Before I left on my latest trip to Europe, I randomly sent a WhatsApp message to one of my travel blogger friends, Isabel from Bel Around the World. It turns out she was in London finishing up her travels in Europe before heading down to Thailand to speak at TBEX. She met my friend and I at LHR as soon as we landed - and then we were off on a whirlwind nearly 3-day road trip of the countryside outside of London. Our first stop was Wrotham, the … [Read more...]
Reaching Paradise, EMBRACE Resort Staniel Cay Bahamas
Dodging clouds, discovering sunshine in between and finding inspiration below I found myself on a tiny 12-seat prop plane on my way from Nassau to Staniel Cay (note that 'cay' is always pronounced as 'key') in the Bahamas. The captain briefly announced our flight plan; 28 minutes to Black Point Cay to drop off a few passengers and then a quick 5-minute flight from there to Staniel Cay. There are not many passengers on board; these planes are … [Read more...]
Planning a Trip to Africa to see the Gorillas
I have been to Africa a number of times and always gravitate towards the sub-Saharan eastern part of the continent. One of the greatest thrills on the planet is to be on a big game safari in Africa. The wildlife is prolific at times from parts of Kenya down through South Africa but especially in the Serengeti - with herds of wildebeest, plenty of giraffe, elephants and other rarer sightings. But until now, a visit to see gorillas in the wild … [Read more...]
A Coal Mine and Rock Climbing, Exploring Wales
Wales is built for outdoor and adventure enthusiasts; the region has participated historically in adventure exploration involving some of the most extreme corners of the planet. One has to look no further then Cardiff Bay where Captain Scott sailed out in the Terra Nova (expedition to Antarctica) or the challenging mountain and glacier terrain of Snowdonia synonymous with well known mountaineering names such as Mallory, Irvine, Hillary and … [Read more...]
Experience the best of Britain with a central London tour
London is an amazing city to explore - there is no other city quite like it. Nothing captures the imaginations of tourists like the Tower of London, River Thames and the National Gallery. There is never any shortage of things to do in London and there are a variety of ways to discover the unique culture and heritage behind this great city. But if you truly want to explore London in style, you're in luck, because a number of different tours … [Read more...]
A Capital of Diversity
Berlin is a city with an interesting history and certainly one with a lot of stories to tell. After the erection of the Iron Curtain, and during of the Cold War, Berlin was the center of attention during and after the World Wars, (obviously it wasn’t a great tourist destination then with an attractive selling point at the time). However before the conundrum of world politics and crazy dictators, Germany’s capital offered a much vibrant bohemian … [Read more...]
Three Favorite things to do in London
In recent years, I have been fortunate to fly into London several times each year. Often the stop is brief, connecting to other parts of Europe but sometimes I take a day or two to explore the city and or to make a guest appearance on the studio of my friend Jim Liebeke who presents entertaining travel webisodes in the form of the Dave & Jim show. I often stay with friends but this is an International city with a huge variety of lodging. It is … [Read more...]
Enjoy the Fresh Air: Top Outdoor Activities in Edinburgh
A visit to Edinburgh doesn’t just include exploring the culture, history and entertainment. The city may be famous for its majestic castle, impressive Hogmanay celebrations and the incredible Fringe Festival but it’s also a gateway to the great outdoors. With hills, rugged landscapes and miles of adventure on the city’s doorstep, it’s a perfect place to base yourself if you want to discover what the surroundings have to offer. Check out any … [Read more...]
LACOT October Meetup – Los Angeles
Our latest LACOT meetup was at Hotel Wilshire conveniently located on "Miracle Mile" next to "Museum Row" and minutes from the popular Grove Shopping Center. Capitalizing on the often pleasant weather year round, Hotel Wilshire has turned their roof into the centerpiece of their hotel. Appropriately named, the "Roof on Wilshire" is located here, along with a bar, plenty of views and a small pool. The night was remarkably windy and … [Read more...]
Hiking Mt. Hollywood & Endeavor Appearance
I had another epic few days in Los Angeles. As like nearly all my visits to town, this one was a whirlwind event filled few days. I was invited by LA City Councilman Tom LaBonge on a hike of Mt. Hollywood to honor the London summer olympics as well as the closing of summer. This is a great hike - 1.5 miles to the summit nearly all up hill. The day was hot, the day was clear - I sweated as I climbed with fellow travelers @michelleyam and … [Read more...]