Being stuck at an airport is never any fun, whether it’s long ground time between flights, or a flight cancellation and serious delay. Wandering an airport can be fun. . . for the first couple of hours, at least. But when you’ve checked out every last gift shop, book store, restaurant or bar, and what have you, it’s easy to become bored to tears. So what are you going to do? Well, at LAX, if you have enough time to get away, you can leave the hustle and bustle of the airport and head to the beach! The Ocean Express trolley service operates every half hour, roughly between 9 am and 9 pm, with extended hours in the summer. It serves the LAX area hotels and businesses along Century Boulevard with several stops, and provides transportation to the Manhattan Beach […]
Read MoreSeattle Visitors Enjoy the Pacific Science Center
When people visit Seattle and ask me for recommendations about what to see, the Pacific Science Center is always on my list. In addition to its location on the grounds of the Seattle Center, home of the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair, the graceful arches and fountains, make it an architecturally pleasant and appealing place to visit. Everyone seems to enjoy the Science Center. During the World’s Fair, this was home to the US Science Pavilion. Today it is an independent, not for profit science museum, with eight buildings housing hundreds of science exhibits, two IMAX theaters, a large Laser Dome theater, tropical butterfly house, and a planetarium. In addition to the permanent exhibits, the Pacific Science Center hosts a number of traveling exhibits, most recently “Lucy’s Legacy: The Hidden Treasures of Ethiopia.” My favorite of the exhibits, and a welcome […]
Read More10 Reasons I Want to Visit Barbados
I’m trying to come up with a warm weather vacation spot for this fall. Since it’s been awhile since I’ve been to the Caribbean, I thought this might be a good time to plan a return trip. Barbados, an island that I’ve not yet visited, is looming at the top of a pretty short list. Here are 10 reasons why I think visiting Barbados may be a good choice for me: I haven’t been there before, and visiting a new country takes me a step closer to the Century Club. It’s a small island, only about 14 by 21 miles, with over 70 miles of powdery, white sand beaches. Plenty of great spots to pull up a lounge chair and spend some quality time. Sun year round. Over 3,000 hours of sunshine a year, in fact. And that means year […]
Read MoreA Pass Through Visit to Bosnia-Herzegovina
If you had asked me to list my must-see vacation spots, Bosnia-Herzegovina wouldn’t have been in the top 10. Truth told, it probably wouldn’t have made the top 50. Bosnia-Herzegovina was formerly part of Yugoslavia, and became an independent country in the breakup of the latter country. While the country is predominantly a mountainous one, it has a very small spot of land that is along the coast of the Adriatic Sea. It was that small bit of coastline where I found myself about a week ago. This wasn’t my final destination, I was merely passing through these few miles traveling from Split to Dubrovnik, and the highway goes right through Bosnia-Herzegovina. WOW! I’m not sure what I was expecting, but this part of the country is beautiful. Of course, with the sparkling blue waters of the Adriatic, it’s hard […]
Read MoreDriving in Italy: Not for the Faint of Heart
While normally I am a big fan of public transportation and opt for trains, planes, and buses while on vacation, our trek to Italy and Croatia required covering a lot of ground to remote locations. A car was a necessity. Although the driving was left in the hands of the guys, we’ve covered enough ground that I can make a few observations (albeit from the passenger’s seat) about driving in Italy. The stereotype of aggressive Italian drivers has some roots of truth, but these observations are not meant to be demeaning. We soon found ourselves conforming to many of these driving habits as well. After all, when in Rome (but hey, there’s no need to have a car in Rome). . . . If you’re staying in one of the larger cities, like Rome, Florence, Naples, or Bologna, Italy, you’ll […]
Read MoreEdinburgh The City of Festivals
Today’s guest post comes to us from Andy Hayes, also know as the Edinburgh Guide. Offering up great Edinburgh tips and advice, be sure to check out the Edinburgh guide blog before your next trip to the Scottish capital — including exclusive tips for navigating the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the world’s largest arts festival. — Scotland’s capital city of Edinburgh is a busy place throughout the year – at some point in the history of Edinburgh, someone thought it would be a good idea to combat our fickle and sometimes torturous weather with a series of festivals. Now, I think the city is deserving of the title City of Festivals, because nearly every month you’ll run into a festival or two to spruce up your visit. Here’s the low down on some of my favourite festivals; if you want to […]
Read More3 To See in San Francisco
I am pleased to introduce you to a fellow travel blogger, Cat Lincoln, who has generously offered to share a guest post about her city with us while I’m on vacation. — I love sightseeing, but the pressure to hit a laundry list of attractions can make your vacation feel like a competition, or even worse, work! One tactic that helps me keep my “must see” list under control is to limit it to three destinations. List checkers like my husband still feel like they’ve “accomplished” something. And it gives dawdlers like me enough space on our itinerary to enjoy a second cup of coffee – or aperitif – at a charming, out of the way café. Here’s my “Three to See” in San Francisco! Crissy Field and Golden Gate Bridge As soon as you catch sight of the […]
Read MoreBurgers & Attitude at Hamburger Mary's
Calling itself an “open-air bar and grille for open minded people,” Hamburger Mary’s delivers good food and a fun atmosphere. Part of a 14-store national franchise, Hamburger Mary’s opened in San Francisco in 1972. It opened as a family oriented, affordably priced, restaurant and bar that target the gay and lesbian community and their families, along with those friendly to that population. As the chain has expanded it has refined its concept with a focus on fresh food, home-style meals, that are prepared and presented in a fun atmosphere. At the Palm Springs Hamburger Mary’s location, you’ll be greeted outside the door by a larger than life Mary welcoming you and tempting you with a larger than life burger. Once inside, that saucy attitude continues. It’s a little like being at your best and most irreverent friend’s home, where you […]
Read MoreTop 10 FREE Things to Do in Europe this Summer
Yes, Europe can be expensive. It’s a big price airline ticket to get there, and although the dollar/euro valuation is improving, you’re still going to find yourself spending some money. Planning ahead means you can save a little here and there, adding up to a whole lot of savings. Consider these Top 10 FREE things to do in Europe this summer (as listed by the European Travel Commission): Austria: Innsbruck is offering a free hiking bus program for all guests living in Innsbruck or staying at one of the holiday villages (with a Club Innsbruck Card). May 30th – October 26th. Belgium: What else, but free beer?! The Haacht Brewery offers free tours and tasting (one low fermentation and one high). Yummmm, Belgian beer! England: London has free admission to the British Museum (additional charge for some special traveling exhibits) […]
Read MoreWhere Do Airplanes Come From?
If you live in Seattle, as I do, there’s only one answer to that question – they come from Boeing. As the saying around here goes, “If it’s not Boeing, I’m not going!” While some of the Boeing plants have relocated elsewhere, the plant at Paine Field (about 30 miles north of Seattle) is still home to The Future of Flight & Boeing Tour, This tour of the Boeing factory lets you see the flight line where the 747, 767, 777, and 787 are made. This tour takes you through one of the largest buildings in the world (by volume), as you learn how much room it takes to build a jumbo jet. There’s lot to see on the tour so don’t forget to look up (futuristic aircraft are flying), down (a painted runway on the floor), and around (the […]
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