Avalon is the urban center of Catalina. It is a mix of day trippers, at times - cruise ship passengers and locals. The town is centered around the beautiful waterfront and for good reason - most passengers arrive here and it is a visually stunning part of town that at times almost looks European. The town spreads out into the surrounding hills - featuring older and often colorful wooden buildings. Brightly colored flowering flowing … [Read more...]
Paros, Greece – Ferries
There are many ferries to choose from when sailing to and from Paros. Some are extremely large and are cruise ship like while others are much smaller and transfer passengers to Paros from Athens in several hours. Prices range from 50 Euros to over 85 Euros depending on the class of service you choose. The following site is an excellent source of ferry information including prices, ferry routes and timetables: Greekferries.gr Ferry Service … [Read more...]
Paros, Greece – Attractions
If you rent a car or moped on Paros you can easily discover attractions on your own. Many small quaint towns are located in the center of the island and on the southeast side. Several beaches are best accessed by a moped because of their rugged and more remote locations. Looking for some time to relax, see Parikia, other small towns on the island while also visiting some beaches? I would highly recommend at least 5 days on Paros. Do not just come … [Read more...]
Redding, CA – Nearby Lakes
KESWICK DAM Lake Shasta gets all the recognition, and rightly so, but less then 15 minutes from downtown Redding is another 1940's era dam and reservoir. Keswik Reservoir was named after Lord Keswick, the president of a mining company. This area is rich in mining history (and we have even discovered some small pieces of gold in the surrounding region). Located directly south of Shasta Dam, this reservoir stretches for miles and it's width is … [Read more...]
Europe – Transportation
Finding one's way around a foreign city in the time of pre-Internet was a challenging situation at best taking significant time to avoid getting lost (which invariably happened anyway). One had printed maps that one had to determine their location on before being able to route a course to a desired destination. Not always easy without a digital blue dot to guide you. And road signs were often missing further causing complications. Later some … [Read more...]
Reno, NV – Casinos
For those serious gamblers, for those who perhaps just dabble in gambling, and for those who don't gamble but want to see the action - Reno offers a pleasing diversity of casinos. And most of these casinos feature a large hotel, often in a separate building from the casino (sometimes connected by walkways). The majority of the casinos feature doors that must be pushed open - and once you push through a second set of doors, you are deposited into … [Read more...]
Reno, NV – Lodging
Accommodation in Reno is diverse and varied from the larger casinos to many vintage "one-star" motels - usually one or two stories and often in a state of various decay. Reno is lacking in boutique hotels. Prices for hotel rooms tend to be fairly affordable, perhaps somewhat subsidized or supported by the gambling industry. All Phone Numbers are in the 775 area code. Please also visit our Reno Casino page for additional information about … [Read more...]
Spokane, WA – Attractions
Spokane offers such a wide diversity of attractions and experiences, that even the most vanilla type personality will not be bored. Those who simply want to visit Spokane in the summer and read books can do so in numerous park. Shopping is plentiful. Intriguing architecture. Plenty of museums. Family attractions including for children. Manito Park is well worth a visit, especially for those who enjoy plants and formal gardens however beware … [Read more...]
Spokane, WA – Coeur d’ Alene Attractions
Some of these attractions are within Coeur d' Alene while others are within a short drive. All are listed in alphabetical order. Cruises depart from the Coeur d' Alene city pier with varying departure times depending on the day and time of year. Allow at least 2 hours on the water. A Sunday brunch cruise and a Monday sunset cruise are also offered. Floating Wood Marina is the world's longest floating marina measuring 1.2 kilometers; it … [Read more...]
Spokane, WA – Glacier National Park
Glacier National Park is located in the northern part of Montana. Parts of Glacier border British Columbia and Alberta. The weather in Glacier Park can change drastically at any time of the year. For example, in 1992 over a foot of snow fell on parts of Glacier in August. Summer rainfall averages about 2 to 3 inches per month. An umbrella or a good waterproof raincoat is highly recommended. Temperatures listed below are in both Celsius and … [Read more...]