Taking a two year old on holiday is always a little daunting, even for the experienced traveler. No matter whether you are staying close to home or going long haul, successful holidays with pre-schoolers take precision planning. For our first holiday as a family, we decided to push the limits and go long haul, opting for South Africa for a family safari, more specifically, Cape Town, the Garden Route, followed by a few days at a family safari lodge. During the build-up to our safari holiday, we primed our son with the Lion King, Madagascar and all Disney characters that pertained to an African safari, making sure he knew the names of the different animals he might be fortunate enough to see. We bought all our travel essentials, including perhaps the most useful (in hindsight) a pair of toddler […]
Read MoreHistory & a View From the Top of the St. Louis Arch
Presiding proudly over the city of St. Louis, the Gateway Arch is the most recognizable building in the city’s skyline. It’s that iconic symbol, often photographed, that helps identify the city to millions of people who have never, and perhaps will never, visit. The Gateway Arch is located in the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, near the location where the Lewis & Clark expedition started, giving rise to its moniker Gateway to the West. It was designed by Eero Saarinen, the renowned Finnish architect, and completed in 1965. It wasn’t opened to the public, however, until June 1967. At its tallest point, the arch stands 630 feet tall, the same dimension as its base from leg-to-leg. That’s the equivalent of 63 stories. At the bottom of the arch is a visitor center and a Museum of Westward Expansion. Visitors are required […]
Read More8 Tips for Traveling with Newborns
It may have been a long time since you’ve traveled with a newborn, or perhaps you never have at all. I hope these tips from today’s guest blogger will give you the tools to need to take on this travel opportunity. 1. Bring your own formula and diapers. You shouldn’t rely on being able to buy what you need when you get there, particularly if traveling outside of the U.S. By now you probably have your own preferred diaper, and your baby has become accustomed to the formula you have at home. Traveling is stressful enough without a hungry baby and blowout diapers. Also, do the math to calculate how much you’ll need (formula and diapers) and add 20% to it. Strangers and unfamiliar places make babies uncomfortable, and when they’re uncomfortable, the metabolism can speed up. 2. Pack […]
Read MoreWeekend Getaway: Spokane, Washington
Spokane, the second largest city in Washington, is about 275 miles east of Seattle. But to many of us, it might as well be a million miles away, another country even. Those of us on the west side of the Cascades tend to forget that Spokane is coming into its own, creating a vibrant food, theater and arts scene, promoting area wineries, and taking advantage of the four distinct seasons its location offers to visitors. I’ve visited Spokane several times over the past couple of years, and each visit I’ve discovered something new, interesting, and often tasty. Here’s a look at some things that I think make Spokane a great location for a Pacific Northwest getaway weekend. Where to Stay Offering accommodations at all points in the value luxury spectrum, Spokane has plenty of options – whether you’re looking for […]
Read MoreFestivals in Brighton: Party On
If all Olympics and Jubilee festivities of London are a bit too stuffy for you, get out of the city and head to Brighton, known as a premier UK hotspot for nightlife, music, and festivals. About an hour south of London, by train (the Jurys Inn Brighton is located not too far from the station), it’s easy to pop down for a day trip. But with so much to do, you may want to make it a weekend. Here are a few Festivals in Brighton to choose from: Brighton Festival – The second largest arts festival in the UK (the largest is in Edinburgh), the festival is full of parades, fireworks, theater, music, dance, visual arts (and lots more) all staged in venues around the city. One of the unique features of the festival is the Artists’ Open House […]
Read MoreHow to Choose Your Spa Experience
Spa travel and spa visits have become an integral part of the experience for many travelers. With tons of spa deals available. it can be hard to choose, so here’s some information to help you decide if you’d like to incorporate a spa experience into your travel plans. Structured Spa A stand alone destination spa, often in a resort environment, will mean your every need is catered to. The program is often set up on a fixed schedule, meaning you need to commit to staying the required days (usually 3, 5, or 10 days), but some allow a rotating arrival and departure day. At the spa, or occasionally in advance of your arrival, you’ll fill out a profile indicating your health history, interests, and spa goals, and from that the spa will structure your activities, appointments, treatments, and food plan. […]
Read More10 Things To Do in St. Andrews, Scotland
Named for the apostle Andrew, the town of St Andrews is located on the east coast of Fife in Scotland and was originally founded as a religious settlement. Today it is widely known for its university and as the home of golf in Scotland (and the world), and is a popular spot for travelers as well as a site for conferences. Here’s a list of just a few things to see and do in St Andrews. What are you going to do first? Photo credit: Kilnburn via wikimedia Pin this to your favorite Pinterest boards.
Read MoreRoyal London: 8 Royal Parks in London
Summer holidays in London are sure to be full of hectic activities and adventures. With a calendar chock full of commemorative events and displays, you can easily find yourself wrapped up in a whirlwind of activities at a maddening pace. When you’re ready for a break, and a get back to nature moment, try visiting one of the 8 royal parks of London, most of which are an easy walk from your London location. Fair warning, they can be busy, crowded, places, but the opportunity to enjoy some beautiful grounds in the out-of-doors, can be a tonic to the traveler’s soul. The parks were originally 5,000 acres of hunting grounds for the royals. Later they became formal gardens, still for the royals however. It wasn’t until the mid-1800s that the first park was opened to commoners, er, I mean the […]
Read MoreHello 2012: Bucket List Update
Last year around this time I published my bucket list – a stream of conscious list of things I wanted to do, places to go, and things to see. I knew it was pretty ambitious; it was meant to be. Instead of having all these ideas rolling around in my head, I wanted to put them down on paper and see just how things stacked up. Despite a fair amount of traveling in 2011, I only crossed one item off my bucket list – a visit to Quebec City. So if I was traveling a lot, but didn’t cross anything else off the list, what in the heck was I up to? Here are a few details. San Francisco I’ve been a fan of the City by the Bay since my first visit back in high school, and this week […]
Read MoreThrowing Three Coins in Rome’s Trevi Fountain
Fontana di Trevi, better known to most of us as Trevi Fountain, is Rome’s most spectacular and popular fountain. In a city with so many impressive fountains, that’s a pretty big claim. The Baroque-style fountain, designed by architect Nicola Salvi and completed in 1762, is located in a busy section of the city, not far from the popular Via del Corso. To get to the fountain you walk down narrow streets, some of which seem more like alleys than streets, to the historic center of Rome. There’s signage to help you find the way, and asking for directions will help get you pointed in the right direction, but if you find the noise gets louder and louder it means you’re getting close. When I first stepped into the Piazza di Trevi, its intricate sculptures, cascading water, and faded stones wowed […]
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