Travel Tripz

The Brownstones of Brooklyn

Guest Author — Sat, 12 May 2012 03:27:29 +0000

Brooklyn Architecture and History Explored Brooklyn is a place of varied neighborhoods, from the tree-lined streets of Prospect Heights to the halal butcher shops of Bedford-Stuyvesant to the smells-like-money stateliness of Brooklyn Heights. While each neighborhood has its own unique ethnic and economic makeup and can feel as different from the next as coffee from tea, they do all share a common denominator, the brownstone. The string of Brooklyn neighborhoods architecturally dominated by brownstone are collectively referred to as The Brownstone Belt. A popular building material from the 1860s to the 1880s, the word brownstone refers to the literal...

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The Appalachian Trail: 2,184 Miles of Hiking Splendor

Guest Author — Wed, 09 May 2012 03:02:57 +0000

Stretching all the way from Georgia’s Springer Mountain up to Mount Katahdin, Maine, the world-famous Appalachian Trail offers an abundance of stunning vistas and intriguing glimpses into our planet’s geologic history. As you trek across numerous peaks of the Appalachians and through wildflower covered mountain meadows, you’ll see wildlife and streams, boulders the size of houses and stunning waterfalls just waiting for your camera to capture their beauty. For many, completing a “thru-hike” of the Appalachian Trail is the fulfillment of a lifetime dream. For many others it’s a rite of passage that tells the world – and themselves –...

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Are the French Really Rude and Arrogant?

Paula — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 18:41:31 +0000

For most of my life, whenever I heard people talk about the French invariably they would bring up the fact that as a race the French are arrogant and that if you went there and didn’t speak their language then they had no time for you. Okay, that’s fine I thought, since I wasn’t about to learn the language for a four night stay I would just have to put up with the rudeness. So off I go on my first trip to Paris in 2001 expecting the worst and lo and behold I find the exact opposite. Everyone is...

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Survival Of The Fittest! – A Fiendishly Ghoulish School Trip.

Guest Author — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 02:24:38 +0000

Don’t you just wish that teachers and parents would listen to you occasionally? Rather than pretending they are letting you have some sort of input about the choice of school trips available to you. They pretend to listen and nod sagely while all the time you just know what’s really going to happen. They’ll tell you exactly where you are going, what you can do and how long you can do it for. Haven’t they been to the movies recently? If it’s all about educational tours haven’t they seen what’s happening out there? Teenagers and students in trouble all over...

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Prague – The Golden City

Guest Author — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 23:33:23 +0000

Last year a few friends and I visited Prague during our Old Continent tour in an attempt at taking a personal snapshot of central Europe. Prague, often nicknamed Golden City, is definitely the most magical of all cities I’ve had a chance to visit so far (Venice was a tough rival, though). This was my second stay there and it turned out to be even more beautiful than it seemed the first time. Known as the city of picaresque bridges, hundreds of medieval towers, majestic castles and cathedrals, all lovely mirrored in the Vltava River which is crowded as much...

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Songs of the Cliffs of Moher – Adventure and History in Ireland

Guest Author — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 00:09:36 +0000

The dramatic Cliffs of Moher may be mute, but they have plenty of stories to tell. Attracting nearly one million visitors per year, the Cliffs of Moher are one of Ireland’s premier tourist destinations and are located in County Clare. Just North of O’Brien’s tower they reach an impressive 214 metres above sea-level, then run 8 kilometres along the Irish Atlantic coastline until they reach the poetically named Hag’s Head which rises to 120 metres above sea-level. The challenging coastline and incredible views make the cliffs an extremely popular destination for walking tours and cycling holidays, and provide an almost...

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Australia’s Deadliest Creepy Crawlies

Guest Author — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 03:50:20 +0000

When most people think of Australian wildlife, cuddly koalas and bouncing kangaroos are the first animals that come to mind. One of the Land Down Under’s worst kept secrets, though, is that it is also home to some of the world’s deadliest animals. Don’t worry too much, though. If you’re staying in a Sydney accommodation or in another major city, you are no more likely to come face to face with one of Australia’s deadliest creepy crawlies than you are likely to see a kangaroo hopping down the road. If you’re in the bush or the outback, though, watch out....

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Walking Holidays v’s Cycling Holidays

Guest Author — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 01:02:56 +0000

This was always going to be a well-debated subject and so the only way that we could formulate some sort of winner was to, you’ve guessed it – FIGHT! Not really! After much canvassing of friends, family and work colleagues I’ve managed to devise a reasonably concise list from both points of view. So, choose your weapon: stick or pedal and delve into the following debate on what mode of transport is better whilst on holiday: two legs or two wheels? Walkers can always thumb a lift if they get tired We’ve all been there. The path ahead shows no...

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The 5 Best Theme Parks in California

Guest Author — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 03:25:20 +0000

California is home to some of the world’s greatest theme parks, catering for everyone from tiny toddlers through to roller coaster fanatics. The range of experiences on offer is staggering, and can be overwhelming for visitors to the Golden State. Here’s a handy guide to the 5 best theme parks that California has to offer, and the rides and attractions that should not be missed. 5. Knott’s Berry Farm Billed as “America’s first theme park”, Knott’s Berry Farm gradually evolved over much of the last century from an actual berry farm into a major tourist attraction. Now owned by Cedar...

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Ride ‘em Cowboy, or Cowgirl!

Guest Author — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 01:23:38 +0000

I’ve got a friend who is a bit of John Wayne fan. OK, he’s a lot of a John Wayne fan. Recently he’s taken to wearing Stetsons and spurs (no, they’re not just a London based football club) and staggering around shouting ‘Get off your horse and drink your milk’. Allegedly John Wayne said that a lot in his films, although I’m not certain that he did. Anyway, this friend has been driving me nuts, so with his passion for all things cowboy I’ve subtly suggested that this year he should put his cowboy skills to the test, and use...

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