Visiting the Netherlands: The Rietveld Schröder House
It’s not often that anyone can use the phrase ‘you’ve seen the chair, now see the house‘. But I really imagine that most of us know the chair. Look at the image of the house above – doesn’t it have familiar design features? The...
Visiting Rome: Goffredo Mameli Monument
The idea of visiting monuments and cemeteries when you’re on vacation is a popular one today – from the historic graveyards of New Orleans to the grave of Victor Noir in Paris. Previous generations of travellers wanted to see how people in days gone by...
The Cafe in the Crypt: London
So, there you are exploring London and it’s time for lunch. (Or breakfast or dinner or a light snack). Of course, there are so many places you can go. But how about something a little different this time? Enjoy coffee in a crypt! In Central London, you’ll...
See Mae West’s 1931 Housecar
For the very few readers who don’t know, Mae West was a raunchy actress, writer and comedian who was born in Brooklyn in 1893. To try to explain a little about her, the first play she wrote and acted in – in 1926 – was entitled Sex. She continued to...
Why to Visit Fort Lauderdale in the Summer
Many years ago, Fort Lauderdale had two distinct seasons – the tourist season and off-season. Luckily this is no longer the case. Of course, it’s true that more people flock to South Florida during the winter months as they are escaping from the harsh...
Terra Botanica, Angers, France
Just over two hours away from Paris, you’ll find the Terra Botanica – the first theme park in Europe that is dedicated to plants. Yet this special place has someone for every member of the family. Because Terra Botanica offers so much more than a mere...
Saltaire, Yorkshire
It bothers me so much that overseas visitors who travel to the UK see London as their main point of interest. There is so much to see and do in England (and Scotland and Wales) and although London certainly does have many attractions, the wise traveller will venture...
Kampung Pelangi: The Rainbow Village
The village of Kampung Pelangi is a small village in Central Java, Indonesia. And they had a problem. They needed to come up with a way to attract more tourists to the area. You can see the solution above – the village was transformed. As you can imagine, this...
Visit Mister Ed’s Grave. Maybe
Did you know that you can visit television’s famous Mister Ed’s grave? You do remember Mister Ed, don’t you? Okay, I guess that I’ll have to admit that not everyone is as old as I am. There were reruns for years – let me remind you: Yes,...
Visiting the UK: The Jersey War Tunnels
The Channel island of Jersey is a fabulous place to visit for so many reasons. Although the Channel Islands are British, they are closer to the French coast than they are to England which gives the islands temperate weather and an unusual atmosphere that is...
Stalybridge Station. The Buffet Bar
If you’re visiting the North of England you’ll find history everywhere. There are so many popular places that attract tourists and travellers in droves but there are also many hidden gems. One of them is the Buffet Bar at the Stalybridge Railway Station....
Truckhenge: Topeka, Kansas
At the end of the last century, Ron Lessman, a native of Topeka, was farming the land that his family had owned since the 1870s. he had also built up a small collection of antiquated vehicles – a handful of old pickup trucks and an old bus. The authorities did...
Visit Neuschwanstein Castle
If this Bavarian castle looks vaguely familiar to you, that’s because it’s been used in several movies. Probably the one that used it the most was Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang and it was also used in The Great Escape. It’s also said to have been the...
Whitby
Whitby, a coastal town in North Yorkshire, is a splendid place to visit as it can be like taking a step back in time. It grew from a tiny fishing village and has so much to offer the traveller. It’s a wonderful place for a traditionally English seaside vacation...
Enjoy a Literary Dublin Pub Crawl!
Dublin is well known for many of the attractions if offers but for many people, it’s pubs are a major feature! Add to that the fact that there have been so many notable literary figures who have lived and worked in Dublin and you have the perfect combination...
Paris: Movie Location Tour
Take a walking tour of many of the famous locations where films have been made in the fabulous city of Paris. Probably one of the most iconic movies made in Paris is Charade starring Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn and yes, you’ll see those locations and many...
Visiting the UK: Ladybower Reservoir
England’s Peak District is a fabulous place to visit with a great deal to offer the tourist, especially those who appreciate natural beauty. A place I always enjoyed visiting was the Ladybower Reservoir. Why on earth would anyone want to visit a reservoir? Well,...
The Pool of the Arches: Ramla, Israel
Ramla is a short, about thirty minutes, drive from Tel Aviv. It’s notable for its museum and White Tower but in recent years, travellers have been visiting because of another curious attraction – the Pool of Arches. Descend the stone stairs and once you...
Hyde Park Cinema: Leeds
There are many great reasons to visit Leeds in Yorkshire. Art galleries, Victorian arcades, exceptional shopping, original architecture, sports facilities, museums, fabulous dining options and — plenty more. But increasingly visitors are heading to a warren of...
Justo Gallego Martínez’s Madrid Cathedral
Since 1961 Justo Gallego had had just one aim and that is to build a cathedral in Mejorada del Campo in the Community of Madrid, Spain. Opinions are still divided regarding Justo – is he devout or simply a madman? He has no permit to erect the building and there...
Visiting the UK: Dobcross
Dobcross is a small village in the north of England, nestling in the South Pennine hills. Picturesque and featuring fabulous surrounding countryside, it’s always well worth visiting. This is especially the case if you’re a visitor from overseas and want to...
A Tropical Island Vacation … In Germany
Maybe a tropical resort vacation is way beyond your means, especially if you live in Europe. But never mind, did you know that you can enjoy a tropical island stay in Germany? This is thanks to the Tropical Islands Resort at Krausnick. (See the map below). You can...
Tashirojima: Cat Island
If you’re a cat lover, or if you’re fascinated with traditional Japanese stories, then the island of Tashirojima is a place to add to your wishlist. For on this Japanese island, there are more cats than people. These cats aren’t domestic pets, they...
The Serge Gainsbourg House: Paris
For a generation (or two or three) of women, Serge Gainsbourg was the epitome of French debauched sexiness. For musicians and music lovers, he was highly-acclaimed, especially in his own country. He died in 1991 but the house that he lived in from the late nineteen...
Florence: The Golden Turtle
If you’re visiting Florence, then the chances are that the Piazza della Signoria will be on your to-do list. This ancient piazza abounds with the most fabulous architecture, sculpture and history. Every day the piazza is bustling with travellers and locals who...
Romance in Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale might not be the immediate place to come to mind when you’re thinking about planning a romantic vacation but it’s a wonderful place and its prices are much more reasonable than most exotic locations. And romance is certainly in the air here...
The Winchester Mystery House
There are some people who think that Sarah Winchester was a complete nutcase. Others believe that she was guided by spirits to create her bizarre house – and that spirits still haunt the strange residence she built in San Jose. Sarah was the widow of William...
Sun Cruise Resort and Yacht: South Korea
It looks as though a cruise ship has somehow managed to perch itself on the top of a cliff, doesn’t it? Well, it’s actually a building that was created to emulate a cruise ship, located in Jeongdongjin on the east coast of South Korea. It first opened its...
Madeira: Pearl of the Atlantic
Lying off the north-west coast of Africa, about 250 miles north of the Canary Islands, the Portuguese island of Madeira is a veritable oasis in the Atlantic ocean and is regarded as one of Europe’s most beautiful all-year-round travel destinations with one...
Bled Island
The island is located in the middle of Lake Bled in North West Slovenia and it has a charming story and legend behind it. It goes like this: The island was originally a the site of an ancient temple dedicated for local pagans to worship Ziva, the goddess of love and...
Up Helly Aa: Shetland’s Fire Festivals
VIKINGS! That cry would have sent shivers of terror through the occupants of many a village about to be attacked by those medieval marauders who were famed for their ferocity in battle and their seagoing skills. Fortunate indeed would be the farmer, villager or maiden...
Tour Morocco
I suspect that I’ve mentioned before – probably more than once – that the best trip I ever had was a tour of fabulous Morocco. Today, I want to let you know about a Moroccan tour I’ve discovered run by G Adventures that takes you to some of the...
The Dakota Building, New York
When the Dakota Building was constructed in the 1800s in Manhattan, it stood on its own in an isolated position. Now it is surrounded by high rise buildings. Today it’s a place of pilgrimage for John Lennon fans as it’s the place where he lived in his...
Budapest: Shoes on the Danube Bank
Visit the banks of the Danube in Budapest and you might wonder why on earth there appears to be an untidy collection of old shoes just sitting there. But these are an art installation created as a memorial to people who were murdered in the Second World War. These...
La Boca: Buenos Aires
La Boca is a lively – and very colourful – neighbourhood in Buenos Aires, Argentina. You can see from the photographs just how colourful and quirky this area is and it is becoming increasingly popular with visitors. It reminds me a little of Havana, with...
Edinburgh Military Tattoo: what a spectacle!
In the month of August every year Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital city, resounds to the sound of the pipes and drums of massed pipe bands as they come together for three weeks as part of the Edinburgh Festival (a term for the many cultural and performance events held in...
Movie Locations: Port Isaac, Cornwall
When i was a child we used to go to Cornwall (in the south-west of England) every year. It’s still one of my favourite places in the UK. Port Isaac is a picturesque fishing village which is typical of the area and has been used as the location for several films...
Mexico: La Isla de las Muñecas
As far as I’m concerned La Isla de las Muñecas is a decidedly creepy place but nevertheless it’s a must to visit, if only because of that creepiness. It’s located on a chinampa – a floating garden – on the canal about an hour away from...
Take a trip on the last seagoing paddle steamer in the world
Built in 1946 to replace another vessel of the same name which was sunk during WW2 the Paddle Steamer Waverley is the only seagoing, passenger-carrying paddle steamer in the world and now operates passenger excursions around the British coast with the ability to carry...
Oxford: The Pitt Rivers Museum
This strange but totally fascinating place is a must when you’re visiting Oxford in England. There are so many things to see and do in the area and the Pitt Rivers Museum – which is hidden away – should definitely be on your list. The exhibits are...
Take a drive into the heart of Scotland’s ‘Hollow Mountain’
Lying at the head of Loch Awe, Scotland longest freshwater loch, you will find a most curious thing – a ‘hollow mountain’. Ben Cruachan, one of Scotland’s Munros (mountains over 3000 feet) is home to the only underground pumped storage hydroelectric power...
Australia’s Surfing Secret
If you’re a complete beginner at surfing – or even an expert – you’ll be sure to enjoy this eight day Australian surf tour which includes several days at a remote and secret surf beach camp. Your adventure will start in Sydney and you’ll...
Movie Locations: Groundhog Day
Although the 1993 movie Groundhog Day was set in Punxsutawney (which I can’t even begin to pronounce) it was actually filmed in Woodstock, Illinois. And if you visit the place there are several places you can see that were featured in the film (many even have...
Taupo, New Zealand: McDonald’s
Taupo is on many travellers’ wish list. There is so much to see and do there. Adventures to experience. Sights to see. Fun to be had. But there’s yet another excellent reason to visit Taupo. To go to the local McDonald’s. Yes, McDonald’s. Fast...
The Anchor Bar, Buffalo, New York
I love finding interesting places to eat and it’s even better if the places have an historical interest or some other claim to fame. That’s why I suggest that you visit the Anchor Bar in Buffalo, New York. If you’re on a culinary tour of interesting...
Isle of Skye – the best place to live in Scotland
Not just the best place to live in Scotland but, according to a recent internet poll, the Isle of Skye is the most desirable place to live in Britain! Situated off the west coast of Scotland (and previously voted the ‘fourth best island in the world’ by National...
Film Locations: The Italian Job’s Forgotten Scene
The 1969 film The Italian Job is considered to be a classic. Some years ago, a scene that had been cut from the movie was discovered and included on the DVD. And it’s a wonderful scene that takes place in the middle of the famous car chase. During the latter...
Visit Popeye Village
In the summer of 1979, Paramount Pictures and Walt Disney Productions came together to begin a project. They sent over 160 workers and huge amounts of construction materials to Anchor Bay – a small cove on the island of Malta. Within eight months the...
Surf Ballroom, Clear Lake, Iowa
Thousands of people visit the Surf Ballroom every year and many of these visits could be considered as musical pilgrimages. Because going to Surf Ballroom is like going back in time to the early days of rock ‘n’ roll as this venue played an important role...FEATURED ACCOMMODATION
Sunny, Waterfront Mid-Century Gem
Fort Lauderdale, FL, United States
Set midway between Fort Lauderdale Beach and the fabulous Las Olas Boulevard, this quiet and secluded complex is right on the waterfront and enjoys charming Mid-Century Modern features. Fully moder...