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 […]
Read MoreHonolulu Pride: Military History in the Islands
It’s easy to be caught up in the sun, sand, and surf of Hawaii, but the islands are also rich in military history and sites. Although it can be sobering and painful to think about, these military sites deserve a spot on any must-see list. Next time you’re on Oahu, take a beach break and work some of these spots into your schedule: Pearl Harbor: This site is administered by the National Park System, and in my book is the must-see historical site on the island. It’s an easy drive from Waikiki, about 45 minutes, and is also served by public transportation. If you’d prefer a tour, it’s a stop on many of them. The tour includes a brief video, followed by a boat ride to the Arizona Memorial. Like most visitors to the site, I was profoundly touched and […]
Read MoreCoit Tower Adds Art-Deco to San Francisco Skyline
In San Francisco’s Pioneer Park (map), atop Telegraph Hill (map), stands the 210-foot tall, art deco, Coit Tower. The tower was built in 1933 with funds donated by Lillie Hitchcock Coit. Folklore claims that the tower was designed to look like a fire hose nozzle, and was a tribute to the firefighters of the 1906 earthquake fire. Although this version is disputed, and it’s not clear if it’s true or merely urban folklore, the story is widely retold and is consistent with the general quirkiness of the donor. Today, Coit Tower has become as much a part of the San Francisco landscape as the Golden Gate Bridge (map) or the Transamerica Pyramid (map), and is one of the recognizable pieces of architecture in the San Francisco skyline. It went through a major restoration in 1984, and remains one of popular […]
Read MoreGerald R. Ford Presidential Library & Museum
Gerald R. Ford was the 38th President of the United States, and when he in 2006, politicians from both parties lauded the legacy left by the man who was elected to Congress from the State of Michigan, and while he served as both Vice President and eventually President, he was elected to neither position. He will likely be best known for pardoning former President Richard Nixon, for which he was eventually awarded the John F. Kennedy Profiles in Courage Award. Ford, like all Presidents, amassed volumes of “stuff” during his term of office, even though he spent less time in the White House than many other Presidents. Presidential “stuff” takes on a life of its own, resulting in volumes and volumes of documents, schedules, casual notes, and even scraps of paper. All these items are collected, cataloged and filed away. […]
Read More10 Essentials to Pack for Your Beach Vacation
Beach vacations are a popular choice, whether you’re flying to an exotic location or hitting the shore close to home. But you can’t just head out to the beach — it can actually be one of the vacation destinations that is complicated to pack for. Here are 10 items that I consider essential for a beach vacation: Swim suit and cover up – whether you’ll be walking to the beach from your hotel room or out the door of your cabin, a swimsuit is the essential item of beach clothing. You’ll also want a cover up for walking through a hotel lobby, or when it’s time to cut back on your sun exposure. If you’ll be at the beach for more than a day or two consider packing additional swimsuits. Sunscreen – it seems like this is a no brainer, […]
Read MoreLas Vegas Predators at Shark Reef Aquarium
For the price of a hand of blackjack or a roll of the dice, you can spend some time with predators of a different kind — at Mandalay Bay’s Shark Reef Aquarium. The only predator-based aquarium in the United States calls the Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino (3950 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Las Vegas, map) home. What predators lurk here? Tigers Sharks. The second deadliest specie behind the Great White, these two females are quickly becoming the prima donnas of the aquarium, and it’s the only place tiger sharks are available for viewing in the US. You’ll be able to spot them easily with their tiger-striped markings and sharp-serrated teeth. Komodo Dragon. What they lack in looks, they make up for in speed, and the world’s largest lizard uses both its speed, cunning and power to track and kills it’s […]
Read MoreHow to Write Your Travel Bucket List
We love lists. We’ve always loved lists. It’s not a new phenomenon, after all, we had Book of Lists (published in 1983), the New Book of Lists (published in 2005), and various permutations since we’ve acknowledged our fascination with the list.And ever since the movie The Bucket List, we had a name for all those things that we want to do in life before we. . . well, kick the bucket. I’ve long has a list of places that I want to go, things I want to see and do, and experiences that I can’t wait to give a try, and it’s nice that I now have a special name for that list. The serious travelers that I know all seem to have ongoing, constantly updated, lists. But what if you don’t have one? Here are a few of my […]
Read MoreKarne Garibaldi: Good Food Fast in Guadalajara, Mexico
Fast food can be good food, and Karne Garibaldi (website is in Spanish) in Guadalajara, Mexico proves the point over and over again. Whenever I’m in Guadalajara, you can bank on my having at least one meal at this casual restaurant whose claim to fame is the Guinness Book of Records (1996) entry for the fastest service. They set the record at 13 1/2 seconds for a table of six. The service is so fast that before you’re even seated a group of waiters will arrive at your table bringing you appetizers to get started. It’s a plate for of fresh, warm tortillas, served along with delicious grilled onions, refried beans with bits of corn in it (this Karne Garibaldi specialty is available for purchase by the can), and other condiments (chopped green onions, radishes) and salsa. This is what […]
Read MoreMoney Issues that Get in the Way of Traveling
It seems like I just return from one trip and I start planning the next. Actually, I always have several travel ideas in varying stages of research, and it’s just about matching up time, location, and finances. Finances! It’s the f-word for travelers, and can be one of the primary stumbling blocks to travel. Some people sacrifice time in order to get more money, but then forget about the freedom that money was supposed to buy. It’s so easy to get caught up in the no time-no money continuum that vacation plans go right out the window. I think most people can come up with a plan to save up money (set a goal, break it down into manageable amounts, start saving), but it’s a little harder to to deal with the emotional components of travel and money. If there […]
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