May 17, 2012

Balmoral: The Queen’s Scottish Residence

Balmoral Castle

  Located in the highlands of Aberdeenshire, Scotland, Balmoral Castle is a large estate house best known as one of the residences of the Royal Family.  It was originally purchased by Queen Victoria, who razed the home and rebuilt it from the ground up, and has been owned by successive monarchs since that time.  The [...]

Kew Bridge Steam Museum: London’s Industrial History on Display

Kew Bridge Steam Museum, London

Fans of the offbeat, quirky museums, and industrial history, may enjoy London’s Kew Bridge Steam Museum, home to a collection of water pumping steam engines.  While it may sound a bit dull at first thought, Victorian era London produced some of the finest waterworks around, and it’s on display here.  Located on the River Thames [...]

Family Vacation in Wales

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In springtime the Welsh countryside is surely one of the most beautiful in the world. There is a lush greenness unmatched anywhere in Europe and it’s very easy to see why the daffodil is the region’s official flower. They are everywhere, from the planted beds in suburban public parks to wild outcrops by the roadsides. [...]

Kendal Museum in Cumbria

Kendal Museum, Kendal, Cumbria

Kendal is a small town located in the Lakes District of Cumbria with a rich history that attracts tourists.  Located on the River Kent, it was once known as Kirkby in Kendal, but now is referred to as simply Kendal.  It’s historically been a popular spot for visitors in the Lakes District, both because of [...]

On Safari with a Toddler

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  Taking a two year old on holiday is always a little daunting, even for the experienced traveler. No matter whether you are staying close to home or going long haul, successful holidays with pre-schoolers take precision planning. For our first holiday as a family, we decided to push the limits and go long haul, [...]

History & a View From the Top of the St. Louis Arch

St. Louis Arch at Jefferson National Expansion Memorial

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 [...]

Practical Accommodations During the London Olympics

London highlights

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 [...]

Weekend Getaway: Spokane, Washington

exterior of Davenport Hotel, Spokane

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, [...]

Festivals in Brighton: Party On

Brighton Festival Fringe

  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 [...]

10 Things To Do in St. Andrews, Scotland

Gate of St Andrews, Scotland

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 [...]