Forums Closed
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As of January 1, 2019, we have closed our forums. This is a decision we did not come to lightly, but it is necessary. The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk. The server software itself must be updated, and it cannot be without removing the forums.
So it is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to our long-running forums. They came online in 2000 and brought together so many wonderful Disney fans. We had friendships form, careers launch, couples marry, children born ... all because of this amazing community.
Thank you to each of you who were a part of this community. You made it possible.
And a very special thank you to our Guides (moderators), past and present, who kept our forums a happy place to be. You are the glue that held everything together, and we are forever grateful to you. Thank you aliceinwdw, Caldercup, MrsM, WillCAD, Fortissimo, GingerJ, HiddenMickey, CRCrazy, Eeyoresmom, disneyknut, disneydani, Cam22, chezp, WDWfan, Luvsun, KMB733, rescuesk, OhToodles!, Colexis Mom, lfredsbo, HiddenMickey, DrDolphin, DopeyGirl, duck addict, Disneybine, PixieMichele, Sandra Bostwick, Eeyore Tattoo, DyanKJ130, Suzy Q'Disney, LilMarcieMouse, AllisonG, Belle*, Chrissi, Brant, DawnDenise, Crystalloubear, Disneymom9092, FanOfMickey, Goofy4Goofy, GoofyMom, Home4us123, iamgrumpy, ilovedisney247, Jennifer2003, Jenny Pooh, KrisLuvsDisney, Ladyt, Laughaholic88, LauraBelle Hime, Lilianna, LizardCop, Loobyoxlip, lukeandbrooksmom, marisag, michnash, MickeyMAC, OffKilter_Lynn, PamelaK, Poor_Eeyore, ripkensnana, RobDVC, SHEANA1226, Shell of the South, snoozin, Statelady01, Tara O'Hara, tigger22, Tink and Co., Tinkerbelz, WDWJAMBA, wdwlovers, Wendyismyname, whoSEZ, WildforWD, and WvuGrrrl. You made the magic.
We want to personally thank Sara Varney, who coordinated our community for many years (among so many other things she did for us), and Cheryl Pendry, our Message Board Manager who helped train our Guides, and Ginger Jabour, who helped us with the PassPorter-specific forums and Live! Guides. Thank you for your time, energy, and enthusiasm. You made it all happen.
There are other changes as well.
Why? Well, the world has changed. And change with it, we must. The lyrics to "We Go On" for IllumiNations say it best:
We go on to the joy and through the tears
We go on to discover new frontiers
Moving on with the current of the years.
We go on
Moving forward now as one
Moving on with a spirit born to run
Ever on with each rising sun.
To a new day, we go on.
It's time to move on and move forward.
PassPorter is a small business, and for many years it supported our family. But the world changed, print books took a backseat to the Internet, and for a long time now it has been unable to make ends meet. We've had to find new ways to support our family, which means new careers and less and less time available to devote to our first baby, PassPorter.
But eventually, we must move on and move forward. It is the right thing to do.
So we are retiring this newsletter, as we simply cannot keep up with it. Many thanks to Mouse Fan Travel who supported it all these years, to All Ears and MousePlanet who helped us with news, to our many article contributors, and -- most importantly -- to Sara Varney who edited our newsletter so wonderfully for years and years.
And we are no longer charging for the Live Guides. If you have a subscription, it's yours to keep for the lifetime of the Live Guides at no additional cost. The Live Guides will stay online, barring server issues and technical problems, for all of 2019.
That said, PassPorter is not going away. Most of the resources will remain online for as long as we can support them, and after that we will find ways to make whatever we can available. PassPorter means a great deal to us, and to many of you, and we will do our best to keep it alive in whatever way we can. Our server costs are high, and they'll need to come out of our pockets, so in the future you can expect some changes so we can bring those costs down.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for your amazing support over the years. Without you, there's no way us little guys could have made something like this happen and given the "big guys" a run for their money. PassPorter was consistently the #3 guidebook after the Unofficial and Official guides, which was really unheard of for such a small company to do. We ROCKED it thanks to you and your support and love!
If you miss us, you can still find some of us online. Sara started a new blog at DisneyParkPrincess.com -- I strongly urge you to visit and get on her mailing list. She IS the Disney park princess and knows Disney backward and forward. And I am blogging as well at JenniferMaker.com, which is a little craft blog I started a couple of years ago to make ends meet. You can see and hear me in my craft show at https://www.youtube.com/c/jennifermaker . Many PassPorter readers and fans are on Facebook, in groups they formed like the PassPorter Trip Reports and PassPorter Crafting Challenge (if you join, just let them know you read about it in the newsletter). And some of our most devoted community members started a forum of their own at Pixie Dust Lane and all are invited over.
So we encourage you to stay in touch with us and your fellow community members wherever works best for you!
Best wishes for a wonderful and magical new year!
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01-26-2010, 12:11 AM
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#1
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PassPorter Guide
 Community Rank: Globetrotter 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,041
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Feature Article: Cape Cod - Falling in Love
Cape Cod - Falling in Love
by Sue Kulick
"If you're fond of sand dunes and salty air ... Quaint little villages here and there ... then you're sure to fall in love with old Cape Cod ..."
Patti Page made that song a Billboard hit in 1957, but the lyrics still describe Cape Cod today! Cape Cod is more than just a vacation destination. It's a way of life, a step back in time, and a place that will take you away from the day to day grind. Although time marches on and the Cape evolves with time, you still can feel the history and a sense of timelessness all over.
You'll travel a congested highway towards the Cape, maybe Route 3 from Boston or Route 195 from Rhode Island. Then, as you approach the Cape Cod Canal, you begin to smell the salt air and see the sand on the side of the road. You are already starting to relax. You cross the Bourne or Sagamore Bridge, and you are there!
Picture an arm bent at the elbow, and you'll have an idea of the geography of the Cape. It is divided into basically three sections: Upper Cape, Mid Cape and Lower Cape. The Upper Cape is the southernmost area, closest to the mainland, and extends to around the Sandwich area. Mid Cape is the middle of the Cape, including Hyannis, Barnstable and Yarmouth, and the Lower Cape is the rest of the Cape, from the elbow north to Provincetown. In addition, two lovely islands, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket, make up more of the area's geography. There's a lot to see and do, and before you go, you need to decide what you'd like from your vacation. Beaches? Shopping? Whale watching? Lighthouses? It's all here! Summer months get very crowded as the Cape is the perfect getaway for Northeast locals. The weather and the beaches are great, and there are wonderful things to do. Off season brings its own special beauty, but you will see many local business shut down for the season. There's still plenty to do, you just need to plan accordingly.
As a vacationer to the Cape, you will notice that there is no shortage of places to stay. From little mom and pop hotels to deluxe condos, you have your pick of lodging. Book early; summer is very popular on the Cape and many places fill up. If you decide to travel off season, keep in mind that the Cape is mostly a summer resort and many places shut down for the long winter months.
Once you have reserved your lodging, it's time to plan your itinerary. If you are traveling in the summer, be sure to factor traffic into your travel time, especially on weekends. What looks like a 30 minute ride could actually take more than an hour, so leave early for your destinations. If you are traveling in the spring or fall, call ahead to make sure your destination is open for the season.
So let's begin…how about some beach time? The Cape Cod National Seashore offers pristine beaches and beautiful vistas, stretching nearly the length of the eastern edge of the cape as well as part of the bay side. There are also bike and hiking trails, as well as marshland excursions and ranger guided activities for the young and the young at heart. The bay side (between the cape and the mainland) offers beautiful beaches. Our personal favorite is located in Sandwich. Expect the beaches on the bay side to be a bit rockier and also a bit calmer than those on the Atlantic.
If you are a lighthouse aficionado, you will find many sites to enjoy! Did you know that the Cape has 21 lighthouses, and a history that includes three that no longer exist? Many of these lights are now privately owned, but there are eight that you can visit. For instance, The Nauset Light is open to the public, as is The Cape Cod Light. Both of these lights underwent a massive transformation in the last 10 years, being moved from their original locations near the cliff edge, where they were in danger of collapsing due to erosion. They are now safely tucked away from the edge and can be toured.
If you think you'd like to spend some time on the ocean, there are plenty of tours and fishing trips. Whale watching is a particular favorite. It is an unbelievable feeling to be up close and personal with some of the largest mammals on earth. Provincetown is home to many tour boats and trips. You can also walk down the main pier and get a glimpse of a working harbor.
And if you have decided that shopping is your thing, you have come to the right location. From the Wellsfleet Flea Market to the Cape Cod Mall, there's something for everyone. There are plenty of little fun shops, including Annie's Book Stop, a used book emporium on Route 28, The Crystal Pineapple, a jewelry and gift boutique located in West Barnstable and South Dennis and the famous Black Dog on Martha's Vineyard. From the artsy to the eclectic, you may find your heart's desire in a Cape Cod shop!
So I've saved the best for last….the food! Cape Cod, of course, is all about the seafood. From award winning clam chowder to fresh fish of every variety, there is no shortage of delicious choices. If you're not a seafood lover, you can get some wonderful prime rib at Captain Parker's Pub, or The Yarmouth House. Of course, the Hearth and Kettle is a perennial favorite any time of day. And if you are in Sandwich, stop into Beth's Special Teas for a delicious treat!
The Cape is an ever changing, ever evolving destination that still maintains its old world flavor. Go for a day, a weekend, a week! You will never forget your time spent on old Cape Cod.
View the full article and download a free formatted PDF of it here!
Added to PassPorter's Article Collection on 12-24-2009 10:26 PM
What do you think? Please add your own comments, experiences, or news related to this article in this thread! Reader feedback is welcomed and encouraged.
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