Spend a Day at Castaway Cay Disney’s Private Island

One of the pure delights of a Caribbean and Bahamian cruise aboard a Disney Cruise ship is the stop at Disney’s private island in the Bahamas, Castaway Cay. Exclusively for Disney Cruise Line guests, Castaway Cay offers activities and areas for families, teens and adults. On a recent trip aboard the Disney Dream, I had an opportunity to explore this little slice of paradise that offers guests a comfortable mix of adventure and relaxation. Similar to areas on board the Dream ship, there...

February 4th, 2011 | Jenni Ingersoll | Read More | Comments: 1
Filed under: Cruise, Disney Dream, port of call, top-feature

Late Night Television in NYC – Be A Part of the Live Audience

During a visit to New York City, you are likely to see celebrities dining, shopping, or even just strolling down the street. But what if you want to hear them talk about their latest movie, perform some music, or try to answer that difficult question that has been buzzing around the media? The answer is late night television. Many visitors to New York don’t know that tickets to see the Late Show with David Letterman are free – and you never know who might take the stage on any given night....

February 3rd, 2011 | Jessica Colley | Read More | Comments: 1
Filed under: baby boomer, top-feature, tourist attractions

A Day At Brighton Beach and Pier

Brighton is sometimes referred to as London-by-the-sea, and is a popular weekend escape for Londoners. It is a short (less than an hour) train ride on the overground from London, and once there, most of Brighton’s key central areas are accessible on foot within a 15 minutes walk. There are plenty of things to do in Brighton, and some of the most popular spots are the Brighton Pier and Beach. The first thing many people notice about Brighton beach is that it has no sand. It is a shingle beach...

February 2nd, 2011 | theaucklandguide | Read More | Comments: 1
Filed under: beach, day trip, England, family, top-feature, weekend getaway

5 Fun, Fascinating, Funky New York Museums

Sure there’s the Guggenheim and the Museum of Natural History - but what about museums with a little unusual flair? New York has museums devoted to some interesting topics, and although they aren’t always covered in the major guidebooks, these attractions are just as worth your time as those along Museum Mile. They all deliver a different experience, from a good laugh to learning about the people who built the great city of New York. From serious to playful, entertaining to enriching,...

February 1st, 2011 | Jessica Colley | Read More | Comments: 2
Filed under: film, history, museums, top-feature

Dining Aboard the Disney Dream

I once heard someone say that if you were going to travel with hungry teenage boys, take them on a cruise. Since all your food and non-alcoholic beverages are included in the price of your ticket, they can be satisfied eating nonstop as there is always food available somewhere on board. Having just returned from the Disney Dream cruise, I must say that this is indeed the case, and while I didn’t eat non-stop, I certainly could have. From the moment we arrived on board, which was lunchtime,...

January 31st, 2011 | Jenni Ingersoll | Read More | Comments: 1
Filed under: Disney Dream, Disney-Dining, top-feature

Montmartre, Paris: A History of the Arts

My trip to Paris was enriched by my visit to the slightly-off-the-beaten path neighborhood called Montmartre, once the home of – and the daily inspiration for – artists such as Salvadore Dali, Vincent Van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Edgar Degas, Henri Matisse, Maurice Utrillo, Henri de Toulouse-Latrec and Claude Monet. To view the works of these artists at the Louvre and the Musee d’Orsay (and the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam before we reached Paris) one day, and...

January 31st, 2011 | Christina Uticone | Read More | Comments: 1
Filed under: Art, museums, sightseeing, top-feature

Hiking in Downtown Ojai

Recently, I extolled the virtues of Ojai, California (map) – a quaint town that’s just 90 minutes away from Los Angeles. While I thought the wine was the amazing, the food was delicious, and the hospitality way beyond expectations, there was one activity that I really thought was a bit underrated: hiking. Ojai does have a fair bit of tourism even though it is still a bit unknown – but as I went around on some of the various trails during my weekend trip, I noticed that many of the...

January 30th, 2011 | Andy Hayes | Read More | Comments: 1
Filed under: hiking, outdoor recreation, top-feature, walks

Something for Everyone in Daytona Beach

Forget about the Spring Break party crowd that Daytona Beach was known for in days of yore. Now, while there might be a party, it’s hardly the type that a baby boomer can’t enjoy. Beach and sun, what’s not to love in one of Florida’s most famous cities? Indeed, with so much to do in Daytona Beach it might be hard to know where to begin? Focusing on a few of the highlights of the area; the Daytona International Speedway (as in Daytona 500), local spas of which there are plenty, a little bit...

January 29th, 2011 | Rita | Read More | Comments: 0
Filed under: beach, museum, outdoor recreation, racing, spa, top-feature

New Opportunities for Discovering the Old: History in NYC

New York is a city full of possibilities for learning about the past. There’s the dinosaur skeletons at the Natural History Museum or the latest exhibition at the Guggenheim Museum. There’s a trip to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. But what if you want your trip – while including some history – to also include exploring a new neighborhood, or relaxing in a historic place instead of rushing from one site to the next? In New York there are pubs that welcomed American...

January 28th, 2011 | Jessica Colley | Read More | Comments: 0
Filed under: architecture, Attractions, landmarks, top-feature

DC’s Famous Ben’s Chili Bowl

Since 1958, Washington DC residents, politicians and celebrities have all been fans of the iconic DC chili restaurant, Ben’s Chili Bowl. The list of VIP’s who have dined at Ben’s includes President Barack Obama, France’s President Sarkozy, Bill Cosby and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., to name just a few. No trip to Ben’s would be complete without ordering something that includes their famous chili. Chili lovers tend toward the Bill Cosby’s Original Chili Half-Smoke. It’s...

January 28th, 2011 | Jon Rochetti | Read More | Comments: 1
Filed under: food, Restaurants & Bars, top-feature

Sightseeing in Paris: Sacre Coeur

Paris can be seen from many angles. Get a street-level view by visiting cafés to sip espresso and people watch. Go underground to see the winding tunnels of the Catacombs where millions of Parisians are interred. Get a bird’s eye view of the city from high atop the Eiffel Tower. My favorite view of Paris is that from butte Montmartre at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, or Sacré Coeur (map). Montmartre is as charming and old-world as the rest of the city, but quieter and less crowded than...

January 28th, 2011 | Christina Uticone | Read More | Comments: 3
Filed under: churches, religion, sightseeing, top-feature

Romantic Views in Los Angeles

Los Angeles, one of America’s biggest cities and the home of movie stars. But where some see smog, clogged highways and life at a hectic pace, others see love and romance in a oceanside city. You can’t deny that LA does fare pretty well when it comes to weather, and if you look close enough, you can find plenty of places to work on that budding romance of yours – some of my faves are the views, either of the mountains, the city, or of course, the Pacific Ocean. Here are a...

January 27th, 2011 | Andy Hayes | Read More | Comments: 0
Filed under: beach, city views, romance, romantic spots, top-feature

On Top of the City: Views from the Empire State Building

There are overrated tourist attractions, and then there are attractions that never lose their appeal. The Empire State Building is one New York City landmark that is still as dazzling as ever. Until they build something bigger, higher, and with even better 360 degree views – you still can’t beat the Empire State Building for getting a bird’s eye view of the Big Apple. Somehow the long, narrow island and its avenues and streets all make sense from the observatory on the 86th floor. Find...

January 26th, 2011 | Jessica Colley | Read More | Comments: 0
Filed under: Baby Boomers, nyc landmarks, top-feature

Historic Brighton

Every summer, hundreds of thousands of London residents and visitors head for the miles of beaches along England’s coast. Despite impressions about bad weather, the south of England can get pretty warm during the summer, and if you live in one of the world’s largest cities, you can imagine the temptation of having some sand underneath your feet and a view of the sea. It is a shame that most travelers don’t get too far from the beach because, while it is lovely, Brighton is also...

January 25th, 2011 | Andy Hayes | Read More | Comments: 1
Filed under: architecture, Attractions, historic attraction, history, top-feature, train

Disney Dream: A Cruise All Ages

My husband and I recently took a cruise aboard the Disney Dream, the newest ship in the Disney Cruise Line. As friends and family heard of our departure, we were surprised at the mixed reactions we received. Most families with younger children were thrilled with our choice, while the slightly older crowd merely smiled and wished us Bon Voyage. It seems that traditionally, the younger families are the first to line up, anticipating the entertainment and activities worthy of the Disney reputation,...

January 25th, 2011 | Jenni Ingersoll | Read More | Comments: 1
Filed under: Cruise, Disney Cruise Line, Disney Dream, top-feature

Wine and Dine in Ojai

If you find yourself in the Los Angeles area, I’ve got a hot tip for a great side trip you can take. It’s the small town of Ojai (map) - pronounced as if you were meeting an old friend, “Oh, Hi!” – located in Ventura County, which is to the north of LA. The drive is about 90 minutes, depending on traffic, though you could make it longer and drive up along the coast. Ojai is set in a mountain valley, so despite being fairly close to the ocean, you can’t see...

January 23rd, 2011 | Andy Hayes | Read More | Comments: 1
Filed under: day trip, food, Southern California, top-feature, wine

Fox Glacier versus Franz Josef Glacier

Mother Nature is one of the top reasons that travelers head to New Zealand – it has some of the most diverse and accessible wilderness in the world. The hardest part really is catching some sleep on the long flight over. During your research, no doubt you’ll hear about the two of the country’s most popular glaciers: Franz Josef (map) and Fox (map). The regular bus service as well as the guided tour buses all run along this the coastal road that runs west along the country’s...

January 21st, 2011 | Andy Hayes | Read More | Comments: 1
Filed under: hiking, top-feature

Valentine’s Day and Champagne

Sparkling wine is a traditional toast to love, and where better to sip vintage bubbly than in Champagne, France! After all, European Union law reserves the term “Champagne” exclusively for wines that come from this region located about 100 miles east of Paris. Let me point out that Champagne is not made from champagne grapes. In fact, there isn’t even a variety of grapes called “champagne”. Champagne is a particular kind of wine, produced in a particular way, in a particular region...

January 20th, 2011 | Susan McKee | Read More | Comments: 0
Filed under: Champagne, food, top-feature, wine

Disney World Hosts Atlanta Braves Spring Training

Spring workouts for Major League baseball teams have been a tradition in Florida nearly 100 years. What began as a smattering of exhibition games between the Big League and local semi-pro teams, turned into a full fledged training session for Chicago Cubs players when they arrived in Tampa in 1913. Find cheap short-term rentals in Orlando with iStopOver.com ! Cypress Pointe Grand Villas Units Orlando $71 per night Sunny Private Oasis Orlando $60 per night Westgate Leisure Resort 1 Bedroom Orlando $70...

January 20th, 2011 | Jenni Ingersoll | Read More | Comments: 2
Filed under: baseball, sports, spring training, top-feature, Walt Disney World Resort

Savoring the Season – Where to Warm Up in NYC

A cold day in New York won’t stop the determined traveler from hitting the streets – but knowing where to get a delicious cup of coffee will definitely make the day more pleasant. Nothing provides extra energy for a marathon day of shopping or a jolt of enthusiasm for skipping an afternoon nap like a perfect cup of Joe. Whether you love coffee, are a devoted tea enthusiast, or are looking for the perfect hot chocolate – the following recommendations will provide you with a hot mug...

January 19th, 2011 | Jessica Colley | Read More | Comments: 2
Filed under: cafes, coffee, top-feature