There is a state in Western Australia called Dardanup and within that area is Ferguson Valley. There’s not much there, really. A timber mill was there back in Victorian times but it closed in 1929. In 1950 the town there was mostly destroyed by fire. Yet...
Lombard Street in San Francisco is one of those strange American sights that are so beloved of tourists. And it’s hardly surprising as it’s known as ‘the most crooked street in the world’. You can see in the photographs and videos below just...
Royal scandals tend to be a thing of the past these days but in the UK in the 1930s there was plenty of royal scandal to keep everyone entertained. The British papers tried hard to rise above these matters but the foreign press had a field day with the new king,...
It seems unbelievable to us today. It was June 2, 1988. Joe Cocker gave a concert in Dresden, Germany. That doesn’t sound too unusual, does it? A musician playing a public concert? But it was unusual when you realise that at that time, Germany was still a year...
If you’re flying to Paris and are just about to land at the airport, the chances are that you’ll be flying over the ghost village of Goussainville-Vieux Pays . When you’re read the story that led to this village being abandoned, you’ll be sure...
England abounds with eccentrics – people and buildings. And the Royal Pavillion at Brighton is so much a part of English culture that it’s only when I take a step back, and see it as a foreigner would, that I realise just how bizarre it is. Let’s...
So you happen to be in Iceland, in Reykjavik. And you see that there’s a museum ahead – it’s the Icelandic Phallological Museum. Do you go in? Actually, I suspect that the real question here is who thought about having a willy collection in the first...
Even if it didn’t have important historic associations, Treetops would still be a fascinating place to stay because of its location – – 100 miles from Nairobi in the Aberdare National Park. The hotel is the ideal place to view Africa’s...
There are many incredibly picturesque villages in France and Pont-en-Royans is an excellent example. You can see from the photographs how the brightly-coloured houses cling to the craggy cliff sides with the river running peacefully below. As you can see from the map...
Probably the most well-known waterfall in the world, Reichenbach Falls has a fictional hero to thank for its fame. For it is here that Conan Doyle’s detective, Sherlock Holmes, had his ‘fatal’ battle with his arch enemy, Professor Moriarty. It was...
Baywater is a lovely area of London with elegant terraces featuring delightful architecture. But next time you’re in London, it’s worth visiting Leinster Gardens because two of the houses there are not what they first appear to be. Numbers 23 and 24 are...
Seriously spooky, Hashima Island is also known as Gunkanjima or Battleship Island. At one time it was densely populated and busy – today it’s a ghost town. It used to be a mining community that first started in 1900 thanks to the Mitsubishi Corporation...
My dad was the most travelled person that I’ve ever met and he always maintained that Cape Town was the finest place he had ever visited. Bo Kaap is a fabulous area to explore. With Table Mountain forming its backdrop, the area has brightly coloured houses on...
I was still at school when I found out about the Mouseman. The school, which was quite posh, needed new furniture for the teachers’ use during assembly. I recall that the headmistress was very proud because he had purchased the furniture from the Mouseman....
Imagine it … about a hundred feet below you, heavy waves are crashing onto jagged rocks. Seabirds swoop at you. The wind is high. The only way forward is to walk across a fragile rope bridge swaying in front of you. The walk won’t be a long one, less than...
The movie Inkheart tells a fantasy story that features an abandoned village that was revitalised. Here’s the trailer. The village actually exists and it is abandoned. The film gives us some idea of what the village would have been like before it was abandoned,...
If you’re anything like me, you hear or read ‘Joliet’ and it means only one thing – The Blues Brothers! At the beginning of this super-cool, classic, cult film, Elwood Blues is collecting his brother Jake who is just being released from jail...
It’s not only me who finds this building (above, left) perfectly awful. In 2015, the building won the Carbuncle Cup – which is awarded annually to the ugliest building in the UK. And it’s not just ugly, it also has a serious solar glare problem....
Although it’s an excellent idea to research the places you’re going to when you’re travelling, I also find that reading historical books about an area can be just as interesting, if not more so, than researching the best restaurants and where to find...
What does Trollstigen mean? In Norwegian, it means ‘Trolls’ Road’ and this twisty and narrow road runs perilously on the side of a mountain. It’s appropriately named as in Scandinavian mythology trolls are rather evil little goblin-like...
If you’re in the UK and travelling on the north-to-south M1 motorway, then it’s worth a small detour to visit the tiny village of Linby. I’m afraid that I don’t know exactly when the village was initially founded but the church dates from the...
Well, would you? Would you cross the Iya Valley on this vine bridge? History doesn’t reveal who built these bridges – or why – but it certainly was an ingenious solution. Wisteria vines were woven together along with planking to produce a footbridge...
Most of us know a little about the 1936 Summer Olympics that were held in the outskirts of Berlin. And even for those of us who know very little, the combination of Germany, 1936 and Hitler indicates very creepy undertones. As we can imagine, Hitler saw the games as...
One of the most famous buildings in Spain had its construction started in 1882. And it’s still not completed. It’s estimated that Gaudi’s Sagrada Família in Barcelona will finally be fully completed in 2026. Gaudi himself died exactly one hundred...
An astonishing place, the National Memorial Arboretum in the UK exists especially as the nation’s tribute to the men and women who have been killed, injured or afflicted by war and in the service of their country. It was conceived in 1988 and designed to be a...
You’ll remember Icarus from Greek mythology, right? To refresh your memory, he was the bloke who had wings made of wax and despite being warned not to do so, he flew too close to the sun. The result, naturally, was that his wax wings melted and he fell into the...
If so, then you’ll find that Fort Lauderdale is hard to beat. And there’s so much more than the sea, sand and sun. Fort Lauderdale’s events calendar is always busy – from festivals to theatre, from art exhibitions to sporting events – and...
Wroclaw in Poland has a lot to commend it to the traveller. It has been the European Capital of Culture, the World Book Capital, it has hosted the European Film Awards and has several theatres, festivals, museums, sports facilities and plenty more. The...
There are over 60,000 stolpersteine in various places throughout the world. If you’ve been to Germany, Austria, Belgium, Italy … most of Europe … then the chances are that you’ve seen at least one. If your trip is in the future, watch out...
I imagine that in years to come, there will be an increase in American visitors to St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle – thanks to the marriage of the UK’s Prince Harry to American actor Meghan Markle. Our two countries have a long history together...
I have just added this place to my bucket list and originally, it was simply because of the name. (Although the fact that it’s in the wonderful county of Yorkshire helps, of course. It’s in a great location – about ten miles away from York itself and...
Definitely falling into the category of dark tourism, Peenemünde is decidedly spooky. It is located on the island of Usedom in the Baltic and since the nineteenth century was a vacation venue for Prussian royalty and German nobility. But, in common with several other...
This is true but I can’t blame you for wondering how sausages could possibly save lives. Well, admittedly I’m going back a few hundred years here but the fact is that yes, a humble sausage saved hundreds if not thousands of lives. I’ll explain…...
At the end of 2017, Airbnb published a list of destinations that were (and had been) trending. I was surprised to see the second on the list was the good old English seaside resort of Bournemouth. I lived near Bournemouth for several years – and worked there...
Don’t you think that there’s something very spooky but nevertheless fascinating about abandoned ships? Well, did you know that the USA has one of the world’s largest ‘ship graveyards’ and that you can visit it? What’s more,...
Often, when people write about Yorkshire, their articles are illustrated by photographs of sheep. There are lots of sheep in Yorkshire and the county was, at one time, at the forefront of the woollen industry. But this is a bit of a strange one… Many years ago,...
Visitors to Venice, or at least those who are in the know, often take a trip – even if just for a day – to the colourful island of Burano. It’s only a few kilometres from Venice itself and the water bus trip takes only about half an hour from St...
It’s one of those debates that crops up from time to time – which do you prefer to drink, still water or fizzy water? Whichever you prefer, the fact remains that the bottled water industry is enormous (and regarded by some as something of a con.) I...
The SS Palo Alto has had a chequered career. I tend to find ships and boats have a spooky aspect to them and this is certainly one of them. To begin with, the ship was built of concrete. (That alone seems weird to me). It was out of luck from the very start of its...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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,...
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...
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....
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...
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, 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...
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...
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...
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,...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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 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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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 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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Just over 150 miles south west of London is Lyme Regis – a small coastal town with fascinating literary connections. People have been living there since ancient times and it’s a fascinating place to visit. One of its attractions is the number and variety...
Many tourists who visit Scotland will want to spend a few days on one of the islands off the west coast. Known as the hebrides the most visited is probably the Isle of Skye (famous for the Cuillin mountains) since it has been connected to the mainland by a bridge...
If you understand basic French then don’t worry, I’m not suggesting that you visit a swimming pool. Well, not quite. La Piscine (meaning the swimming pool) used to be just that, having been built in the northern French city of Roubaix for the benefit of...
There are many reasons to visit the Lingotto Building in Turin. It houses a fabulous hotel, concert halls, a convention centre, theatres, shopping centres and more. But it’s also an incredible building – with a history. Construction of the building started...
One of my favourite places to visit in the Miami area is the 12th century St. Bernard de Clairvaux Church – known as the Ancient Spanish Monastery. It’s such a calm and peaceful place especially in contrast to the hustle and bustle of Miami today. But if...
Krämerbrücke means “Merchant’s Bridge’ and this particular bridge is more like a small village spanning the river Breitstrom. It’s located in the city of Erfurt – which still has much of its original medieval architecture. The original...
Did you know that the famed National Geographic offers exciting tours? One of their most popular destination is India and they even offer a twelve day cruise down the River Ganges. You’ll see places that can only be experienced from the river and there are...
If you are vacationing in Scotland and are thinking of visiting Scotland’s capital city of Edinburgh (and what tourist doesn’t?) you may wish to include in your itinerary a visit to some of Edinburgh’s museums. The city has some wonderful museums but if you are of a...
In 1952, just after the death of her husband King George VI, Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, better known today as ‘The Queen Mother’ bought a 450-year-old rundown castle in the far north of Scotland as a place to ‘get away from everything’. She oversaw the restoration of the...
Yes, there really is a genuine Frankenstein Castle and it is open to the public. It’s in Germany (as you would expect) and overlooks the city of Darmstadt. It was originally built in the thirteenth century and it’s thought that it provided Mary Shelley,...
Mexican cuisine is one of the world’s most popular food styles, especially in the USA. But how about travelling to Mexico and experiencing the authentic food there? You’ll visit restaurants, cafés and food market to discover Mexican food as it truly should...
Melbourne is an amazing city. With so much to see and do, there’s definitely something for everyone. Below, see details of a few Melbourne tours that are just a little different. You can learn more about these tours here Biking is incredibly popular in Melbourne...
