How To Travel-In and Enjoy Your Lambeau Experience

The following is a guide for traveling in and enjoying your Lambeau Field experience.

1) Reserve a Hotel Room:

The first step in the planning process is knowing what game you want to go to. Regardless of what game interests you most, you need to be prepared to book a weekend stay at a hotel months in advance. On home game weekends there is no option for a single night stay; the minimum stay is two nights. While this may be one extra night of paying for a hotel, it will make a big difference in your Green Bay experience.

2) Get Tickets

There are many different ways to obtain tickets and not all of them include purchasing them in advance; you can show up in Green Bay on game day and find a ticket(s) no problem. However, if you're trying to make the most of the game day atmosphere I would suggest having your tickets prior to game day so you're not occupied shopping for your tickets.

3) Travel Inbound for the Game

So, at this point it's game weekend. Your party has hopefully determined whose car you'll be taking and when you're hitting the road. I recommend an SUV and hitting the road at a time which will allow you to check in with the hotel at the earliest time possible; the sooner you arrive, the more time you allow to experience a game weekend in Green Bay.

4) Arrive at Hotel

You've reached Green Bay! Now to be honest, this step is very open for the interpretation. You have roughly 24 hours before kickoff, so it's all a matter of asking yourself/group what you want to experience in between now and then.

5) GAMEDAY!!!

Rise and shine, it's game day and you don't want to miss a thing. Pretending it's an 3:15pm game, I'd say you got to be out of the hotel no later than 10am. Get the car and cooler loaded, then head over to a parking lot of your choice. There are many options, and there is no real right or wrong. If you decide to go with an local homeowner's backyard, I would suggest staying relatively close (couple blocks) so you don't get too detached from the Lambeau atmosphere. Regardless of where you decide, tailgate your tails off until maybe 45 minutes before kickoff. Then it's time to shut it down and make your way to the stadium.

6) Enjoy the Victory

After the game is over you are in no rush because you got no traffic to beat. I would take this time to lounge around Lambeau as much as possible. Whether it's getting close to the field for some pictures or just walking around the concourse, take your time and soak in the atmosphere.

By Aaron P Matthews

Is It Safe to Buy Knee Braces Online?

The Internet is constantly evolving as a dynamic source for all types of products. It seems you can find anything and everything online, with hundreds of thousands of websites to choose from, including eBay, Amazon, Nextag and other retail portals.

There is however a big difference when searching and researching health care products, especially durable medical products such as off-the-shelf type orthopedic braces and supports.

Knee braces, especially the more rigid type of braces typically have been sold directly through the physician's office, local medical supply company or through specialty sources such as Orthotist's and Prosthetic device companies.

These sources provide direct continuity of care, ensuring the patient gets the proper brace, fitting and follow-up. The patient benefits in having their insurance company assist in the costs of these sometimes expensive devices.

There is however, a growing demand for other sales channels for these types of knee braces. Changes in the healthcare industry have made many of these braces non-reimbursable. Increasing deductibles have also placed many of these products out of the reach of the consumer.

The internet provides a wealth of information about knee braces, ankle braces and back braces, with thousands of websites to choose from. Consumers are looking online to save money on these expensive devices, and there is much confusion as to where to purchase these braces, and is it safe to buy them online.

Remember, that these are medical devices, and have a medical purpose. Choosing a knee brace without your doctor's input, or advise from your therapist or other health care professional can put you at risk for injury, or just getting the wrong brace.

There is nothing wrong with purchasing a knee brace online, and for that matter, ankle braces, wrist braces and back braces. Although companies that sell these products online can't and should not recommend a brace for you, they should have the basic knowledge to assist you in finding the right brace for your condition.

There are a couple of do's and don'ts when searching online for these types of specialty braces.

1) If you can't speak with someone on the other end, stay away. If you get an answering machine, you can be sure that company has neither the time or resources to assist you.

2) If you can't find an address or phone number, stay away. If there is a PO Box to respond to you can be sure this is not a real company, but an individual selling online.

3) Check the website credentials. How long they have been in business, BBB rating, Google Trusted Store and other awards that tell the consumer that this company has a good history of customer service.

4) Check the website structure. Is it organized for easy navigation, or does it look like it was thrown up in a day, with poor images, no product information and no customer feedback.

These do's and don'ts can also apply to other online businesses, but when dealing with medical products like knee braces, neck collars and back supports, it is wise to seek out companies that can help you choose the proper knee brace, given the number of products found online.

Looking for the best price works sometimes, but remember that if most of the online companies are selling it for the same price, and you find someone much cheaper, there usually is a reason, and you will pay for it later. Is it worth it when it comes to your health?

One of the premiere websites that sell Knee Braces for ACL tears, Meniscus injuries and provides a wealth of information on other functional knee braces is The Brace Shop/Knee Braces.

By Dr. Kenneth Shapiro