2011 movie starring Owen Wilson, J