Australia. Land of kangaroos, sheep stations, koala, boomerang, crocodile, wombat, dingo, shrimp on the barbie, sexy accents, and Waltzing Matilda. Now that we have the stereotypes out of the way, what can you really expect when you decide on a vacation to the land down under. Let’s be real clear – Australia is a huge country. Popping from Sydney to Brisbane is over 1,000, and to Perth is over 4,000 miles. So unless you have months to spend in the country, you’ll need to pick an area of the country to visit. One of the first things to consider if you’re thinking about tours to Australia is geography, and that starts with a good map and an understanding of the states, major territories, and what’s to see and do in each of them. New South Wales – This is Australia’s […]
Read MoreA Garden to End All Gardens: U.S. Botanic Garden
There are gardens, and then there are splendid gardens, and the latter is exactly what you’ll expect and get at the U.S. Botanic Garden in Washington DC. The name Botanic Garden is somewhat misleading, as this collection is more than just a garden — it’s a museum of living plants. The site is located on the National Mall, at the foot of the Capitol Building, and is comprised of the Conservatory, National Garden, and Bartholdi Park. The USBG dates back to 1816, with the concept of collecting, growing, and distributing plants from around the world that might contribute to the welfare of the American people. The idea started, and then sputtered, but eventually caught on after the Wilkes Expedition brought a collection of living plants from around the world back to Washington. Walking through the gardens, you’ll likely find some […]
Read More10 Tips for Stress Free Checked Bags
Checked bags haven’t gone away, they’ve just become more expensive. Depending on your airline, your frequent flier status with the airline, what class of service you’ve booked, and how much you’ve paid for your ticket, the price for checking your bag can range from nothing on up to $50 per bag. And that’s not taking into consideration over-sized over over-weight bags that require special handling. Despite the fees, if I’ve packed for longer than a simple getaway weekend, I check my bags. I hear the collective gasp go out among frequent travelers now! But I have very good reasons for preferring to check my bags, and the primary one is that I have to tote and lift everything when I’m working, and I simply don’t want to do it the rest of the time. I love the freedom of carrying […]
Read MoreThe Louvre: A Love Affair With Art
The Louvre is one of the most famous museums in the world, and most trips to Paris (at least first trips) include a visit to this famous spot located on the Right Bank of the Seine in the 1st arrondissement (map). The building, originally a palace, is now home to some of the world’s most famous works of art, including the Mona Lisa, Winged Victory, and Aphrodite/Venus de Milo. The museum opened to the public in 1793, and since then the collections have grown to their current number of over 380,000. It’s not the largest art collection in the world, but most art historians agree that it is the finest. The main buildings of the Louvre look rather fortress-like with iron gates around it. The real treasure lie within the gates, much like it must have been when it was […]
Read More10 Things to Do in the Dominican Republic
As much as I might try to ignore it, here in Seattle the weather is starting to feel more like fall than summer. Seattle usually has great Indian summer weather, but once we hit winter it’s definitely the time to start thinking about getting out of town. If your get-out-of-town preference leans toward the island sun and sand, give a thought to heading east (instead of west) and visit the islands in the Caribbean. While much of the news of the recent past has surrounded the post-hurricane plight of Haiti, the other side of that same island (Hispaniola) remains a beautiful, unspoiled tropical paradise and is home to the Dominican Republic. That’s right, Hispaniola is two countries on one island, and while travelers may not be as familiar with the Dominican Republic as they are with Haiti, it is the […]
Read MoreStanding Guard at the New York Public Library
In a city that never sleeps, it’s nice to find a quiet oasis, and that’s just how I think of the New York Public Library. On your next visit, take some time away from the sightseeing, shopping, and the frenzied pace of Manhattan and check out the library. The New York Public Library was founded by the 1886 estate of Samuel J. Tilden, who bequeathed money to “establish and maintain a free library and reading room in the city of New York.” Although there were two other libraries in New York at that time, both were experiencing serious financial hardships. The trustee of Tilden’s estate saw the perfect opportunity to fulfill his vision, and the libraries were combined to form what became the New York Public Library. A number of years later, philanthropist Andrew Carnegie donated money to […]
Read More10 Vacation Planning Tips for Exotic Destinations
Exotic travel destinations don’t have to be merely a dream vacation. With in depth research, and lots of planning, a visit to a Gorilla forest camp can be just as simple as a trip to the islands. The devil is in the details, as they say, so pay attention to the details that can make the trip a simple one. Here are some things to consider: Where do you want to go? Exotic destinations can be found on any continent, it merely depends on your definition of exotic. Start with a long list of everywhere that interests you, and maybe a few briefs notes about why you’d like to go there, and narrow it down from there. What time of year do you want to travel? Pay attention to rainy and dry seasons to make sure that your interests coincide […]
Read MoreUse the Convention & Visitors Bureau for Travel Planning
The difference between good and great is often in the little details, and with travel that means the research that starts before you ever leave home. Whether it’s for a general overview, specific planning, or maybe just for some inspirational travel ideas, a little travel research can help make your trip great. When your planning a vacation or business trip, where do you go for your travel research? This blog, I hope! But where else do you start looking for the information you’ll need to make decisions about things to do and see? One often overlooked FREE source of travel information is the Convention & Visitors Bureau. Often related to tourism bureaus, boards, and commissions, CVB’s are a good resource for information on larger cities. Larger is a matter of interpretation these days, as more and more small cities have […]
Read MoreLondon Bridge in London & Lake Havasu
Do you remember singing this as a child: London Bridge is falling down, Falling down, falling down. London Bridge is falling down, My fair lady. I sure do. But when I sang it, I had no idea what London Bridge was really all about or where it was – other than London, I mean.. So what’s the real scoop? London Bridge crosses over the River Thames connecting London and Southwark. This is city central, with lots of London hotels and attractions nearby, and is a busy spot in the city. Although London Bridge is often confused with the Tower Bridge, it is actually located between the Tower and the Cannon Street Railway Bridge. London Bridge has actually been a succession of bridges, with many incarnations occupying the same space and the same name. In the mid 1960’s, the then […]
Read MoreLas Vegas Weekend: Monte Carlo Resort & Casino
I recently had the opportunity to stay at the Monte Carlo Resort and Casino and was curious to see how it had fared since my last stay some 10+ years ago. It was a mixed bag, like any hotel stay, so I’ll break it down into easy to understand categories. The Good: Great location at the southern end of the Las Vegas Strip (map) offers easy access to everything that’s going on in the area. A monorail moves you back and forth between the Monte Carlo and the Bellagio (map), meaning you have great access to all the hotels, casinos, and shopping on that side of the strip. Beautiful exterior facade, even more so when lit up at night. Affordable prices with lots of package deals currently being offered that can bring the price of a room to under $60 […]
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