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.
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Royal 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 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 […]
Read MoreTourist at Home: Visiting the Seattle Aquarium
One of my favorite ways to spend a day in Seattle is to pretend I’m a tourist, giving all the attractions and sights that I usually take for granted a new lease on life. Rather than dismiss things as for tourists only, I plunge headfirst into the adventure, trying to see my city as others might see it. I try to take a few days over the New Year’s holiday to do that – it’s a perfect post-holiday stress break and the city still has a bit of holiday glow about it. This year, as is often, the Seattle Aquarium was high on my list of places to visit. The aquarium opened in 1977, with a major expansion in 2007, and is the 7th largest aquarium in the U.S. (based on attendance). In addition to its popularity with visitors, it […]
Read MoreVisiting the 8 Ivy League Campuses
The Ivies. What started out as eight private colleges and universities forming an athletic conference, is now a term used to represent eight of the most elite, prestigious, and expensive schools in the world. With the exception of one, all of the schools were founded during the Colonial era. The eight Ivy League schools are: Brown University Columbia University Cornell University Dartmouth College Harvard University Princeton University University of Pennsylvania Yale University With college visits right around the corner for many families, let’s take a look at what you can expect in a visit to the ivy league schools – besides the expected academics. Brown – Providence, Rhode Island. A small university in a small town-feel city, Brown offers guided and self-guided tours of its campus. Downtown Providence is full of architecture dating back to the 19th century, along with […]
Read MoreFlorida’s Best Beaches
While Florida has become particularly well known for its theme parks, there is so much more to this diverse, vibrant and beautiful region than roller coasters and dancing seals. Boasting a year-round tropical to sub-tropical climate, Florida is the warmest state in the U.S. and is an extremely popular destination for tourists the world over. After all, they don’t call it the Sunshine State for nothing! Check out our list of some of Florida’s best beaches: Daytona Beach Situated on the east coast, Daytona Beach is home to a 23 mile stretch of soft white sands lapped by the turquoise waters of the North Atlantic Ocean. It is a family-friendly area, however, during Spring Break hundreds of American university students descend on Daytona Beach to take a break from their studies and to party by the beach. Throughout the rest […]
Read MoreLess Seen African Beaches
Swaddled on its eastern flank by the warm touch of the Indian Ocean, and on its west edge by the grand swells of the Atlantic, Africa is more than equipped when it comes to glorious beaches. But beyond the obvious strips – along Egypt’s Red Sea coast, the well-trawled crescents of Morocco and Tunisia – other, less-discovered stretches await, their wave-dabbed curves all the more beautiful for their relative lack of fame. South Africa As the continent’s lower edge, South Africa is a beach paradise. You can find endless coastal glories within reach of Cape Town, where the Cape Of Good Hope extends a slender south-pointing finger into the Atlantic – not least of which are photogenic outposts like Muizenberg and Simon’s Town on False Bay. But those seeking a more secluded form of South African seafront should look a […]
Read MoreTu Tu Tango Offers Food & Art for Weary Orlando Travelers
Orlando is a city of theme parks, tourists, and is frequently plastic and sterile. One year it was named the angriest city in America – I guess that fake smile starts to grate after awhile. When you’re ready to take a break from the theme parks and angry mobs, chances are you’ll be looking for a restaurant that is nearby everything, has good food that’s fairly priced, and has an enjoyable atmosphere. And if you’re traveling with the family, you want something that’s kid friendly but offers up more than hot dogs and fries. In Orlando, one of the restaurants that may just fit this description is Tu Tu Tango, a concept chain restaurant with locations in several states and in Canada. The restaurants are all themed around Spain’s bohemian artist culture – it’s like being in an artist’s loft. […]
Read MoreIn Photos: California State Capitol Building, Sacramento
Sacramento is the capital city of California and home to its Capitol Building, a classical revival style patterned after the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C. The Capitol Building and its grounds are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. At the center of the building is the rotunda, which divides the State Senate and Assembly into north and south wings. The rotunda is 128 feet tall, from the basement of the building to the height of its inner dome. The Rotunda serves as a ceremonial space, but also as the starting point for most visitors to the Capitol. In this area you can sign up for a tour, enjoy a look at some of the decorative murals and interior décor, or look up at the beautifully detailed ceiling. At the center of the rotund is Columbus’ […]
Read MoreThe Arc de Triomphe: The Triumph of Paris
Standing in the center of the Place Charles de Gaulle (also called the Place de l’Étoile) at the western end of the Champs-Élyseés, the Arc de Triomphe is the largest triumphal arch in the world. It honors those who bravely fought for France, particularly during the Napoleonic Wars, and beneath the arch is the tomb of the unknown soldier from World War I, the grave marked by the very first eternal flame. The flame burns in memory of those who died, but were not identified, in both WWI and WWII. The English translation of the inscription reads “Here lies a French soldier who died for his fatherland 1914-1918.” It’s said that this flame was the inspiration for an eternal flame being placed on the grave of assassinated President John F. Kennedy. The Arc de Triomphe stands about 165 feet tall, […]
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