I haven’t been able to figure this out- when you are PLaying Ticket To Ride and complete a destination on a card you have , then pick up another destination card and the routes are ones you have all ready completed within another destination- can you use it? We have just been discarding but not sure . I am bit of a stickler for rules so would like to know.
Posted by Lisa - Unschooling Mom as Board Games and Board Game Reviews and Recommendations, Homeschool in the Press and Media at 10:45 PM EDT
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We have been playing Ticket to Ride board game in our home for the past few weeks, the rules are fairly easy to pick up and the game play is fun while not being to serious. For those of you who enjoy Settlers of Catan or Carcassonne you will also enjoy this game. The rules are easier to understand so younger children can also play.
When you buy the game you can also register to play on the”official” website for 6 months. You get a “code” printed in your instruction manual.
You can also play for free with some limitations,like l you aren’t rated and can’t start new games, only join ones started by others. After that you have to pay or buy another Days of Wonder game. Cost is 18.00 a year and I think a good buy.
There are some sites that let you play Ticket to Ride online and for free. I have listed some of the better ones.
Free Play Ticket to Ride Online Sites
Wanderer They call is “Wanderer” but its Ticket to Ride. The online board game site is in Finnish/English but you will have no trouble if you are not Finnish speaking. Rules are well explained.
The site has other games, including FISK which is RISK.
Note: Above site has pulled ‘Wanderers” from game line up- I believe to further develop. I wil post more as I learn more if you now when they will be back before i do- please post. If you know of another site- please let us know.
Play Ticket to Ride free for 30 days hereon skotos.net. They also have many other online verson of Days of Wonder board games 
i.e. Queen’s Necklace and Ticket to Ride - Europe ( which I prefer)
Posted by Lisa - Unschooling Mom as Board Games and Board Game Reviews and Recommendations at 12:37 PM EDT
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Last week we went to a “board game night” our local hobby store sponsors a board game night once a month. My daughter ADORES the owner- a very hip and happening 40-something woman who has owner the store since she was 21 years old. She also suffers from carpal tunnel from playing World of Warcraft. She has a good selection of hard to find board games that you wouldn’t find at Toys R Us or Target.
I have always liked board games and my husband really doesn’t get it and doesn’t enjoy them at all. My likes to play most of them with me but for some of them need more than 2 players. So I was really looking forward to this night out, ( I did bring my daughter and her best friend) . The two girls had a blast0 though In think more because the event took place in a “bar” and they spent most of the night talk to the cool 19 year old waitress. There were about 30 people there- a nice mix of men and woman and some younger teenagers. I was a bit worried that the crowd would be REALLY into the games and have no tome for a beginner- I was very wrong 
Hey! That’s My Fish!
We played Blokus ( a must have game as far as I am concerned) Taboo ( not my thing but girls like it) and a couple of new games, Hey! That’s My Fish!- which was pretty fun, it involves a bit of strategy. They idea is to collect fish ( you are a penguin) jumping from ice block to ice block without getting stranded. This would be an excellent game for younger kids- it said 8 and up but I think 5 and up would be good too. requires no reading and is pretty quick - about 20 minutes a game.
Rio Grande’s Zooloretto
Spent a almost 2 hours playing 2007’s game of the year, Rio Grande’s Zooloretto Hard to explain but in the game you are a zookeeper and you manage your animals- putting like kinds together , mating a male and female together, while your opponents do the same thing. It says it should take about 45 minutes to play- maybe it was because we were very chatty- it took longer. The game appeals to both kids and adults. Was a good game to play if you don’t want to “think” too much. It also does not require reading.
We will go back again .I would encourage you to try and go to some kind of board game night- or if there isn’t one- create your own. Maybe one afternoon a month have board game day for homeschool kids. I will do this next winter now that my son is no longer velcroed to my side and require 100% of my focus
Posted by Lisa - Unschooling Mom as Board Games and Board Game Reviews and Recommendations at 11:05 AM EDT
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Yes, we all know I am a board game fanatic and I try to convert everyone . I have another list here of top ten board games to get this holiday. I pretty much always buy Carcassonne as my “standard ” birthday and Christmas gifts for kids and families. It is easily understood, rules aren’t complicated and is enjoyed by both kids and adults.
Top Ten Board Games for Christmas
1. The Settlers of Catan - New 4th Edition What’s new about it is board pieces “interlock”
2. Carcassonne I also recommend you get Carcassonne: Traders and Builders add-on to go with it.
3. Ticket to Ride - Europe
4. Puerto Rico
5. The Princes of Florence Board Game
6. Blokus Strategy Board Game
7. Roborally Game
8. Tigris and Euphrates Board Game
9. BattleLore Game
10. Alhambra
Some repoeast hear- but this is a list of the most popular board games for 2007.
Posted by Lisa - Unschooling Mom as Board Games and Board Game Reviews and Recommendations at 12:10 PM EDT
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PLEASE look at this post! Yehuda is THE authority in board games. He can tell you how to refresh tired stale board games sitting in a closet as well as explain how some of the newer and more complicated games work.
he is my FIRST stop when I am looking for new games to try or play.ON this post on his board game blog games- Yehuda lists his top 10 board games- and why. You will want to go and and buy at least of one these games. !
Why Should You Play Board Games with Your Kids?
Board games are a way to interact with your kids. While you are playing you are also talking… sometimes just talking about nothing is EVERYTHING.
They build self esteem.
They are an amazing play value for the money
They help critical thinking skills.
Playing Board games is FUN.
Yehuda Board Game Blog: http://jergames.blogspot.com/2007/02/my-top-ten-board-games.html
Posted by Lisa - Unschooling Mom as Board Games and Board Game Reviews and Recommendations at 10:05 PM EDT
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