There are 21 squares in Savannah, a city laid out to a well-designed and geometric grid. However, the most popular one with travellers and tourists is Chippewa Square and has been since the mid nineteen nineties. But why? The square was laid out in the early...
I know what you’re thinking. Well, I don’t of course, but I hope that you’re thinking ‘where have I seen that house before?” Or maybe, “that house looks familiar”. And the chances are good that yes, you have seen it...
A study recently revealed the top fifty rudest cities in the USA. By this, they mean the least polite. The place where no one is likely to give you their seat on a bus or hold the door open for you or spend time indulging in small talk. It will come as no surprise to...
Ships and aircraft mysteriously disappearing. Paranormal activity. Unexplained disasters. Extra-terrestrial interferences.You’ve probably heard about all the mysterious events surrounding the Bermuda Triange, a loosely-defined area of the Atlantic ocean with its...
Yes, there are some wonderfully healthy ways to start the day. A smoothie. A nutritious shake. Or how about a healthy homemade museli or additive-free granola? (With almond or oat milk, of course).And then on the other hand, there are tasty ways to have...
The building started life in 1924. Not as a ballroom or music venue though – it orginated as a garage. The internet tells me that this was ‘for Wyatt Tate Brady’s automobiles’. At first I took this to mean that Mr Tate Brady was in the motor...
You don’t really expect calling in for a bite at a cafeteria to be a weird experience. That is, unless you’ve been to Clifton’s. The best way to find out about it, apart from walking through the doors of course, is to take a look at the video below....
It’s not the sort of building you expect to see in New York. And many hundreds of people walk past it every day and don’t look up at the somewhat astonishing architecture of Alwyn Court.This apartment building was built in the two years from 1907 to 1909...
Traditionally, stereotypically, the English are supposed to drink nothing but tea and Americans never do – they always drink coffee. Like most stereotypes, this is a load of nonsense. The two drinks can vary a lot in both countries though so it’s a good...
Forget things that go bump in the night, this is one of the scariest things you’ll ever see.Now housed in the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum in Oregon, the Spruce Goose is simply enormous. The WW2 enemy can thank its collective lucky stars that this...
Even if you’ve never set foot in Chicago I wouldn’t be surprised if you’re familiar with Daley Plaza. If nothing else, you know it from the 1980s film, the Blue Brothers. (See the video below). But since the 1960s, Daley Plaza has been home to a...
I’m beginning to think that airports are getting better as time goes by. After all, it was way back in the nineteen-eighties that Douglas Adams wrote: It can hardly be a coincidence that no language on Earth has ever produced the expression “As pretty as...
The Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village was and is a gay bar on Christopher Street. It was in 1969 that a police raid here led to the Stonewall riots, one of the most important events in the history of LGBT rights.If you’d like to visit the Stonewall, please see...
You might have heard of Woody Guthrie, especially if you’re from the USA or if you know about USA music in the 1950s and 60s. And if you were of a hippy-ish, anti-Vietnam war persuasion in the late sixties you might remember the song that made his son Arlo...
Just because a hotel is a historic one – and the Riverside Hotel in Fort Lauderdale was founded way back in 1936 – it doesn’t mean that it isn’t bang up to date in many ways. Although the Riverside has plenty of wonderful original features, it...
The mystique, the unusualness, the authenticity, the fabulous reviews!!! Far from crowds and traffic, yet near to Los Angeles, is a vacation rental located in historic Chatsworth, California. Open sky, 360-degree dramatic valley and city views and sandstone cliffs...
It’s only a short drive from the beach. And when you approach Easterlin Park you’ll wonder where on earth you are going. You’ll drive along a built-up road and underneath the busy I95. Surely there can’t be an area of parkland in this very...
The Avenue of the Giants is justifiably well-known. Its located in an area that is a National Park and a World Heritage Site – and those trees are big!And don’t be put off by the fact that it’s a National Park. Yes, I know, it’s got plenty of...
Do you remember when steampunk was a thing? Well, the perfect interior to match that look is to be found in this building. It’s gorgeous, it’s got a curious history and it’s been used in umpteen films, TV shows and music videos. And, it’s open...
There are plenty of statistics on the internet that tell us – accurately – whether a city in the USA is a safe place to stay or visit. The trouble is that most cities have areas that are wonderfully safe and absolutely splendid places for the visitor to...
So, the guests had just left our Airbnb rental and I went in to check the place. I like to do this as soon as the guests have gone for several reasons. One of them, and probably the least sensible, is to check the fridge to see if they’ve left any goodies. And...
So you didn’t know that there’s an annual world happiness report? There is, and this year’s results have just been announced and the big news is that the USA has slipped a few places yet again. In fact, it only just makes the top twenty. Scandinavia...
Local authorities are much better now at preserving historic buildings and places. It used to be that anything more than 50 years old was likely to be knocked down in the name of progress but the situation is a little better now. But Pier 54, with a curious maritime...
Just before Christmas in 1958, twelve couples driving through California received an unusual Christmas gift. Independently of each other, they all spotted what seemed to be a new motel – the Madonna – and stopped to stay there for the night. The next...
Have you ever wanted to see a huge elephant? An elephant that is actually a building you can go into? No, I thought not… But just in case you have, then Margate City in New Jersey is the place to head to. This Lucy, this humungous elephant, could be deemed a...
It started in the 1930s on the west coast of America. The tiki culture, exotic and at that time a new style, gradually travelled across the country. It was inspired by the South Pacific and the exciting culture of what was then a far off land. As the Second World War...
Andy Sweet was only 28 years old when he was murdered in Miami Beach. But he left a legacy we can all enjoy. Andy was fascinated by the area where he was born and brought up and documented it on film. Andy was born in 1953 and when he grew to adulthood he realised...
I am particularly fond of artworks that change along with the weather, the time of day or the human interaction that’s going on in the vicinity and Cloud Gate in Chicago ticks all those boxes. The fact that we, as human spectators and passers-by, can affect a...
That gorgeous roof garden pictured above, and its stunning view, would be reason enough to stay in the Jane Hotel in New York but just wait until you hear more about it, especially its history. The hotel was built at the beginning of the last century (1906 –...
The Riverside isn’t in the least bit swanky or posh. You can tell that from the photograph above. But if you’re an aficionado of the blues then it has to be on your list. Since the forties it’s been either home or home-from-home for many blues...
If you know what a walleye is – and you’d like to catch a few – then the Northwest Angle is the place to go. If you’ve no idea what a walleye is – and furthermore don’t really care – then the trip still has plenty to offer...
I’m not sure that Downey, California has a huge amount to fascinate the traveller but if you’re on a road trip and passing through, it’s an idea to take a look at the world’s oldest branch of McDonalds. It opened in 1953 so I’m imagining...
For well over a hundred years, the City Of New York has partly functioned underground. Out of sight to those of us on the surface, millions of people travel from place to place, quickly and efficiently. They are travelling on the subway – itself a marvel of...
Are you in love with signage the way I am? I know that some people might think that having a passion for signs might indicate a person who is a bit, well, odd – but the Neon Museum in Vegas is my idea of paradise. Well, one of my ideas of paradise… Las...
Do you agree with me that Stephen King must have a pretty weird imagination? I think he must have to ensure his many years of great success writing those really creepy (but deliciously creepy) books. But what is Stephen King himself afraid of? In an article a couple...
Numbers? What am I talking about? Five is five whether you’re speaking proper English or speaking American.. but of course, that would be just too easy, wouldn’t it? Yes, the numbers are the same – basically – but it’s how we use them...
This is a curious house with a curious history. It’s been seen in films and TV shows and residents need to access the place via a funicular. And it had curious beginnings. The original owner had been given the piece of land and the fact that he didn’t have...
It’s a culture shock when you visit the USA. So many things are so different. And if your knowledge of the English language is, well, English, then American is going to puzzle you quite a lot. Picture me then, new to the USA and in a large store somewhere in the...
It’s certainly not the best looking house I’ve ever seen but it is supposed to be decidedly spooky. And with its history, it’s hardly surprising. The architecture is interesting, to say the least, but this house – which is now a museum –...
Sheats Apartments building is an early example of the work of architect John Lautner. Built in 1949, it was intended for use as accommodation for UCLA students and seems to have spent most of its life to date as such. The building contains eight self-contained...
If you’re visiting the USA from overseas, you’ve probably already wondered about food. Can you eat healthily in the USA? You’ve read about the meat and poultry industries and their practices, you are aware that the United States has an extremely high...
I honestly thought it was a joke. But it turns out that the Heart Attack Grill is real. And it lives up to its name. Its mission, if it can be said to be a mission, is to serve up the sort of food that if eaten on a regular basis would lead to a heart attack. Yes, the...
You can’t stay at La Concha Motel in Vegas anymore, but you can visit to see the astonishing lobby building. (As seen in the photograph above). The lobby building, which was initially erected in 1961, has been restored and is used as the visitors’ centre...
That title is wrong, to be honest. Riverside, Iowa isn’t the birthplace of Captain James T. Kirk. It’s the future birthplace of Captain James T. Kirk – as you can see on the photograph of the plaque. Captain James T. Kirk is, of course, the original...
The insurance people, Geiko, have recently launched a video entitled The Best Airbnbs Have These Things in Common. So I thought that I’d enumerate them and see how our own listings (here in fabulous Fort Lauderdale) compare. We have two – both are in a...
If you’re American, you might not be as gobsmacked by this as I am. To me, it comes into one of those only-in-America categories. But the Wienermobile – for that is what the vehicle you see illustrated is – really is a thing. I admit that I had to go...
You probably didn’t know that May 5th is designated as Betty Willis Day. In fact, it may be that you’ve no idea at all who Betty Willis was. But I’ll bet you know one of her pieces of design work. Yes, the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign. Graphic...
In 1939, Roland Stickney designed a prefabricated diner in the form of contemporary streamlined railway trains. These were put into production and were made until 1949. Only two are still in operation and one is the Modern Diner in Pawtucket, RI. Typical of the trains...
The man who is credited as its inventor, Buckminster Fuller, doesn’t describe the Dymaxion as a mere car. This is because it was intended to evolve further into a flying vehicle. Unfortunately the technology to create this was not available in the 1930s when the...
This astonishing edifice – a private home – was built in 1976. Architect William Nicholson created the building as part of an experimental series featuring what was referred to, not surprisingly, as ‘Blob Architecture’. The process involved...
We are often asked this question by people who are coming to the USA from other countries – countries where the residents have never even considered whether their tap water is safe. In countries in Europe, we tend to take our tasty safe water for granted. If we...
For people of my generation anyway, if we were asked the question ‘what subject did you really dislike at school’ then many of us would have the same answer. Mathematics! I don’t really know why that is but I have an idea. Could it be that it was...
Believe it or not, this scary bridge was open to regular traffic for forty years. Now the trucks and cars that used to cross the Mississippi via this bridge are now ghosts of the past – but the bridge is still open for foot and cycle use. It was first opened in...
Of course, there are those who think that fast-food burgers are the work of the devil but even amongst us there are also those who love Mid Century Modern architecture (and the lifestyle it conjures up) and if you’re in the Hollwood area, then Bob’s is...
Casa Grande`on Hendricks Isle in Fort Lauderdale was designed in the late 1940s by Michigan architect. C. Dale Dykema. He was commissioned to design this small and now historic apartment complex by another couple from Grand Rapids, Michigan. Walter and Leolyn Semeyn....
If you enjoy wine (me!) and love to gaze at architecture (me, again!) then a trip to the Quixote Winery is a must. The Stag’s Leap Winnery was bought in 1971 by Carl Doumani. Over the next two decades, the winery and its manor house were carefully restored and...
The Craighead CAverns are a series of underground caves and huge enclosed areas that make up an extensive cavern system, complete with huge underground lake. The Lost Sea, as it is known, is the largest underground lake in the USA and the second largest in the world....
Fort Lauderdale is justifiably proud of the parks and scenic trails and routes it offers for the cyclist. And more and more people are choosing to get around using pedal power rather than less ecological modes of transport. We’ve found that guests who are...
It used to be one of Fort Lauderdale’s best-kept secrets. Inaugurated in 1986, the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival began its life for aficionados of independent and foreign films. But it was a secret that we couldn’t keep for long – soon...
This is the most fabulous state park with tropical foliage, exciting wildlife, plenty of outdoor activities and campgrounds. Once a week there’s even a highly-recommended farmers market. Visitors rave about this historic site … even more so when they...
It’s going to be a little difficult writing about the Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel in Tennessee without resorting to ‘pardon me boy’, ‘dinner in the diner’ and ‘won’t you choo choo me home’ but I’m fairly sure that...
Some people think that they were built by aliens but the fact of the matter is that the Cape Romano Dome House, now abandoned, was built in 1980 by an American businessman named Bob Lee. (I’ll admit that the alien story is more romantic though). I imagine that...
The story I am going to tell you today is a legend. I don’t know whether it’s true – but I rather hope that it is. But before I get to that, I’m going to tell you several things that are absolutely true that all come together in the story of...
In 1923, the Crescent Sign Company of Los Angeles were commissioned to create a huge sign. It was to advertise a new housing development, the name of which was Hollywoodland. It was intended to be a temporary structure that would last for about eighteen months –...
Yes, there really is a place called Two Egg in Florida. Google maps will even confirm it. And doesn’t it amuse you that it’s two singulars, rather than being Two Eggs? The Two Egg website says that the name developed because of the farm produce that the...
United Record Pressing opened up for business in Nashville in 1949. The business was a success – creating the new and popular vinyl records. It was a specialist business indeed. As the business expanded into the fifties and early sixties, it was Motown music...
When you visit Key West these days it’s difficult to imagine that events of true creepiness took place there. Today it’s a pretty innocuous place and plenty of fun for cruise passengers and tourists. But one of the creepiest events I’ve ever heard...
Chuck Berry was known as the father of rock ‘n’ roll and today, the house he lived in for several years and where he wrote several of his most well-known classics, is on the National Register of Historic Places. The house was already 40 years old when the...
In 1908, the Hampton Springs Hotel opened its doors. It was more than just a luxurious hotel. Local man Joe Hamilton became aware of the area’s sulphur springs that were believed to be health-giving. As his wife suffered from rheumatism, he had an added...
Imagine. You’re going to stay at a private island in sunny California. It has amazing wildlife and a fascinating history. What’s more, it’s not going to cost you a penny – your stay will be absolutely free of charge and even all your meals will...
They say that writer Guy de Maupassant used to eat lunch every day at the restaurant atop the Eiffel Tower – because it was the only place in Paris that didn’t have a view of the thing. This ‘fact’ is doubted by my family as we once drove...
A cult movie of the 1980s, Dirty Dancing was set at the fictional Kellerman’s Resort in the Catskills. In fact, the filming took place at the Mountain Lake Hotel in Pembroke, Virginia. The film was set in 1963 and reflected the lifestyle of prosperous New...
The wreck of the Francisco Morazan can still be seen just a couple of hundred yards from the shore of Lake Michigan. Yet the ship floundered and was abandoned in 1960. The ship was built in 1922 in Germany and you can still tell today, looking at the wreck, that it...
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...
Not all visitors to Fort Lauderdale make their way up Dixie Highway. Those who do are often paying homage to one of the greatest bass players ever – Jaco Pastorius. Before we go any further, let’s listen to him in action. This is from 1978. Jaco...
I’m from England although I’ve lived in the USA since 1994. And yes, there’s a huge difference between the two cultures and one of the greatest is that of language. British people in the USA – and vice versa – can find themselves...
A recent study showed that the majority of travellers visit at least one attraction during their vacation. That’s no surprise. But what is surprising is what type of attraction is most favoured by American tourists. Another interesting feature of the study is...
Retro and a lot of fun, the Boots Court Motel is located on Route 66 and US 71. This means that this almost-fully-restored (work continues) motel offers rooms with one queen size bed for $66 per night and double rooms with two queen beds for $71 per night. A good...
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...
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...
Until recent years, a full-on, lavish wedding was something to be desired. (And to have to pay for forever more). It was a status symbol. But recently couples have embraced the minimalistic approach that has taken over so many aspects of our lives. We no longer need...
The Vdana Hotel in Las Vegas opened in 2009. It was designed by Rafael Vinoly and has 56 floors containing all the amenities you’d expect from a modern hotel. It was also discovered that it had one huge problem. You may or may not be able to imagine what it is...
Within walking distance of Central Park, the Empire State Building, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and just about everywhere you want to visit in New York, sits the fabulous High Line Hotel. The building is splendid, the rooms are gorgeous and the amenities you can...
In 2018, Mardi Gras was early. It fell on February 13th and because the festival’s date is based on that of Easter, it’s different every year. In 2019, it was on March 5th – quite a difference from year to year. This can make arranging to visit Mardi...
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...
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,...
Fort Lauderdale isn’t necessarily one of the first places that springs to mind when people are thinking about vacationing in cities that show concern for the planet. But they would be mistaken. From our turtle-hatching initiatives to our waterways clean-ups, ...
Many years ago, just after the Second World War in fact, an area of land that was due to become prime real estate in Fort Lauderdale was nothing more than a garbage dump. Anyone travelling along the prestigious Las Olas Boulevard down to the beach would pass this area...
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...
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...
Miami Beach is a pretty exciting place to be. And one of the best places to stay in right on the famous Collins Avenue which is where you’ll find the Confidente Hotel. But there’s more. If you’re a fan of Mid-Century Modern architecture and...
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...
For me, it has long been a tradition to have at least one shot of Jim Beam in Sloppy Joe’s in Key West whenever I’m in the town. But equally essential is a drink in Captain Tony’s Saloon just across the road. Many people visit Sloppy Joe’s...
Unless you are seriously addicted to eating avocados, then I doubt that you’d travel thousands of miles to California just to see where the Hass avocado empire was born but if you’re local, or in the area, visiting this site will be a fabulous story to...
Stay in an iconic and historic hotel in New York. The Bryant Park Hotel is in an extremely unusual structure that was originally named the American Radiator Building. It has an interesting creative history as it was based on a design by Finnish architect...
When I first came to Fort Lauderdale from England – way back in the eighties – I would have loved to have stayed in a place where someone knew what I was talking about! Ten years later, I moved here permanently and it took me quite some time to adjust to...
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...
If you’re looking for accommodation in the Boston area, then I’m delighted to introduce you to this gorgeous private three room suite located in a lovely home built in 1903. The suite is on the third floor so you will have fabulous views of the area and...
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...
I love finding unusual places to stay and the Don Q – located in Dodgeville, Wisconsin – is certainly one of the strangest in the United States. And it’s not easy to describe…The first thing you’ll notice when you arrive is the Boeing...
