British Columbia: Day trips from Vancouver

Visitors to Vancouver have many options when it comes to things to do in the city. It is one of my favorite places to visit. However, getting away for a day trip is an option and there are several really good destinations!!

Victoria

Ideally, you would want to spend more than one day visiting Victoria but it can be done in a day trip if that is all you have. There is a ferry that can take you to Victoria but you need a car to get to the ferry terminal in Tsawwassen. When you arrive on Vancouver Island, you are in Swartz Bay about 20 miles from Victoria.

A more expensive but much easier option is to take a float plane from Vancouver Harbor right to Victoria's Inner Harbor. This places you right in the middle of the action and you are within walking distance of most of the things that you would want to do.

The Fairmont Empress Hotel is a popular destination for visitors and having high tea there is on the top of most people's list. This may require reservations so be sure to give them a call if this is something you really want to do.

For families, Royal British Columbia Museum is an easy walk away and you can enjoy the exhibits and purchase tickets for the National Geographic IMAX Theater. Walking along the harbor and a visit to the Parliament building are also popular with visitors. The last float plane heads back to Vancouver at 5:50 p.m. allowing you to have quite a full day.

Whale watch

Though this isn't a specific location, it is an excellent choice for a half day trip. There are several different options depending on what you will feel most comfortable with. If you are into fast boats and a lot of bouncing around the open or semi-covered Zodiac type of boats will be for you. If you prefer a more comfortable ride then the more traditional boat is a better choice. You can sit comfortably inside until you got to areas of interest. You then climb up on the deck for picture taking. It was one of the most exciting things I have ever done. You will see sea lions, porpoise and hopefully the Orcas. Trips can take from 3-5 hours.

Whistler

Whistler one of the premier ski locations in North America, It is beautiful enough to warrant a visit during any season. Located about an hour from Vancouver it will be a quiet and uneventful ride northeast.

If you are not going to ski in Whistler then the main attraction is the hiking. Visit the Whistler Activity Guides Bureau, they will have information on the best trails. If you are not up for hiking the Whistler Gondola can whisk up from the center of town to the Roundhouse Lodge. Keep your eyes open for bears roaming below you. The views from the top are spectacular. When you return if you have time, visit the Whistler Museum and Archives Society to learn about the history of Whistler and skiing in the area.

Those who want something really exciting to do can consider taking one of the 2.5-hour Ziptrek Eco Tours. Zip-lines of varying length and heights are certain to get your adrenaline pumping. You can fly like an eagle solo or tandem and you will have pictures and memories to last a lifetime.

Plan to have dinner in Whistler before heading back to Vancouver. The town has many celebrated restaurants and you almost can't make a bad choice. Wildflower at the Fairmont Hotel is a perennial favorite as is Rim Rock Cafe.

Whether you choose Whistler, Victoria or a whale watch, any of these day trips are sure to add an element of culture, nature or excitement to your day.

Uruguay: Best travel websites

When you want to research your travels to Uruguay the best Uruguay travel websites will help you to find the information to plan the perfect vacation.

Uruguay is a small country in South America. It is often referred to as the heart-shaped country because of its shape. It is bordered by Brazil and Argentina and the Atlantic Ocean. The capital city is Montevideo and the majority of the population of the country live in or near the city. Many wonderful beaches are located in Uruguay, some are very quiet and others are filled with music and excitement. So no matter what you are looking for in a vacation, arts, music, relaxing or great food you will find it all in Uruguay.



Welcome Uruguay is a commercial website that is almost too busy to look at, there is a lot going on. Things are moving and the advertising is pretty blatant but in the midst of all this, there is plenty of useful information.

Across the top right below the pictures are three very thin and hard to see buttons, Littoral, Center and The Beaches. Clicking on the link brings up some more choices, with Littoral one of the choices Carmelo which is a city in the province of Colonia.

When you get to the new page there is an overview of the city in the center and there is a list of links on the left side which will give you further information. Some of the options are Tourist Services, Tours, Photo Gallery and Where to sleep. If you click on Tourist Services, you get the name of a car rental agency and other travel services.

On the left side below the links that apply to Carmelo there is a section called Topics. It has a section for Hot Springs and another is Wines of Uruguay. If you click on Hot Springs it brings up an article and a map with the locations of the Hot Springs.

This is just one small section of a very detailed website. It is easy to navigate and while the front page could be improved the rest of the site is much easier to see and understand.

Given the scarcity of websites to help you plan your trip to Uruguay,

Discover Uruguay is a ray of sunshine. The site covers a lot of ground from lodging and transportation to actually making those reservations. The activities section has a great list of things you can do but there are no clickable links to take you to more information. So while you now know that there are casinos to enjoy where they are and how to get there is not provided. But at least you can take that information and go looking in other places. Discover Uruguay is another commercial site that sells tours but you can use them to send you in the right direction.

Uruguay Natural is the official tourism site of Uruguay. It is hard to believe that the official website for the country does not make it to the first five pages of a Google search of Uruguay, but its’ true. What you notice first in the banner is the social media site icons, they really catch your eye. I guess on a site that features travel to your country that isn’t what you want people to notice first but it is what caught my eye.

The pictures on the homepage don’t change and the choices along the top are Home, Places to Go, Things to See and Information. If you scroll down past the first massive photo you get six choices of Places to See. Sorry but the design of this website is just poor and made me want to go someplace else almost immediately. I suggest you do find another place for your research because what is available on this site is very superficial and not of much use except in a very general way. This is probably the worst official website I have ever come across.

What is quite obvious at this point is that planning a trip to Uruguay is not going to be easy using just one website. You will need to use these to send you looking for more specific information. You can also use all the old standbys like Trip Advisor, National Geographic, Frommer, Fodor, and Lonely Planet. Uruguay is a fascinating country and all the effort will be worth it in the end.

Nova Scotia: Best tours of Halifax

Halifax is a city that deserves to be toured. No matter how you arrive there, by plane, by car or by cruise ship, you will want to take one of the many tours that are offered to enhance your visit.

Hop on Hop off Double Decker

These authentic London style red double-decker buses allow the visitor to take a full tour which goes to all the most important historic sites and then get off and back on when they are ready These buses run during the warm weather and services ends in mid-October. The tour has fifteen stops and you will receive a map with your ticket. Some of the stops include The Citadel, Pier 21 where the cruise ships come in and the Museum of Natural History.

What isn't included on this tour is Fairview Lawn Cemetery where the Titanic victims are buried.

Deluxe City Tour

This three-hour tour is offered twice daily at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. from June 1st until October 15th. If you are visiting on a cruise at a later date they will have made arrangement for the tours to be available through the cruise lines. Tour buses are trolleys that look like the original San Francisco trolleys. Tours are guided and your kilted tour guide will provide an interesting and informative running narrative as you travel through the streets of Halifax.

This tour visits the Citadel for a photo opportunity but does not allow enough time for a visit. The trolley parks outside of Fairview Lawn Cemetery. The tour includes a guided tour through the graves of the Titanic victims and the fascinating stories that the graves hide. There are many photo opportunities on this tour be sure to bring along your camera.

Private Limo Tour

If you have a limited amount of time to spend in Halifax this may be a perfect choice. They will do a custom tour to your specifications. All the fun of being chauffeured around and none of the formality.

Historic Halifax Walking Tour

If you prefer to do it on your own you can visit Halifax Tourism Website and get a copy of their suggested two to three-hour walking tour. It will take you through the downtown area and even the Citadel. The city is hilly and you will need to have a certain amount of stamina to attempt this walk but the effort will be well worth it.

Harbor Hopper Tour

If you enjoy the Duck Tours that are so popular in many American Cities then the Harbor Hopper will provide much of the same thrill. You will spend fifty-five minutes driving through the streets of Halifax enjoying the narrated tour and then off into the harbor for a unique view of the Halifax and Dartmouth skylines. Be on the lookout for the green frog that decorates the side.

No matter how you choose to tour, Halifax is sure to delight and intrigue. Most tours are available only during the summer months so plan your trip accordingly.

Hotel Review: Comfort Inn Clarion Penn.

I am sure you may have noticed that I tend to be very brand loyal when it comes to hotels and my usual choices are Marriott, Holiday Inn or Omni. However, there are times when one of these hotels isn't available or is so overpriced that I have to try to find an alternative, this was one of those cases. The Comfort Inn in Clarion was well located and well priced and therefore I decided after considerable research on Trip Advisor to give it a try. I wasn't disappointed.

The hotel is two-story and you enter through the lobby, the rooms are not accessible directly from the exterior. The lobby is not exceptional about the lobby but you will immediately see the pool and spa which is directly ahead of you as you enter. Across from the desk, coffee is available and in the hall is an ice machine.

This hotel has smoking rooms and that is one reason I usually am not a big fan of Choice Hotels. If you want to be away from them, be sure to make your preference known. The first room assigned to us would have been too close to the smoking section to be comfortable. It is also important to note that there is no elevator so if your room is on the second floor, you will need to carry your luggage up the stairs. We opted for the first floor and got room 106. It is located right next door to the breakfast room.

Did I mention that breakfast is included? It is and is quite an adequate spread. Scrambled and boiled eggs, sausage, two kinds of bagels, three choices of cold cereal and make your own oatmeal, two kinds of bread to toast, English muffins, Danish and mini muffins, yogurt, fruit cocktail (the canned variety) and make your own waffles which can be had with strawberries and cream or syrup. The one problem is a small breakfast room with only 5 tables and a few bar seats. The room could hold a couple more tables and it would be a good idea to add them. People were walking out in disgust or standing around making those eating feel uncomfortable.

The room

The king room was spacious. The bed had modern bedding with a white duvet and coverlet in a neutral color. It had five pillows which while not feather or down were what most people prefer, however, the mattress was soft. A flat-screen TV sits on the dresser across from the TV. There are 70 channels available including HBO. Soundproofing was good and we were not disturbed by any noise.

The room also has a sofa which converts into a bed. There is a large desk working area. As you enter the room there is a closet with an ironing board and iron and a luggage rack. There is also a bar area with a small sink, microwave, and fridge. The coffeepot is located on the desk which seems a bit odd but at least there was a coffee pot.

Location

One thing that this hotel has going for it is its location. It is less than a mile off of the interstate and adjacent to a small mall. In the mall, there is a K-Mart and several other stores and also a very good steak restaurant. It is nice to be able to walk out to dinner and leave the car parked at the hotel.

Condition

Overall the hotel was in good shape. The room was clean with only a little bit of mold located on the caulking behind the tub in the bathroom. The sink was also cracked as were a few of the floor tiles and there was rust on the frame of the door. The closet door was very difficult to close once it was opened so it only got opened once. The wooden furniture had its share of nicks, scratches and, gouges but the carpet looked in good condition as did the bedding. The air conditioner worked great and kept us very comfortable.

Staff

The woman at the desk was very helpful and gave us a coupon to use at the steakhouse which got us a 10 percent discount. She also made sure we had a room away from the smoking area which I really appreciated.

The all-important question, would I stay at the Comfort Inn again? Yes, I would. The location is convenient and the overall condition and amenities are good. There are a few small details that could be better but we slept well and at the end of the day, that is what is the most important.

Illinois: An evening entertainment at Circa 21 Dinner Theater

If you happen to be in Rock Island, Il and are looking for an evening of entertainment, Circa 21 Dinner Playhouse is the place to come. You will get to enjoy a delicious pre-show dinner, be serenaded by your waitstaff and follow that with a very entertaining show. 

The spacing in the theater is excellent, The tables to dining and viewing have plenty of space between them and are on levels. You don't feel as if you are sharing you meal with your neighbors. 

The building that houses the theater is historic and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Many of the original details are still visible. Of particular interest is the head of the Indian Chief Blackhawk. Constructed in 1921, it was known as the Fort Armstrong Theatre for 55 years 

Originally a Vaudeville and silent movie house, by the 1970’s had fallen into disrepair. The building was rescued by Denny Hitchcox who saved it from being razed and turned into a parking lot. The playhouse celebrated its 37th season in 2013 so as you can imagine, there are thousands of grateful patrons.

While the original auditorium could hold over 1500 people, the theater now seats 344. Six or seven main stage shows are offered per year and subscriptions are available. Dinner is a buffet with plenty of delicious choices. The buffet is set up on the first level near the stage on the right hand side. You can order alcoholic drinks which are not included in the ticket price.

Dessert is served separately and should be ordered early enough so that it can be delivered at the appropriate time. You have a choice of having it after the pre-show or during intermission. We ordered the strawberry shortcake for intermission and it was both huge and delicious.

The wait-staff, known as “bootleggers”, do a warm-up show. It is amazing to see your waiter or waitress dancing and singing their heart out and they all have great voices.

The quality of the show was excellent. Not quite Broadway but better than most local theater. The people that perform here have to audition and many of them have had extensive experience on Broadway and around the country. If you are going to be in the Quad-Cities, be sure to check what is playing at the playhouse and book your tickets in advance at their website so that you are not disappointed.

Maine: A visit to Stonewall Kitchen in York, Maine

Most people have heard of Stonewall Kitchen. Their products are sold all over the country. If you happen to be visiting York, Maine, you have the opportunity to visit not only their flagship store but also their kitchens where cooking classes are offered. This is the corporate headquarters. It is bigger than any other store of theirs that I have ever visited. You can also eat at their cafe.

Why you ask is it important that their kitchen is located here? They offer cooking classes at their cooking school. It is one of the most entertaining meals that I have ever enjoyed and I can’t wait to go back and do it again.



The number of participants is limited. You are not going to get to cook yourself. However, either guest chief or members of their talented staff are going to cook a meal for you and are going to be able to watch them go through it step by step and ask questions. You will be given the recipes so that you can create the meal at home and it is not just to promote the food items that they sell, however, many of the implements they use to cook are for sale in the kitchen store and participants get a 10 percent discount.

The menus vary; they are seasonal, regional and always interesting. On Sunday’s there is usually brunch, on some days there is lunch and dinner and on others just lunch or just dinner. There is a calendar on their website that will give you the menu choices, the price and the time of the meal. Some examples are “Sensational Fall Flavors” with the following menu:

Spinach Salad with a Warm Bacon Shallot Dressing


From Scratch Green Bean Casserole with Crispy Fried Shallots


Herbed Roast Pork Tenderloin with Pan Gravy


Sausage, Leek and Herb Cornbread Stuffing


Maple Pumpkin Bread Pudding.


Another menu “Fall in Italia” has the following menu:


Autumn Salad of Apple, Bleu Cheese, Candied Walnuts and Spinach with Warm Bacon Dressing


Handcrafted Linguini with Wild Mushroom Cream


Herb Crusted Pork Loin with Fennel and Figs


Chocolate Hazelnut Gelato.

As you can see, the menus have multiple courses and take about an hour and a half to serve and enjoy. The average price is $55 per person but there are special meals that can run a little higher.

I did this together with my friend Cindy. We enjoyed our dinner so much that we checked to see if Sunday brunch still had openings but we were out of luck. We also enjoyed shopping in the kitchen store especially with the 10 percent discount. We stayed in Wells but there are plenty of options in York. This is a great girlfriends or mother and daughter getaway weekend idea, I am looking forward to doing it again soon.

Hotel Review: Springhill Suites Fishkill New York

Springhill Suites in Fishkill is a new hotel and the design is just gorgeous. The rooms are sleek and modern with a very stylish appearance. We loved it at first sight. The person who welcomed us at the desk was friendly but did not tell us what time breakfast was served or that a side door was much more convenient for our rooms. 

I was not welcomed as a silver member which I always am and thanked for my loyalty. Usually I arrive in my room to find extra towels and pillows which I have requested, they are not guaranteed but usually, they are there, not here they weren’t.

Another thing that I found odd was that I received an email about noon on the day we were checking in asking me if we were still coming. Since I had two rooms reserved and would have been charged a very high cancellation fee if I didn’t show, I certainly was. What if I had not looked at my emails as we were driving, would they have given my room away? That I found rather disturbing.

Once we got to our room, we were quite delighted with what we found. I had a king sized bed, a very comfortable one I have to say, A desk that was part of a room divider, a sofa that turns into a single bed and a trundle bed a coffee table with a tray on top, Keurig coffeemaker, microwave, and fridge.

The bathroom is downright glamorous, with a huge walk-in shower, sleek white countertops and sink, a night light which I love, glass barn door and separate, though not closed off toilet area. Also a good sized closet and though Joe did not have a luggage rack in his, we did in ours. A metal bench  covers the radiator and it served as a good place for him to place his luggage.

The room was very clean and had plenty of plugs but the nightstand on the left side of the bed had no plugs so I couldn’t plug in my phone unless I changed sides of the bed which I didn’t want to do, that I found inconvenient. How do they know that both of you don’t want to charge your devices on your nightstand? Breakfast is a wonderful affair with scrambled eggs, bacon, turkey sausage, cheese to top the eggs and soft tacos to wrap your eggs and salsa. Chocolate croissants, bread, bagels, and muffins. Oatmeal, cold cereal and make your own waffles, you won’t go away hungry.

Marriott has also decided to get rid of the hot tubs in their newer hotels or ones that they update to the new design. I am not at all pleased with this decision and it may well be what drives me into the arms of another chain. When we travel, I enjoy a soak in the hot tub after a long day on the road, I find their decision very disappointing.