Places in England to visit by train

England is one of the most popular destinations in Europe for American tourists. The language is easy to understand and culturally it is very similar to the U.S. When it comes to getting around, however, not all visitors feel comfortable renting a car. Driving in a foreign country can be stressful but the thought of driving on the left can be daunting. If driving isn't in the cards for you then what are your options?

Spending your entire vacation in London is always an option and certainly, there are enough things to keep anyone entertained for weeks. A favorite choice of the locals is the train. Using the trains to get from one end of England to the other is both easy and when compared with the price of a rental car and gas, reasonably priced. Most areas of the English countryside are accessible by trains. Not every village and hamlet of course but most places that visitors would want to visit can be accessed on the train. The exception is Stonehenge, and this is best done on an organized bus tour from London.

Kent is known as the "Garden of England". It is gorgeous year round but in the spring with the fields of rape in full bloom, it is stunning. Rape is a horrible name for a flower but it is used to make the coloring that turns margarine that bright yellow color. Oust houses are also a familiar sight in the Kent countryside. You can enjoy a visit to Chartwell, Hever or Sissinghurst Gardens. These homes of Winston Churchill, Anne Boleyn, and Vita Sackville-West offer visitors plenty of beautiful houses to visit.

One of England most scenic castle Leeds Castles is located in Kent as well. Sevenoaks which is near all the attractions can be reached from London's Charing Cross Station or you can take the train from London Bridge to Hever. Either route will put you right in the midst of the Garden of England.

The Cotswolds are a favorite destination of both the British and the visitor. They offer historically rich cities and beautiful yellow stone building. All trains to the Cotswolds leave from London's Paddington Station. The train does not go to every village and town in the Cotswolds but it does go to Gloucester, Moreton in the Marsh, Bath, Stratford on Avon, Oxford and Cheltenham.

The moors described so vividly in Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights are in the northwest of England. From London travel to the north leaves from Kings Cross Station. For Bronte country, you will need to take the train to Keighley. From there the ultimate trip would be on the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway which is a historic steam train, certainly that will set the mood for visiting the home of Charlotte and Emily Bronte. Another option for getting from Keighley to Haworth is on a local bus. Whichever way you choose the scenery will be striking and you will get to enjoy views of the moors and the village of Haworth.

In the East, the Anglia Plus Pass Flexi Rover is downright cheap, for 34 pounds it allows you to travel for three days out of seven. This pass is a great choice if you want to spend a week in Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, and Suffolk. You need to purchase a return ticket to Cambridge from London and use Cambridge as your center. You can then choose to visit Norwich, Ely, Bury St Edmunds, Great Yarmouth or Newmarket. East Anglia is an area that has an abundance of history and the Fens are an area of great natural beauty. You will wish that you could travel all seven days but Cambridge itself will occupy a day or two by itself.

Finding accommodations in any of the towns that are suggested will be easy with bed and breakfast, inns and hotels available. Local bus service and taxis can be arranged for anything that requires more than a short walk. Don't let the fact that you don't want to drive keep you from visiting the English countryside.

Whatever part of England you decide to visit there will be a train that can get you there. To learn more about train travel in England and to see all the rail passes available visit http://www.britrail.com/

History of the Grand Ole Opry

The Grand Ole Opry is a live syndicated radio show heard on 650 WSM-AM in Nashville. Over 200 Country and Western radio stations across the country broadcast the show weekly. It is the longest-running radio show in the world.

George D. Hay was the announcer on a new show called "The WSM Barn Dance" on November 28, 1925. Uncle Jimmy Thompson a fiddle player who was 80 years old was the first guest performer. He knew he had found a good format; he just had no idea how good.

In 1928, Hay referred to the music as coming from the "Grand Ole Opry." The name stuck. The show had five homes before it finally landed at its sixth, the Ryman Auditorium. It remained there for 31 years.

In 1974, the new theater was opened to anchor the entertainment at the Opryland Resort. To keep the tradition going, a circle of wood was cut from the Ryman Auditorium and placed in the center of the new stage. Finally, they had a home that could hold the thousands of fans who to view the live weekly shows. The seating is done in two tiers and over 4000 people can attend any performance of the Opry.

Since this is a live radio show, it is quite different from a normal show experience. What you have is a performer doing two or three songs, the announcer doing a break, and the Opry Square Dancers coming out and doing their routine. Some comedy is thrown in and a star or two.

Even if you are far from the stage, it isn't hard to view everything. Four huge screens broadcast the performance. The acoustics here are great. This is a very enjoyable way to spend an evening. The seats look like church pews with cushions on them. You are seated on a bench, so you actually have a little more room than you normally would have.

Part of the recent renovations was the addition of a new store. It is huge and has lots of goodies for the die-hard fan. If you want a snack, there are vendors selling popcorn, candy, and all the usual show food. Seats can run anywhere from $27 to $47. You can get them from the box office, online or on the telephone.

One thing it is important to know is that the Grand Ole Opry refers only to the Saturday evening show. If you go to the Opry on Friday night, that's what it is, The Opry, not the Grand Ole Opry.

If you want to find out more about the stars who have performed at the Grand Ole Opry, a visit to the Ryman Auditorium is a must. You will see lots of memorabilia in cases and there are docent volunteers on each floor who will be more than happy to share their vast wealth of knowledge about the building, the music and the stars who performed there over the years and all the greats did.

Florida : An afternoon on Premier Boat Tours Mt Dora

Premier Boat Tours has three pontoon boats that offer tours on Lake Dora and the Dora Canal. They offer tours on most days at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. The tours last two hours. We decided to meet our friends there for the 2 p.m. tour. 

One of our favoroite day trips from Ocala and from Orlando has always been Mt Dora. It is about an hour from both locations. We have been visiting there for over 20 years. It is a pretty small town that has enough elevation to be able to use the word mount in its name. It has a pretty city green, also which has always name it seem more like home. It is a great place to poke around and have lunch. 

We have been meeting our friends Joanne and Tony there for years and actually, they introduced us to Mt  Dora as a great destination for antiquing. These days we are more likely to arts and craft shop. Taking the boat trip was a way to change up our usual visit. 

A few things to know about taking this tour. You do need a reservation, it is very popular. No discounts are offered for children or seniors. Dress for the weather, it can get cool on the water and showers do happen. If the weather is really bad ie thunder and lightening, the cruise will be cancelled. Parking is offered at the Lakeview Inn but not guaranteed, we got the last spot and we were there more than a half hour early.  Which brings up that you need to be on the dock 15 minutes before your tour. 

We all loved Premier Boat Tours. Captain Mary was very knowledgeable and made sure,  as much as it was in her ability to do so, that we got to see a snake, an alligator and lots and lots of birds including a bald eagle nest. Plenty of history was imparted about the Dora Canal and the Harris Chain of Lakes. 

Bring along a camera, you will get lots of opportunity to take great photos. You can bring food and drink and there is a chem toilet on the boat. I highly recommend this tour for families, seniors and just about anybody who wants to learn a little about the ecology of Central Florida. 

Child friendly accommodations near the Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon is a destination that is very family friendly. You will notice that when you visit there, children are everywhere. The first thing you need to decide is whether you will be visiting the South Rim or the North Rim.

The South Rim is easiest to visit if you are traveling north from Prescott or Phoenix. You will then need to decide if you want to stay within the park or outside. The Park Department has accommodations; these range from rustic cabins all the way to luxury lodges. What you will need to do is decide well in advance where you would like to stay, we booked our cabin a full year in advance. We stayed in the rustic cabins and it is unbelievable to be this close to all that beauty. 

Rates at Bright Angel Lodge and Cabins run from $100 to over $250 depending on what you are looking for. The cabins are rustic but their location within feet of the rim making them very desirable.

El Tovar Lodge is also located on the South Rim and is the most luxurious of the accommodations. Rates start at about $197 and go to well over $400. These rates are for two adults, rates for children will depend on their ages.

If you are looking for accommodations close to but outside the park that are kid friendly there are plenty of choices.

Best Western Grand Canyon Squire Inn is located just two miles from the entrance to the Park. Rates begin at around $100 and include an extensive continental breakfast which kids will enjoy and it will also be a good budget option for parents. Hotels rooms offer cable TV, a game room and arcade and a seasonal outdoor pool are also on site.

Two restaurants are located at the Inn and the menu is very family friendly as are the prices. For the adults, there is a sports bar to chill out in after a hard day at the Canyon. Horseback riding is offered in the area and the hotel staff will be happy to help arrange any tours that you might be interested in.

The Holiday Inn Express at Canyon Village has a perfect location for families with children wanting to visit the Grand Canyon. They off kid suites which have bunk beds and lots of extra space for the younger set as well as all the amenities that you have come to expect from the Holiday Inn Express chain.

Wifi is free; there is an included buffet breakfast, an indoor pool, and hot tub area and a very kid friendly atmosphere. The fact that the rooms have a microwave and fridge allows for some eating to be done in the room and that, of course, cuts down on the overall expenses of the vacation.

One the north rim within the park you can choose from a variety of cabins from Western, Pioneer and Frontier with prices ranging from low to mid $100 range. There are also motel rooms available at slightly over $100.

When you are traveling with children, you need to find accommodations that are kid friendly. With a little planning, the Grand Canyon offers plenty of options both within and outside the park.

Grand Canyon Lodges

California: Sampling wine in North Lake Tahoe

When you think about North Lake Tahoe the first thing that comes to mind is water sports and skiing. Among the many other things of interest in the area north of Lake Tahoe are wineries.

This is an area as old as the continent itself. The valley where Truckee is located and Donner Pass were carved out by glaciers and its early occupants were nomadic tribes. Truckee was named after an Indian who helped early settlers find their way through the treacherous Sierra Mountain passes.

Truckee River Winery

For the last twenty years, this slightly cooler and higher area of California has been delivering a surprisingly good vintage of wine. Tastings are available every day except Tuesdays and right now they are producing a Pinot Noir, a Zinfandel, a Pinot Gris and a Sauvignon Blanc. The available bottles are limited so if you taste something you love, don’t hesitate to buy a bottle, if you wait, it may be too late.

Today, one of the most amazing things about Truckee is this winery.

Whispering Vine Wine Company

If you are in Reno and looking to taste a variety of local and not so local wines, Whispering Vines Wine Company offers the ability to taste wine every day of the week but they also have a calendar of events to attend for something extra special. Many of these special events will feature a variety of wines from a particular vintner.

Locals and regular visitors can set up their own wine club with regularly scheduled tastings. The selection is outstanding and the d by the glass or flight.

Nevada City Winery

Like many small wineries, Nevada City began in the garage of Alan Haley. Today it is still in a garage but a historic one that is located very close to where the original Winery was located in Nevada City over 100 years ago. As you can see, this is an area that is not new to the growing of grapes and the production of fine wines. The tasting room is open daily and if you would like a tour they take place on Saturdays at 1:30 p.m.

Several award-winning vintages on offer here. They have won many awards for the Syrah as well as their Merlot and Sangiovese. These are just of few of the wines that are offered here.

The next time you are in the North Tahoe area, stop by one of these three locations for a great opportunity to taste some of the local wines.

For more information:

Truckee River Winery
Nevada City Winery
Whispering Vines Wine Company

Popular accommodations in Charleston, SC

Charleston, S.C. is one of the most popular destinations on the east coast. It is in what is known as the Low Country and has been an important port for most of its existence. Charleston was the place where the Civil War began. Fort Sumter is located in the harbor and is still a popular tourist destination today. Visitors are looking for someplace special to rest their heads, here are some of the most popular accommodations in Charleston.

The John Rutledge House Inn is one of the best known of Charleston’s places to stay. John Rutledge was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence and this is one of the houses he owned. George Washington really did visit here; he had breakfast with the lady of the house. There are 19 rooms located in three buildings at this inn. You can choose between rooms in the original house and others in the two carriage houses. Some of the rooms have working fireplaces and jetted tubs. All rooms have robes, flat screen TVs, wireless Internet, and refrigerators. A deluxe continental or cooked breakfast is included with the room. Afternoon tea and complimentary evening port, sherry or brandy is also offered.

The French Quarter Inn is a hotel but a magnificent one with an impeccable location. The rooms are very nice, the suites are exceptional. The bathrooms are large and have real soaking tubs. Included with a stay here are lots of opportunities to eat. Breakfast is available in the lobby or it can be delivered to your room. It is a hearty continental. Iced tea and lemonade are available throughout the day. In the afternoon, tea, snacks, cheese, and wine are served. In the evening, it is cookies and milk. 

The hotel has its own parking and you will be able to walk to just about anyplace in the city where you want to go. Restaurants and shopping are just seconds away. You will feel special from the moment you check in and receive your complementary ladyfingers and champagne. This was our personal choice when we stayed in the city.

Located in one of the most historic areas of Charleston, the Battery Carriage House is an accommodation that offers guests the opportunity to view the harbor and Fort Sumter right outside the gates. This is a bed and breakfast with 11 unique rooms that provide an oasis in the midst of this residential neighborhood. All of the rooms have their own private entrance and come with a continental breakfast that can be served in your room or under the arbor in the garden.

There are three types of rooms, the kings come with jetted tubs and are the most spacious. Lower Carriage House Rooms are the smallest and include a queen-sized four-poster bed. Upper Carriage House Rooms are a bit larger and have canopy beds. Afternoon tea and snacks are served as well as evening wine receptions. Rooms come with a plush robe, wireless Internet access, and a daily newspaper. Modern amenities are mixed with antiques and historic ambiance.

If you are traveling to Charleston with children, don’t worry, there is a really spectacular place for you to stay that is also child-friendly, Charleston Place. For the adults, there are luxurious rooms, a spa that has been voted the best city hotel spa in North America by "Travel and Leisure" and a great fitness center and pool. The kids haven't been forgotten, they have their own splash pool, a special welcome package, free meals in the hotel restaurant and even a mini bathrobe so that they can enjoy the luxury as well.

These are just four of the many places that are available for visitors to Charleston. They are more at the top end of the budget but they offer great locations and the ability to walk to all the local attractions and after all, Charleston is a special destination. For the budget conscious, there are plenty of chain hotels and motels a little outside of the historic section.


For more information:


John Rutledge Inn


Charleston Place


Battery Carriage House


French Quarter Inn

The Jewish Museum New York City

When it comes to museums, New York City has them in abundance. From the amazing Metropolitan Art Museum to the Museum of Natural History, New York has it all, even a few religious museums. One that is often overlooked is the Jewish Museum. It has a premier location on Fifth Avenue across from Central Park and is great combined with a visit to the Museum of New York City or the Met.

Security at the museum is high as should be expected. I found it to be on par with what we experienced when we visited the Houses of Parliament in London. You will go through a metal detector, empty your pockets and even open your purse. While it may be a small annoyance, it is worth it to feel safe while you visit.

Guided tours are offered at the museum Monday through Friday. We visited on a Sunday and took advantage of the offered audio guide. It will greatly enhance your appreciation of what you are seeing. The museum has an excellent website and it is always advisable to check what special exhibits are being offered.

The Jewish Museum is set on four floors with the temporary exhibits housed on floors one and two and the permanent collection Culture and Continuity: The Jewish Journey being located on floors three and four. This exhibit is fascinating.

The history of the Jewish people and their ability to survive the most amazing tragedies and adversity make for a very interesting look at the history of our world. By the time you have walked through 4000 years of Jewish history, you will be able to answer the questions that the exhibit addresses: "How has Judaism been able to thrive for thousands of years across the globe, often in difficult and even tragic circumstances? What constitutes the essence of Jewish identity?"

One of the narrators on the audioguide is Leonard Nimoy, which is interesting since for many people it is hard to disassociate him from his character Mr. Spock. He talks about the tradition of circumcision in the Jewish culture among other things. In case you weren’t aware, Mr. Nimoy was Jewish. 

The exhibits are very interesting and well done with plenty of additional material to read. You can delve deeper if you have the interest or you can just let your audio guide direct you around. I was very interested, as a Christian, to see how the issue of Jesus would be addressed. He was after all first and foremost Jewish. He is a part of their exhibit on sects and conflict which from the Jewish perspective is the perfect place for such a controversial figure.

I found the section on the three Jewish traditions, Mizrahi, Sephardi and Ashkenazi very interesting. If you have always been drawn to the religious traditions of the world, this museum will be fascinating for you. They have a very nice kosher café where you can nosh before, during or after your visit. Allow several hours for your visit here. 

Admission is $18 for adults and the museum is open every day though, some parts are closed on Saturday since it is the Sabbath including the shops and the children’s interactive area.