March 31st is the 127th anniversary of the inauguration of the Eiffel Tower, and boy dho I wish I was there to celebrate! Located beside the River Seine in Paris, France, the Eiffel Tower is the tallest building in the city. Following its completion in 1889, it was the tallest structure in the world, and remained so until the Chrysler Building in New York City displaced it from that top spot. The Eiffel Tower was originally built as the entrance arch for the Paris World’s Fair. That also marked the 100-year commemoration of the French Revolution. When it was first built, many considered it to be an eyesore, part of the reason why originally the tower was to be torn down 20 years after it was erected. Fortunately, some practical uses came of the tower (including the role it played in helping […]
Read MoreWhere Else to Go Podcast: Kay Dougherty Talks About Marco Island Florida
Did you catch the latest episode of my Where Else to Go podcast? In this episode, Kay Dougherty from Blonde Brunette Travel, talks about visiting Marco Island, Florida. Take a listen!
Read MoreHotel Review: Motif Seattle
Motif Seattle Address: 1415 Fifth Avenue, Seattle, Washington Value Luxury Rating: (out of 3 hearts) Features: Motif Seattle is located on Seattle’s Fifth Avenue, between Pike and Union Streets, and has themed the hotel around locally-inspired fashion in its 319 guestrooms. Rooms offer views of downtown Seattle, Elliott Bay, and the Olympic Mountain range. and include alarm clocks with iPod docking stations, Keurig coffe and tea maker, refrigerator, wifi, work space with lots of plug ins, pillow top beds, and robes. Bathrooms feature Essential Elements products. Motif Seattle is a pret friendly hotel, and four-legged guests receive special amenities: plush dog bed, food and water bowls, complimentary welcome snacks, and for owners, a copy of CityDog magazine. The pet fee is a bargain priced one-time $20. Parking at the hotel is $32 plus tax, with in and out privileges. A Tesla & […]
Read MorePostcard from Okunoin Cemetery
A walk through a cemetery is a history lesson, especially in Japan. Feudal lords are interred next to executives, business moguls next to working class citizens.
Read MoreHotel Review: Maritime Inn, Gig Harbor
Maritime Inn Hotel Address: The Maritime Inn is located at 3212 Harborview Drive, Gig Harbor, Washington. Value Luxury Rating: (out of three hearts) Features: The Maritime Inn is located in Gig Harbor, Washington, a small town across the Narrows Bridge from Tacoma. While its history is full of commercial fishing and boat building, Gig Harbor today it has turned it historic waterfront into a community that attracts visitors with its galleries, parks, public and private docks and marinas, shopping, and dining. It is also on of the many small towns that promotes itself as the gateway to Olympic Peninsula. The Maritime Inn pay homage to the town’s shipbuilding history, naming each of its 15 rooms after historic vessels that operated in the local waters. You’ll find a photo of your vessel inside the room. We stayed in The Eagle, with a view […]
Read MoreNew Podcast: Where Else to Go
Today is a pretty big day for me. After months and months of research and practice (also known as dithering around), I’m launching my new podcast – Where Else to Go. The podcast focuses on value luxury travel – that sweet spot where price and experience intersect to create WOW! Value luxury helps you decide when to save and when to splurge, and makes sure you get the most out of every travel experience. Another reason for starting the podcast is that the female voice and angle is missing from what else it out there. I’ve been listening to podcasts for years, including many in the travel niche, and found the female approach to travel is grossly under-represented. So I jumped into the scrum. My half hour podcast is designed to help you decide where to go, but more importantly […]
Read MoreA New Country for 2016: Philippines
Last week I was excited to add a new country to my growing list of countries visited. I use the Travelers’ Century Club’s list of countries, which currently numbers 325 countries and territories, as it has changed as the map of our world has changed. For fun display purposes, I like this map of the world which shows that I’ve only visited 17% of the world. I’ve got plans for the rest of the year that will have me filling in a few more countries. Create your own travel map – TravBuddy
Read MoreTalking About Seattle on the Amateur Traveler
I’ve lived in Washington State all of my life, and the greater Seattle area for most of it. When my friend Chris Christensen from the Amateur Travler wanted to talk about the city, I was happy to oblige. The discussion center mostly on things to do in downtown Seattle, things you wouldn’t need a car to go see or do. Take a listen below, or visit Amateur Traveler Episode 502 – Travel to Seattle, Washington for show notes and to subscribe via iTunes. Amateur Traveler Episode 502 – Travel to Seattle, Washington
Read MorePostcard from Manila
This week I’m in Manila, in the Philippine Islands This is a new country for me to visit, and while I’ve been busy with meetings, site reviews, and only a little bit of touring, I’ve discovered there is plenty to see and do. The food has been amazing, too.
Read MoreOrient Beach, St. Martin
Earlier this year, while on a Royal Caribbean cruise on board the Oasis of the Sea, we had a port of call in St. Martin/Sint Maarten. The island is owned by two nations – France, which owns around 60% of the island, and the Netherlands, which owns about 40% of the island. During our port of call I was able to visit both sides of the island, an item on my bucket list, and I’m also considering it visiting two new countries (although, yes, I’ve been to both France and the Netherlands, I’m just not splitting hairs about this). This photo is from Orient Beach on the French side of the island, arguably the most well known of the nude beaches on the island, and is a popular stop on cruise shore excursions as well as for general island visitors. […]
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