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 to go through a security checkpoint before accessing the visitor center, so allow a little additional time in your plans.  Exhibits in the visitor center and museum show the history of St. Louis and the surround riverfront area.  After a look around there, it’s time to head to the top of the Arch.  An elevator like tram takes visitors to the top of the Arch in a quick 4-minute ride.  The tram leaves every 10 minutes, but during peak tourism times, the wait can be lengthy.

The viewing area at the top of the arch will hold up to about 160 people.  That can be a bit crowded as everyone waits to look out the windows (there are only 32 windows), but the view is worth it.  On a clear day you should be able to see for about 30 miles.  After you’ve enjoyed the view you can take the tram back down.  IMPORTANT NOTE:  There are no restrooms at the top.

There are steps to the top – 1,076 of them – but are used only by workers and staff.  Visitors are not permitted to make the climb to the top.  But it’s nice to know the stairs are there, just in case of an emergency.

Allow about two hours for a visit to the St. Louis Arch.  That will give you time to explore the museum as well as have some time at the top.  Allow additional time to explore the rest of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial or during peak times when crowds will likely result in long wait times.

Location:  Memorial Drive.

Hours:  9 am-6 pm during the winter, and 8 am-10 pm during the summer.  Closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.  It is most crowded during the midday hours.

Tickets:  $10 adults; $5 kids (3-15); and $7 with a National Park Passport.  Tickets for the tram can be purchased in advance online or onsite on day of visit.  During the heavily visited summer months, advance purchase is strongly recommended.

Public Transportation:  Take the MetroLink Lightrail to Laclede’s Landing stop.  The Memorial is about a 5 minute walk.  From the airport, the ride is about half an hour, with departures every 15-20 minutes.

Photo credit:  Buphoff (exterior shot), Daniel Schwen (observation deck), both via wikimedia commons

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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 and carry on a diaper bag with an extra day’s supply of everything you’ll need or might need to keep your baby happy.

At a minimum, this should include:

• Diapers and wipes (of course).
• Extra outfits and pajamas. You never know when you’ll need those.
• Pacifiers in easy-to-reach pockets. On a crowded plane or taxicab, you’ll want these within reach.
• Pre-mixed liquid formula, or pre-measured formula and a bottle of water. These you might have to skip if you’re flying from a U.S. airport.
• Bottles, nipples, and bottle caps.
• Ziplocs or plastic bags for stashing dirty diapers.
• Burp cloths and a small receiving blanket.
• Diaper rash cream, baby Tylenol, Orajel, and saline drops.

3. Pacifiers with pacifier clips.

You’ll pack extra pacifiers, of course, but nothing saves a trip as much as a good pacifier clip. This keeps the pacifier from falling onto counters, floors, and other potentially unsanitary surfaces out there in the world. I put one pacifier in every suitcase and carry-on, one in my wife’s purse, and one in my own pocket. By the end of the trip, I’ve usually needed every one of them!

4. Bring something portable your baby can sleep in.

A Pack-N-Play is the safest option, but also one of the bulkiest. Small, portable swings might also be an option. One of the best choices, however, is a stroller. Airlines and other transportation providers are usually friendly towards stowing these, though you might have to check them. A stroller is multi-functional in that it lets you push your baby around, offers some protection from sunlight and strangers, and can be a soft, comfy place to sleep.

5. Remember car seat safety.

Lots of hotels and travel companies offer you a free shuttle to or from the airport. However, a car seat might not be available there, and it certainly won’t be if you don’t request it with plenty of advance notice. Call the company at least a week ahead of time to find out.  Worst case scenario, you’ll need to pack your own so that you can travel, legally and safely, in any vehicle.

6. Leave small, easy-to-lose items at home.

On the top of my list are socks and shoes for babies who can’t crawl or walk. These are most likely to be kicked off at the most inconvenient time possible. You’re better off dressing him in a one-piece, button-up onesie with footies to keep his feet warm. Small toys and  favorite stuffed animals, if you must bring them, should stay in the suitcase as long as possible. Bring extras of small things that often get left behind, like bottle caps and nipples.

7. It’s a germ-filled world out there.

Your baby will be in small, enclosed spaces with lots of strangers, not all of whom are as germ-conscious as new parents. There are also counter tops, hand rails, door handles, and other places where many, many hands have been. You touch one, then you touch your baby, and it’s like a hundred people touching your baby. Speaking of which, beware of the effect that cute babies have on ordinary people. Complete strangers will come up and want to touch your baby’s face or toes. Some people just don’t realize it. Try to prevent this when you can (I like to tell people that my baby is “just getting over a cold”) and have hand sanitizer within easy reach. Nothing will ruin your trip as quickly or completely as a sick baby!

8. Plan for safety and comfort for your baby.

You’ll be in a different environment, away from your nicely child-proofed home. Traveling with babies is stressful. You can mitigate that by planning things in advance: who’s going to carry the baby? What happens if one parent gets separated? Will there be cold or hot weather that we should plan for? Think about these things in advance, and be ready. Talk to your traveling companions (family or friends) ahead of time, too, and ask them for help.

If this is your first trip with your baby, it might be rough. Even so, the first time you take your baby into the wider world will be a priceless memory. Make sure you bring the camera!

About the Author:  Dan Koboldt is a father of three and the author of Get Your Baby to Sleep, a blog about establishing good sleep habits, soothing techniques, and teaching babies to sleep through the night.

Photo credit:  SXC

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Roller coaster fans have a lot to look forward to in 2012, with new attractions opening at theme parks in the US and Canada.  Whether you’re a true fan that crosses the country looking for the biggest thrill, or just want a little theme park adventure, here’s a little peek at what you have to look forward to this year.

• Busch Gardens Williamsburg – Verbolten is a multi-launch three-and-a-half minute ride that twists and turns like you’re on the Autobahn.  It’s a 2,800 foot track reaching speeds of up to 55 miles per hour.  The park has six additional rides also opening this year.  Busch Gardens is located in Williamsburg, Virginia.
• Dollywood – The Wild Eagle steel wing coaster hovers 21 stories above the ground before dropping riders 135 feet into a series of four inversions, a vertical loop, a zero-G roll, and a flat spin.  Dollywood, named for country superstar Dolly Parton, is located in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
• Hersheypark – Skyrush is a 200-foot tall steel roller coaster with cantilevered trains.  Hersheypark is located in Hershey, Pennsylvania.  (That’s the Great Bear roller coaster in the photo at the top.)
• Leviathan – New this year is a 306-foot steel roller coaster that promises speeds up to 90-plus mph.  You’ll experience an 80 degree descent as you are propelled through the nearly 5,500 foot track.  Leviathan is located in Vaughan, Ontario (near Toronto).
• Sea World San Diego – The new roller coaster Manta is shaped like a giant manta ray.  As it takes you from sky to sea, you almost touch the waves.
• Six Flags America – Apocalypse:  The Last Stand is a stand-up roller coaster with a 100-foot climb.  Six Flags America is located in Largo, Maryland (near Baltimore).
• Six Flags Discovery Kingdom – Superman Ultimate Flight is the new roller coaster here; it’s a 150-foot high ride that speeds up to over 60 mph.  It features two upside down twists and two vertical rolls.  Six Flags Discover Kingdom is located in Vallejo, California.
• Six Flags Great America – X-Flight is a new wing coaster that offers barrel rolls, Zero-G rolls, twists, turns, and ends with a vertical flip through a key-hole cutout.  Six Flags Great America is located in Gurnee, Illinois (near Chicago).
• Six Flags Magic Mountain – The new Lex Luther: Drop of Doom is a floorless gondola that pulls riders to the top of a 400-foot tower, then drops them at speeds of up to 85 mph.  It’s a 5-second free fall.  Six Flas Magic Mountain in located in Los Angeles.
• Six Flags New England – With a coaster named Goliath, you know it’s going to be big.  Goliath is a suspended seat roller coast that climbs 18 stories before dropping riders into a vertical dive, than back into a 201-foot loop, a 110-foot butterfly turn, and a 19 story drop.  Then it does it all in reverse.  Six Flags New England is located in Springfield, Massachusetts.
• Six Flags Over Texas and Six Flags Great Adventure – Both of these parks are opening the Skyscreamer, an extreme swing ride that takes riders 15 stories above the ground, carrying them around in a 98-foot circle.  Speeds get up to about 40 mph.  Six Flags Over Texas is located in Arlington, Texas, and Six Flags Great Adventure is located in Jackson, New Jersey.

It looks like it’s going to be a crazy, twisting, upside down year at these theme parks.

Photo credit:  William via flickr

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While most of us will still stay in regular hotels when we go on holiday or travel on business, there’s an increasingly large range of other alternatives available, from house swaps and couch surfing to serviced apartments.  Nowhere has more choices than London, so I recently had a look into what’s available – particularly since finding affordable accommodation for the 2012 Olympics is such a hot topic.

Couchsurfing is a great budget-friendly way to travel. The website lets users get in touch with like-minded people who have a spare bed, room or futon to offer at no charge. Often, couch surfers act as ambassadors for their city, helping visitors find the right bar, or get introduced to the local community. It is however potentially a bit risky – and also depends on volunteers – so there’s no guarantee you’ll find accommodation in a location you like, on exactly the date you need.

Further upmarket, renting a house for a few days or a week can be more attractive to some travelers than staying in a hotel. Claire Whisker, who runs Vive Unique, a London accommodation boutique, says: “We have a lot of guests who stay with us when they come to London a lot or need to stay for longer periods of time.  They want a bit more space, the ability to cook a meal”.  Some law firms regularly use Vive Unique for longer term stays. Claire understands exactly why.  She says, “I do love hotels, but I think if I had to stay in a hotel for more than a week I’d go mad.” Larger families, too, often find Vive Unique good value, as well as couples who want to live like a local in London.

Vive Unique has properties as far west as Chiswick and in East London too, with quite a few in Hoxton, Shoreditch and Clapton, as well as more established areas like Notting Hill and Kensington. Some homeowners who rent their houses are frequent travelers, others rent out while they are away on holiday, some have multiple homes, while recently a few redundant professionals have decided to stay with mum, dad or girlfriend and rent their flats out to earn cash.

While Couchsurfing is potluck, Vive Unique prides itself on selection of “house proud” owners.  All properties are visited and vetted. Claire says “We look at quality, design, and location. And we like to meet all the homeowners.” She also encourages homeowners to give “their top ten tips” – local pubs and restaurants, services, and places of interest – and Vive Unique will also provide services such as fridge filling, organizing nannies or baby-sitters and airport pick-ups.  She says on one occasion she even managed to get a family tickets for the Chelsea match on Boxing Day. “It was difficult getting five tickets so they could all sit together, but we managed it in the end!”.  So it seems that the service can even stretch to that of a good hotel concierge!

Those looking for cheaper accommodation during academic holiday periods may be able to take advantage of London University Halls of Residence which rent out rooms at very reasonable rates. UCL, for instance, rents out rooms in seven properties over the summer for around £30-45 a room (less for group bookings).  That’s incredibly cheap for central London, though student rooms are never going to be luxurious.

Hotels have also started creating serviced apartments for guests who want a more semi-detached experience. Base2Stay in Kensington has rooms with mini-kitchens so that guests can buy their own wine, food, and can even cook their own meals. It helps keep the hotel’s costs low, since it doesn’t have to run room service, or have a bar or restaurant, and it lets guests live exactly the way they want to.

196 Bishopsgate has a prime location in the City of London, with a range of apartments from studios up to penthouse suites, and again offers rooms with kitchens and dining area so that guests can be self-sufficient. But there’s also 24 hour reception, 6-day maid service, and even a grocery shopping service for guests who don’t have enough time to fill their own fridges with Prosecco and prosciutto.

At the top end of the market, the Athenaeum Hotel has 18 apartments with their own front doors in Mayfair but sharing the facilities of the hotel. Steven Spielberg stayed there and installed an editing suite in the apartment and many guests use the apartments for business entertainment. At this level, the serviced apartment concept overlaps with the hotel suite, but apartments generally maintain a little more distance from the hotel (for instance, not using the same reception desk).

Personally, I love staying in a hotel – but I can see the attraction of renting a separate property for a slightly longer stay. It’s partly about getting more privacy, and partly about being able to live a normal life, which eating three restaurant meals a day certainly isn’t!

Finally, if you find you can’t resist staying in luxury hotels but want to avoid paying top dollar, I’d suggest this site for good London hotel deals in attractive locations including hotels near Covent Garden.

Guest Author Bio:  Andrea Kirkby is a freelance travel writer based in the UK who has travelled extensively in India and counts Bundi, Rajasthan as one of her all-time favorite destinations.

Photo credit:  Tim Morris via flickr

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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 a romantic place to hole, a casual family atmosphere, or something more modern.  For old world charm, I’d recommend the historic Davenport Hotel.  Full of nearly a century of interesting history, including the possibility or a resident ghost, the Davenport oozes elegance and charm – it’s really quite grand.  A fireplace burns in lobby year round as a symbol of warm hospitality, in turn making the lobby a relaxing and inviting place to sit and chat – especially on a cold winter day.  That’s the exterior of the hotel in the top photo, and me standing with the doorman (who’s been with the hotel for decades).

From the old to the new, Northern Quest Resort & Casino is on the newer end of the scale.  The Kalispell Tribe opened the casino in 2000 and the resort on December 31, 2009.  I had a chance to stay during the hotel’s soft opening, that period of time when you’re testing everything out, tweaking, and generally working out the bugs in everything.  There were a few little hiccups during my stay, nothing major, and I was impressed by well thought out room layout and luxury amenities.  The photo above is of the living room area of my suite. Northern Quest also has a luxurious spa (photo above) and offers salon service.  The resort offers a number of packages, and although it’s a casino property, there’s plenty to do – check out the spa – besides gambling.

If you want to stay downtown, but with a more leisurely environment, the Red Lion at the Park offers convenience and comfort with moderate prices.  Located next to Riverfront Park on the Spokane River, you’ll enjoy spectacular views – from your room, the grounds, or walking the trails (look how peaceful that water looks above).  Take off in one direction to downtown, another to the Gonzaga University campus (check out the Bing Crosby museum while you’re there).  In the summer you can enjoy the large outdoor pool, complete with slide and waterfall.  The Red Lion offers family friendly rooms, amenities, and pricing.

What to Do

Spokane has four distinct seasons so there’s plenty to do year round.  Although I’m not a skier, I’m told that that are great slopes and trails for downhill, cross-country, boarding, and tubing.  When the weather warms up, visitors can enjoy Riverfront Park the location of the 1974 World’s Fair.

The vintage carousel is a fun ride, even if you’re not a kid.

And who can resist the over-sized Red Flyer wagon.  The park is a venue for numerous outdoor concerts and community activities, so check out what’s happening when planning your visit.

For a nice overview of the area, the Skyride, a rebuilt gondola, will carry you across the falls.  Depending on the time of year, and the snowfall, the falls may be a trickle or roaring.  The view is always amazing.

Set aside some time for wine tasting, there are several tastings rooms in the greater downtown area.  Barrister Winery specializes in the production of limited quantities of Bordeaux varietals and Syrah.  Their Rough Justice is both cleverly named and tasty (a complex, smoky nose of dark jammy fruits, mouth-filling silky tannins and a long finish), and the accompanying hats, t-shirts and accessories make fun gifts for any lawyer you might know.  The tasting room is quite large, and also serves as a venue for evening entertainment to accompany the tastings.

Whitestone Winery uses grapes solely from their family estate vineyard, blending handcrafted bold red wines. Their signature Pieces of Red (smooth berry, coffee, spice and black pepper on the finish) is priced for everyday drinking.  Sign up for their e-newsletter, full of wine news, events, and activities.  They have some great events and I’m hoping to get back to enjoy some of them.

Located in the historic Broadview Dairy building, Caterina Winery is as charming as its setting.  The tasting room is now also featuring Lone Canary wines along with their own, giving you even more reason to stop by.

If you taste runs more to spirits than wine, a put a visit to Dry Fly Distilling on your list.  Dry Fly makes award winning, craft spirits, including bourbon, whiskey, gin, and vodka (which I swear tasted like smooth butterscotch) in a farm to bottle environment.  Every drop of liquor from Dry Fly is made from raw materials grown locally by sustainable farms.  Stop by to learn a bit about the distilling process (they also offer a distilling course) and make some purchases to take home.

Getting There

Most visitors to Spokane come from within the state of Washington, or nearby Idaho (about 20 miles to the east) and British Columbia (a little over a hundred miles to the north).  It’s about a five hour drive, or hour flight, from Seattle – probably too long for a day trip, but an easy drive or fly for a long weekend.

Photo credit:  author’s personal collection

Note:  I’ve visited Spokane on several occasions, including personal travel and as part of sponsored press trips.

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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 – artists open their homes for the public to come in look at, and hopefully buy, their works.  The festival has events for all artistic tastes and temperaments, and also features family-friendly activity.  The 2012 Brighton Festival will be held May 5-27th, and Vanessa Redgrave will be the Guest Director.
• Brighton Festival Fringe – Running in conjunction with the Brighton Festival, the Fringe is the third largest fringe festival in the world.  There’s a good mix of free and fee events, last year over 3,000 performances, and the Fringe is likely to attract (again) over 100,000 people.  Visit Fringe City for some of the best free entertainment around.  Between both festivals, nearly a million visitors make it to Brighton during the month of May.
• The Great Escape – Three nights of live music in various venues across Brighton.  Dates:  May 10-12, 2012.
• Paddle Round the Pier – One of the hippest fund-raising events around, bringing together surfers in a social gathering to raise funds for charity.  Dates:  July 7-8, 2012.
• Soundwaves Festival – Featuring contemporary classical music (composed in the 21st century), this festival features professional and amateur performances.  Dates:  July 13-15, 2012.
• Brighton Live – A free to see celebration of some of the newest music around from local bands, along with educational sessions for musicians.
• Brighton Pride – With a very active LGBT community, it’s no surprise that Pride is a big event, with activities that include a parade, street party, and plenty of entertainment.  This years dates have been scheduled later in the year due to the Summer Olympics.  Dates:  September 1-2, 2012.
• White Nights – Also called Nuit Blanche (French for White Night) is an annual Free all-night arts festival.  It features multiple venues, a variety of art (music, digital spoken word, performance, etc.) and lasts right up till dawn.  Dates:  On the day that British Summer Time “falls” back, giving you an extra hour to enjoy all the entertainment.
• Burning the Clocks – A winter solstice festival that features a procession of lanterns and costumes, made from willow canes and white tissue paper, led by local bands.  The parade goes through the streets from the city center to the water where there’s a lantern bonfire and fireworks.  Dates:  December 21, 2012.

There are plenty of other festivals in Brighton – all year round.  If you’ve gotten the idea that Brighton is a party city, that’s not quite accurate.  There’s the beach, of course, but there are also over 300 pubs to choose from.  While you’re making your festival and visiting plans don’t forget hotels Brighton – no drinking and driving allowed.

Photo credit:  Dominic Alves via flickr

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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.  Once you show up, all you have to do is follow your daily schedule as you go from fitness activity to beauty treatment to health education session.  Structured spas are generally all-inclusive, with the exception of tips, and cover a specified number of treatments, all classes, overnight accommodations, and meals.  Price range:  moderate to high (depending on the degree of luxury, days of program, and the number of treatments included).

Where to find a structured spa:  It’s believed that the very first spa was The Golden Door in California, but since then additional spas have cropped up around the US (Texas, northeastern US, Arizona, etc.) and the world (Mexico, Switzerland, etc.).

Resort Spa

Nearly every value luxury hotel worth their salt these days has a spa on premise offering a range of spa and beauty treatments and services.  Booking in advance is often recommended, and most offer the full menu of services online – although you may have to call for the price list.  You can also book a treatment once you’re at the hotel, although available times may be more limited.  Many hotel spas have a full fitness center that is available for complimentary use with any spa treatment, so careful timing of your appointment can help you avoid that additional service fee.  You can book one treatment, or opt for a half or full day of pampering.  Hair salons are often available, but usually operated separately from the spa.  Resort spas range from high end luxury, with amenities like soaking pools, saunas, steam rooms, fully outfitted changing rooms and showers, relaxation areas with beverages and light snacks to more austere spas with small changing rooms only.  Price range:  moderate to high (depending on hotel, degree of luxury of amenities, and treatments chosen).

Where to find a resort spa:  Any high end hotel in Las Vegas, Paris, or other major city.

Day Spa

Similar to the way a resort spa operates, a day spa offers independent treatments, services, and products without being tied to a specific structured plan.  If your hotel doesn’t offer a spa on property, or if perhaps you’d like to check out something off site, a day spa can be the way to go.  While they generally trend more toward the beauty and salon types of services (facials, massages, pedicures) rather than health (gym, fitness classes), the array of options is often staggering.  Price range:  moderate (often depending on location).

Where to find a day spa:  Check with your hotel concierge who should be able to make a recommendation and often secure your appointment.

Spa Towns

Entire towns have evolved around the ritual of taking the waters and it’s often more of a lifestyle option than an occasional pampering treatment.  You’ll find thermal and sulfur pools for soaking and relaxing, hot springs, and often those pools have plenty of mud to slather all over you for a mud treatment.  These are family friendly (previous options are adult only) and can often involve a bit of hiking a walk or hike to get to.  I enjoyed an afternoon at a bagni (Italian for bath) this past summer (photo above), and thoroughly enjoyed the different levels of pools complete with the mud from the deepest one.  It was relaxing, fun, and my skin glowed for days.  Price range:  Inexpensive (a modest entrance fee) or free.

Where to find a spa town:  Primarily in Europe, and usually near small towns.  Look for words like baths, waters, pools, or something like that (in any number of languages).   These spa towns are great fun to get a couple pals together for a vacation as they make for cheap spa breaks, leaving you free to spend money on other things.

Photo credits:  author’s personal collection

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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 tourism spot for travelers as well as a site for conference.  Here’s a list of just a few things to see and do in St Andrews.

1. Visit the University of St Andrews – The university is one of the United Kingdom’s most prestigious and it is the third oldest in the English-speaking world.  When in session, student enrollment accounts more nearly a third of the town’s population, so it’s no surprise that the university is well integrated into the community.  The university has a great museum as well.
2. Walk among the ruins of St Andrew’s Cathedral – Once Scotland’s largest building, serving as a cathedral, bishopric, and home to the relics of the apostle St. Andrew.
3. More ruins at St Andrews Castle – Located on a cliff to the north of town, the castle dates back to around the 1200s.  It served as a residence, prison, and fortress, before becoming a palatial residence.  What can be seen today dates back to around 1549-71.
4. Worship at Holy Trinity – The church dates back to the 12th century, although its location has changed, and while much of its original architecture has changed over the decades, it’s historical significance has not.  This was the launching spot for Scottish clergyman and reformation leader, and early political activist, John Knox.
5. Hit the links – The Old Course at St Andrews is the oldest golf course in the world and is a popular spot even with non-golfers.   Don’t overlook the other superb golf courses in the St Andrews area as they, too, are part of the reason it’s such an popular destination for golf breaks.  If you can’t get a tee time, stop off at the British Golf Museum for a historical look at the great game.
6. Learn about Pictish Stones – The Celtic art of the Picts, generally consisting of stone sculpture and small metalwork, can be viewed at the museum at St Andrew’s Cathedral.  The stones range from unshaped standing stones with symbols carved into them to cross-slabs carved in relief in varying degrees of complexity.  The Picts date back to the mid-9th century.
7. Walk the Ports – In this case, “port” is a Scottish word for gate (in photo above), and the gates in question are So’gait port (South Street, also called West Port) and the Sea Yett.  The West Port is one of the few surviving town gates in the country, with some side arches and relief panels added during the mid-1800s.
8. Get physical, or just watch – There are plenty of activities to enjoy in addition to golf, including tennis, rugby, canoeing, swimming, and hiking.  The Fife Coastal Path (78 miles) is great for a long distance trek.
9. Watch a movie – The New Picture House isn’t so new any more, it opened in 1934, but if you want a comfy movie seat this is the place to go.  NPH has three screen, the largest one featuring VIP seats that are recliners.  Grab some popcorn and settle in.
10. Go the Beach – With its temperate climate, St Andrews offers near year round beach possibilities.  Okay, it can be a little cold during the winter, but West Sands Beach and the Old Course Beaches are well situated and easy to get to.  Ask a local for their favorite recommendation.

What are you going to do first?

Photo credit:  Kilnburn via wikimedia

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A visit to London this year is sure to be full of hectic activities and adventures. The 2012 Olympics Summer Olympics will bring in athletes, fans, and visitors from around the world, and Queen Elizabeth’s Jubilee has the 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 for your London holiday apartments 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 general public.  So take advantage of the royal opportunity and stop by one of London’s 8 royal parks:

• Bushy Park – Covering around 1,100 acres, most of which are open to the public, these were originally deer hunting grounds.  Today Bushy Park is home to the rugby, hockey, and cricket clubs, and is also home to wildlife conservation areas full of herds of Red and Fallow Deer.
• The Green Park – Consisting entirely of wooded meadows, The Green Park is believed to have originally been a swampy burial grounds.  Later it served as a private family estate before being turned into a royal park.  Government offices and royal palaces are linked beneath the park.
• Greenwich Park – With magnificent views over the Thames and the city, Greenwich Park is part of the Greenwich World Heritage Site.  The equestrian events and parts of the modern pentathlon events of the Summer Olympics will be staged here.  The Royal Observatory is also located in the park.
• Hyde Park – You may think this huge park, site of frequent demonstrations, is part of Kensington Gardens, but it has been a separate park of its own since the 1700s.  Full of monuments (the Diana, Princess of Wales memorial is here) as well as wide open spaces (many famous rock concerts have been staged here), Hyde Park will host the triathlon and some swimming events for the 2012 Summer Olympics.
• Kensington Gardens – With plenty of wide open spaces, Kensington Gardens was once the private gardens of Kensington Palace.  The gardens are fenced, a bit formal and posh, and full of art, making it a popular respite spot for visitors.
• Richmond Park – The largest of the royal parks at 2,360 acres, Richmond Park is home to Red and Fallow Deer and more notable monuments and historic sites that you can shake a stick at.  It is home to the Queen Mother’s Copse, a small triangular enclosure established in memory of the late Queen Mum.
• St. James’ Park – The oldest of the royal parks, St. James’ is adjacent to Buckingham Palace and has a small lake with two islands with a resident colony of penguins.
• Regent’s Park – Regent’s is home to Regent’s College and the London Zoo along with gardens, a boating area, playgrounds, and a variety of sporting areas.  Although originally scheduled as a venue for the 2012 Summer Olympics, it doesn’t look like that will happen.

Eight royal parks, each with their own personality and appeal – close to plenty of apartments London - and just perfect for an afternoon of enjoyment.

Photo credit:  public domain via wikimedia

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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 long return was for the USTA’s annual Pow-Wow.  It’s a big week of touring, education, networking and catching up with friends and acquaintances, learning about the travel industry, food, and fun.

I took a nasty tumble on my second day there, but still managed to get to all my appointments, see the sights, and enjoy myself.  I enjoyed visits to the new California Arts & Sciences complex in Golden Gate Park (WOW – loved it here!), Pier 39, and a fabulous closing party at City Hall (in top photo).  No matter how often I return to San Francisco, there’s something new to see or do.

Portugal

Due to a death in the family, the time there was cut very short (just 2 days), but we managed to pack as much as we could into that time.  Our home base was a terrific apartment in Estoril owned by an even more terrific couple.  Despite several last minute changes, Julia was kind and gracious, helping us sort out a variety of different arrivals.  The location was perfect for what we needed – a couple blocks for the beach (for rest and relaxation) and a short train ride from the city center (for soaking up the culture and city life).  Walking along the ocean boardwalk in Estoril was a perfect antidote to what had been a very difficult month.

We had time for a whirlwind tour of the city, and spent a little extra time in Belem, but didn’t get to many of the things we had wanted to see.  I know there will be a return trip in the not too distant future, and I’ll get to catch those things that I missed the first time around.  I’d stay at the apartment in Estoril again, too, and maybe head down to the Algarve as well.

Italy

A few more cities were added to the list of places we’ve visited, including Siena, Bologna, Cortona, San Gimigniano, Pitigliano, Bagni San Filippo, and Venice.  In Venice I came close to crossing another item of the list, but chose a motor boat ride in the Canal rather than riding in a gondola.  Next time.

While visiting the larger hill towns, and some of my favorite smaller haunts, we also discovered new places to put on the to-visit list for this year.  Exploring Tuscany every year continues to give me depth in my appreciation of Italy.

Coastal & Central Oregon Road Trip

I frequently get car sick, but still enthusiastically said yes to a road trip to Coastal and Central Oregon along with three other Seattle-located travel bloggers.  It was a hectic pace, but we managed to squeeze in time in Astoria, Tillamook, and some coastal beach towns before heading over the mountains to Central Oregon.  There was plenty of food and beverage involved in this trip, and I’ve already published a few stories with more coming up.

If you live in the Pacific Northwest, these areas in Oregon would make a great long getaway weekend – put in on your list!

Monterey, Carmel & Big Sur

Despite spending lots of time in northern California, I’d never made it out to this part of the coast – and what a mistake that was!  This is some seriously beautiful country, with a fascinating combination of sandy beaches and rugged coastline.  It would be hard to pick the favorite experiences of this trip, but at the top of the list are feeding an elephant off the front porch of my cabin and kayaking in Monterey and watching the sea lions.

There was also plenty of time for enjoying food and wine, including the downtown Carmel Wine Walk and visiting a winery, and fun conversation with other travel bloggers.  I’ll have lots more to share from this, including that elephant mentioned above.

Quebec City

I spent a magical 5 days there, walking around the Old City, discovering delicious food, and soaking up the culture of the city that’s been called the Paris of North America.  My home base was the beautiful castle-like Le Chateau Frontenac (a Fairmont property), and I felt like a princess throughout my stay.  I’m finishing up some research as a result of that trip, and you can expect to start seeing some of the highlights in the next couple of weeks.

What’s to Come in 2012

• Italy – I’ll be heading back again this summer, although not for as long as I had hoped, but plan on enjoying some time in Rome on this trip.
• Las Vegas – A couple of conference coming up here, and there are some new things happening in Las Vegas that are worth checking out.
• Los Angeles – This year’s Pow-Wow will be in Los Angeles, and I’m looking forward to seeing what’s new in that city.  I haven’t had a chance to dig in and explore the area for some time now.
• New York – I’ll be chairing the Travel track at Blog World Expo again this year, and am excited to spend a little extended time in NYC.
• Slovakia – This is currently in the planning stages and is part of the summer European trip.  I’d like to take a look around this area, and Bratislava seems like a good home base.  Of course, if something else jumps out at me I can change my mind in a nano-second.
• Cruise – I haven’t been on a cruise for several years and there have been lots of changes in the industry since then.  This may be the year that I see firsthand just what’s been going on in the industry.
• Somewhere new – I’m sure there is somewhere that will pop onto the schedule that I’m not even thinking  about right now.  I wonder where it will be?

Photo credit:  personal collection

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