After our scenic bus trip through Costa Rica’s Central Valley our Caravan tour bus had finally reached its first destination: the Poas Volcano National Park. …
Costa Rica Travel: The Lush Landscapes of the Central Valley
On the schedule for our first travel day in Costa Rica was an exciting excursion from the Central Valley to the Poas Volcano, one of …
Costa Rica Travel Diary: The Odyssey to San Jose, Costa Rica
San Jose, Costa Rica, was the destination of my flight on February 8, 2013. But as it looked right now, there was no way …
An Evening Tour of Paris by Bike and Bateau Mouche
Paris by bike and bateau mouche – that sounded like a great – if somewhat unusual – combination to for exploring the French capital. The …
Montevideo, Uruguay: The Mercado del Puerto
During my bicycle tour of Montevideo, Uruguay, on November 12, 2011, I cycled to one of the city’s most famous spots at noon time: the …
Minneapolis, Minnesota: The Mall of America
So what exactly brought me to Minneapolis, Minnesota? Actually, I had been thinking for a while now that the twin cities – Minneapolis and St. …
Montevideo, Uruguay: A Bicycle Ride along the Waterfront
To get the most out of my one full day (November 12, 2011) in Montevideo, Uruguay, I decided to go bicycling to explore the city. …
Montevideo, Uruguay: A Perfect Side Trip from Buenos Aires
During my trip to Argentina in November of 2011, it was absolutely clear to me that I would make an excursion to Montevideo, Uruguay. The …
Ottawa Travel – The Auberge King Edward
After an enjoyable day of explorations with my friends Mony and Alberto on January 20, 2012, two friends from work were arriving at the train station to join me for a couple of exciting days of Ottawa travel adventures.
Travel to Ottawa – Friendships, Art and Explorations
For a while I had been thinking that I would like to travel to Ottawa as I had not visited the city for several years …
Attractions of Paris: Moulin Rouge, Pigalle, Gare du Nord and Gare de l’Est
My explorations of Paris on April 21, 2012 included a walk past some of Paris’s most famous attractions: the Moulin Rouge, Place Pigalle, the historic Gare du Nord and the Gare de l’Est.
New York City Travel: Lunch at the Chelsea Market
This was my last day in New York City and I needed to do some sightseeing. After a 40 minute subway ride from Queens I hopped off in the Chelsea area of Manhattan. My lunch destination was the Chelsea Market, housed in a former Nabisco cookie factory.
Krakow, Poland: The Oscar Schindler Factory
The second stop on our walking tour of Krakow, Poland, was the Schindler Factory, the actual factory owned by Oscar Schindler who saved over 1,200 Jewish lives in his enamelware and ammunition factory during WWII.
Krakow, Poland: A Visit to the Krakow Ghetto
The Krakow Ghetto was created by the Nazis in March of 1941 and all Jewish inhabitants of the city were forced to relocate into the ghetto. 15,000 people were crowded together in a part of town that originally had only 3,000 residents.
Paris Attractions: The Cemeteries of Montmartre
Following my visit to Sacré Coeur I strolled down the southwestern flanks of Montmartre, past the Moulin de la Galette, one of the few windmills left on this iconic hill. It was one of about 14 windmills that once stood here which were used to press grapes and mill wheat.
Krakow Travel: Blonia Meadow, Kosciuszko Mound and Main Market Square
In the afternoon of May 6, 2012, my Krakow travel adventures continued. After seeing some of the main sights, local bicycle guide Monica took me outside the city centre, past the huge Błonia meadow to the Kosciuszko Mound.
New York City: The Lower East Side & Washington Square
In the evening we headed off into Manhattan with our subway pass and embarked on a walk through the Lower East Side, traditionally a working class neighbourhood that was the first place of residence for many new immigrants.
New York Travel: Exploring Cornell University in Ithaca
Before heading off for my planned excursion to Cornell University, we started our second day in Ithaca with a nice home-cooked breakfast in our self-contained apartment. Deer were grazing outside our neo-Classical mansion and the chickens out back were busy laying eggs.
New York Travel: Ithaca and the Finger Lakes
As big tennis fans, we went on our annual trip to New York City to the US Open and on August 25, 2012 we stopped over in the city of Ithaca in the Finger Lakes, a town most famous as the home of Cornell University.
Dalmatia Travel: The Outstanding Beauty of the Krka National Park
On April 29, 2012 we started driving inland from Zadar into the coastal mountain range of Croatia to our first destination: the Krka National Park, one of Croatia’s most popular nature destinations.
Dalmatia Travel: Discoveries of Zadar
Dalmatia, that beautiful coastal stretch of Croatia, was the next step of my big European trip in 2012. After spending a week in Paris and a few days in my native country of Austria, my brother, sister-in-law and I had decided to take a five day trip to Croatia.
Krakow Travel: Old Town Krakow and the Main Market Square
On a gorgeous May 6, 2012, my Krakow travel explorations by bicycle continued. Following our visit to the Royal Castle, my knowledgeable bicycle guide Monica and I continued our ride through Krakow’s Old Town.
Krakow, Poland: A Visit to Wawel Hill and the Royal Castle
Krakow, Poland, has been a dream destination of mine for a long time. There is a mysterious charm to some places in Eastern Europe and after having visited Prague and Budapest in recent years, I needed to expand my horizons and visit Poland as well.
Montmartre – The Most Romantic Spot in Paris
Montmartre – in many people’s opinions the most romantic area in Paris… This 130 metre high hill is one of the few areas in Paris that have retained their original medieval street layout and were left unscathed by the big rebuilding of Paris in the 1860s.
Paris Attractions: A Sightseeing Tour of all the Major Paris Sights
The famous attractions of Paris are what make the French capital the number one tourist destination in the world. I had been in Paris twice, 20 years ago for a week, and one more time on in 2004 a 6-hour layover during a flight to Spain.
Toronto Travel Escapes: Stirling’s Farmtown Park and A Little Taste of Paradise
Our Toronto travel escape was quickly coming to an end. The drizzly cold day continued as we drove to our next appointment at the Farmtown Park in Stirling, previously known as the Hastings County Museum of Agricultural Heritage.
Peller Estates and Ontario Wine Country
Our visit to Niagara Falls had come to an end, so we drove back towards Toronto on the scenic Niagara Parkway and made one more stop: Peller Estates, one of the most established wineries in the Niagara Peninsula.
Niagara Falls, Ontario: An Icy Winter Wonderland
Our overnight getaway to Niagara Falls, Ontario, was rapidly coming to an end. After breakfast, we bundled up, and took a stroll past the hotels along Fallsview Boulevard and down Murray Street to arrive right next to the mighty Niagara River.
Niagara Falls, Ontario: The Festival of Lights
Niagara Falls, Ontario is a great getaway destination, even in the winter, from November to January when the CAA Winter Festival of Lights is on. Slowly we approached the city of Niagara Falls, with Niagara Falls, Ontario on the west side of the River, and Niagara Falls, New York, on the east side.
Niagara Falls, Ontario: The Fallsview Casino Resort
On our evening stroll through Niagara Falls, Ontario, the winds along Fallsview Boulevard were absolutely howling so we decided to stop in at the Fallsview Casino Resort, have a look around and warm up. The Fallsview Casino Resort is a huge gaming, shopping, dining and entertainment complex.
Niagara-on-the-Lake: A Sneak Peek at the Prince of Wales Hotel
Our Niagara-on-the-Lake afternoon excursion and our walk on Queen Street continued with a sneak peek inside the Prince of Wales Hotel. This Victorian-era jewel was built in 1864 and is one of the most elegant and historic hotel properties in town.
Niagara-on-the-Lake: A Nice Winter Travel Escape
On January 4, 2013, my friend Linda and I hopped in the car around mid-day and sailed straight through to Niagara-on-the-Lake for a weekend getaway. Location of the Shaw Festival since 1962, this town is one of Canada’s most important theatre destinations.
The Art Gallery of Ontario featuring Frida & Diego: A Great Toronto Travel Idea
The Art Gallery of Ontario is one of Toronto’s foremost arts institutions and attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. Founded in 1900 by some private citizens, the Art Gallery of Ontario has evolved into one of the largest galleries in North America.
Toronto Travel Escapes: A Country Outing to the Forks of the Credit
The Forks of the Credit is one of the most scenic provincial parks close to Toronto and a great Toronto travel escape idea that is not far from the city. Just about an hour north of Ontario’s metropolis, the Credit River has cut a deep valley into the landscape.
Toronto Travel Ideas: Toronto in the Winter
Especially at this time, as New Years approaches, so many of us are making resolutions about losing weight and becoming more active in the coming year. Why not try some free outdoor activities in Toronto in the winter?
Toronto Travel Ideas: Casa Loma for Christmas
On December 28, 2012 I embarked on a local Toronto travel adventure: Casa Loma – Toronto’s castle. For this year’s Christmas, the castle was decorated …
Toronto Travel Escapes: The Ontario Water Buffalo Company in Stirling
Country hospitality in Ontario is legendary, and in line with these friendly traditions, Martin and Lori invited us to taste some of their products. Within minutes Lori had cut up mozzarella, scamorza, and ricotta and as well as pepperettes produced from water buffalo meat. Lori pulled out some crackers and two types of jam which formed a perfect taste combination together with the creamy buffalo mozzarella.
Toronto Travel Escapes: Stirling’s Church-Key Brewery
On a drizzly and cold day we started driving through the wintery countryside and after about 20 minutes we had arrived at our first itinerary point of the day: the Church-Key Brewing Company, a local micro-brewery on the outskirts of Campbellford. Ivan Unwin, one of the managers, was on standby to give us the brewery tour and introduce us to this unique local business.
Toronto Travel Getaways: A Fun Evening at the Stirling Festival Theatre
Organizers at the Stirling Festival Theatre had promised me a backstage tour, so all I had to do was walk across the street to arrive at the historic 1927 Community Service Building, a place with a long and colourful history. I got a chance to meet most of the crew, an outgoing and rather outrageous (in a good way) cast of characters.
Toronto Travel Getaways: The Old Carriage House B&B in Stirling, Ontario
Tyla Tessier, who runs the B&B together with her husband Lacy, welcomed me at the Old Carriage House and helped me carry my luggage up the stairs. Once I had settled inTyla made some tea and we starting chatting about her and her B&B.
Toronto Travel: A Weekend Escape to Stirling, Ontario
We started our walking tour at West Wings, an eclectic boutique and espresso bar with a wide assortment of merchandise, from books by local authors, unique handbags from the Far East and handcrafted jewellery, as well as fair trade coffee and organic teas. A nice cup of Earl Grey warmed me up before we headed into the West Front Street, the town’s main street.
The 2012 Christmas Market in Toronto’s Distillery District
On December 12, 2012 I decided to visit this year’s Christmas Market in one of my favourite parts of Toronto. The Distillery District is a 13 acre entertainment district that evolved from the historic Gooderham & Worts Distillery to become the largest collection of Victorian-era industrial buildings in all of North America.
Charleston Travel: A Visit to the City Market and King Street
The Charleston City Market is a great place to stroll through and offers a wide assortment of merchandise. The purchasing opportunities include clothing, souvenirs, artwork, handicrafts, jewellery and various oddities such as desiccated alligator heads. In the evening we embarked on a walk on King Street, Charleston’s most popular shopping street.
Charleston Travel: A Carriage Ride
After a week in Hilton Head, we started to make our way north on December 1, 2012, and decided to make a stop in Charleston, South Carolina, renowned as one of the most beautiful destinations in the American south. We made a stop at the tourist information and found out that any Charleston travel experience should include a sightseeing tour in a horse-drawn carriage.
A Hilton Head Beach Walk and Other Things to Do in Hilton Head
A Hilton Head beach walk is without a doubt one of the most popular things to do in Hilton Head. Golf in Hilton Head, tennis, shopping and dining are also big draws.
Things to do in Savannah, Georgia: A Sightseeing Tour
November 26, 2012 was perfect for an excursion to Savannah, Georgia. Savannah,renowned for its antebellum architecture and Southern charm, is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the American South.
Hilton Head Island SC: Shipyard Plantation and Harbour Town
Given its premier golfing opportunities, Hilton Head Island SC (South Carolina), has been one of my husband’s favourite destinations for some time now and late …
Berlin Travel: A Bicycle Tour through Kreuzberg
May 3, 2011 – my final day in Berlin – had another real highlight in store for me: a guided bicycle tour with Judy Anderssen …
Berlin Travel: Kurfürstendamm, KaDeWe, Gendarmenmarkt and the Jewish Museum of Berlin
May 2, 2011 started as a rather rainy and cool affair in Berlin. I hopped back on the S-Bahn and went from East Berlin’s Lichtenberg …
Berlin Travel: The New Synagogue, the Anhalter Bahnhof, the Topography of Terror and Checkpoint Charlie
More so than many other cities, Berlin is marked by its history, particularly its turbulent 20th century history. Berlin was at the heart of so …
Berlin Travel: A Bicycling Tour through East Berlin
Regardless of what city I am in, I always try to go on a bicycle tour to get to know some of the main sights …
New York City Travel: A Visit to the Guggenheim Museum
October 19, 2010 was my departure day. Since my flight was not leaving until the late afternoon I still had time for some explorations. After …
New York City Travel: Lower East Side Tenement Museum, Manhattan Bicycle Tour, Grand Central Terminal and the Top of the Rock Experience
My friend Linda had to leave early in the morning on October 18, 2010, so I was by myself again to explore the city. In …
Travel New York City: Bronx, High Line, Staten Island Ferry and South Street Seaport
My first full day in New York City, October 16, 2010, started with bright sunshine and punctually at 10 am I met my local New …
New York City Travel: A Hasidic Tour of Brooklyn and a Visit to Central Park
On Sunday, October 17, 2010 we were in store for another exciting learning experience in New York City: using our Explorer Pass which gave us …
New York City Travel: Times Square, Broadway, Grand Central Terminal and the Rockefeller Center
New York City is always one of my favourite city destinations. I had visited the Big Apple a few times before, but always for an …
Travel Austria: Explorations in Eastern Styria
My last two days in Austria, February 25 and 26, 2012, had started. After four days in Budapest and five great days of skiing in …
Travel Austria: Skiing in East Tyrol at Skizentrum Hochpustertal in Sillian
After an exciting day of skiing on the Italian side of the Puster Valley on Monte Elmo, followed by a day of sightseeing in South …
Travel Italy: An Exploration of the Italian Dolomite Mountains
February 22, 2012 was an absolutely gorgeous day, so my friend Andrea and I decided to go on a sightseeing excursion while the rest of …
Travel Austria: Arrival in St. Oswald and Skiing on Monte Elmo in the Italian Dolomites
After 3.5 wonderful days in Budapest, my time in Europe continued with another exciting experience: skiing in the Alps, something I haven’t done for more …
Travel Budapest: A Visit to the Dohany Street Synagogue
My last morning in Budapest had started on February 19, 2012 and I still had a few more things on my list to see before …
Travel Budapest: Jewish Quarter, Parliament Building, Memento Park, City Park and a great evening
After the snowy day yesterday, the sun was shining and the cool winter sky was radiating in brilliant hues of icy blue. I got up …
Travel Budapest: Hungarian Parliament Building, Gresham Palace, St. Stephen’s Cathedral and the Hungarian State Opera
My second day in Budapest, February 17, 2012, started off as an overcast and snowy day. Fortunately the big cold snap had broken and the …
Travel Budapest: Central Market Hall, Gellert Bath and Hotel, Gellert Hill, Castle Hill, Chain Bridge and Pest
In the very early morning of February 16, 2012, my brother drove me to the Austrian town of Gleisdorf from where I was about to …
Berlin Travel: An Excursion to Spandau, the Berlin Olympic Stadium and the DDR Museum
Now that I had a great overview of Berlin’s most important sights, I decided to head a bit farther afield and explore one of Berlin’s …
Berlin Travel: A Sightseeing Tour of Berlin’s Main Sights
My second day in Berlin, April 30, 2011, started with brilliant sunshine. I took the S-Bahn from the Lichtenberg district and arrived within less than …
Berlin Travel: Exploring the Nikolaiviertel, Unter den Linden, the Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag
Back on land after my initial Spree River boat tour, I headed off on foot across the Karl-Liebknecht Strasse past the historic 13th century Marienkirche …
Berlin Travel: Arrival in Berlin, Hackesche Höfe, and a Boat Ride on the Spree River
Berlin has been a dream destination for me for a long time. I only had a chance to visit Berlin once, for one day, in …
Buenos Aires Travel: Bicycling in Buenos Aires with www.bikingbuenosaires.com
Bicycling is one of my great passions and I have been fortunate to cycle in places like Rome, Madrid, Berlin, New York City, San Francisco, …
Montreal Travel: A Great Mid-Summer Getaway
Montreal is always an amazing getaway destination from Toronto – in a bit more than 5 hours you can reach a vibrant destination that distinguishes …
Montreal Travel: A Visit to Olive et Gourmando, the Centre d’histoire and the Café des Arts
During the last few hours in Montreal on Day 5 of our trip (Feb 22, 2011) I managed to get a few more things in. …
Montreal Travel: Urban Skating, a Spa on the River and Upstairs Jazz
After a nice breakfast at our window seat at the Auberge Bonaparte, overlooking the historic stone townhouses of Rue Saint François Xavier, I got ready …
Montreal Travel: Circus Arts at La Tohu and a Spicy Dinner at Restaurant Ghandi
Our guided driving tour in the morning had provided us with great background knowledge of Montreal, its history and culture. In the afternoon we were …
Montreal Travel – A Personal Driving Tour of the City’s Main Sights
Another packed day was in store for Day 3 (Feb 21, 2011) of our Montreal adventure. In the morning, expert tour guide Ronald Poiré from …
Montreal Travel: Snow-Shoeing on Mount Royal and Entertainment on Crescent Street
After an interesting and tasty culinary tour of Old Montreal and a short rest back at the historic Auberge Bonaparte, we were in for a …
Italy Travel: Rome, Florence, Venice, Mountains, Coastlines and Much More
Art, fashion, culture, delicious cuisine and great wines – Italy is known for everything that represents the good life. History buffs flock to this country, …
Montreal Travel – A Culinary Tour of Old Montreal
Day 2 (February 19, 2011) of our Montreal trip started with a culinary walking tour of Old Montreal. We linked up with our tour at …
Montreal Travel – The Historic Auberge Bonaparte, Notre Dame Basilica and a Gourmet Meal
With its famous summer festivals like the Montreal International Jazz Festival and the Just for Laughs Festival, Montreal is a hugely popular destination in the …
Massachusetts Travel: The Berkshires – Pittsfield, Lee, North Adams, Stockbridge & Springfield
Fall is one of the most beautiful travel seasons in different parts of Canada and the United States. In late September of 2010 we booked …
Miami Travel: Villa Vizcaya, Downtown Fort Lauderdale, the Spanish Monastery, South Beach & Bayfront Park
As the cold weather starts to settle in over Canada, it’s always a real treat to get away to a warm and sunny destination. And …
Quebec Travel – Summer Adventure at Mont Tremblant – Part 3
My last day (July 3) at Mont Tremblant had begun. A filling breakfast at the Fairmont Tremblant got me ready for another activity-filled day. I …
Quebec Travel – Summer Adventure at Mont Tremblant – Part 2
Day 2 (July 2, 2011) of my trip to Mont Tremblant was absolutely packed with action. After a delicious buffet breakfast at the Fairmont Tremblant …
Quebec Travel – Summer Adventure at Mont Tremblant – Part 1
Mont Tremblant is eastern Canada’s premier ski destination, and I had been there once for a weekend almost 20 years ago, during an extremely cold …
Boston Travel: Quincy Market, Boston Commons, Copley Square and the Back Bay Area
After our three-day adventure in New York City we moved on to our next destination, another great American city: Boston. As one of the oldest …
New York City Travel: Discoveries in Brooklyn
After two days at the US Open in New York City, we had really fallen in love with Brooklyn. This borough has a completely different …
New York City Travel: US Open 2011, Broadway and Times Square, Discoveries in Brooklyn
New York City is a great city for sports fans – from Major League Baseball to NFL football, NBA basketball and professional hockey, hundreds of …
Andalusia Travel – Discovering the Moorish Beauty of Cordoba and the Mezquita
My two weeks in Spain were rapidly coming to a conclusion – I had already visited some of Andalusia’s most famous places: Granada and the …
Austria 2011: Great Easter Meals, Exploring Austrian Castles & an Excursion to Hungary
After 2 amazing weeks in Spain I had finally reached my home country, Austria. On Easter Monday, April 25, 2011 my brother and sister-in-law took …
Andalusia Travel: The Wonders of Seville – the Giralda, Real Alcazar, Plaza de España, the Archivo de Indias
Andalusia continued to exert its magic spell on me. After a visit to the Moorish jewel of Granada and a week of explorations along the …
Andalusia Travel: The Costa de la Luz, Cadiz & the Pueblos Blancos
After my visit to Granada, I made my way west in a rental car to a small coastal village called Conil de la Frontera on …
Andalusia Travel: Granada and the Alhambra
Andalusia – the name alone evokes images of warm days along the Mediterranean coastline, of passionate Flamenco dancers and of equally passionate bullfights. For many …
Four Days of Exploring During the Tulip Festival
Canada’s capital has become one of my favourite getaways. At 4.5 hours of driving it’s pretty close to Toronto, it’s easy to get to and …
The Village of Cheltenham and the Spirit Tree Estate Cidery
This morning had started with a nice tour of the picturesque village of Erin, guided by local entrepreneur Shelley Foord, and in the afternoon I …
The Village of Erin and Cuisine-Art, a Fine Art and Food Festival
On an eventful day yesterday I got a tour of the historic Millcroft Inn, visited the Alton Mill, a former woolen mill from 1881 that …
Scenic Belfountain & a Pond-side Dinner at the Millcroft Inn
After visiting the Millcroft Inn and the Alton Mill, two of the premier tourist destination in the Hills of Headwaters travel area, I also wanted …
Ontario Travel: The Alton Mill – An Old Factory Becomes a Popular Arts Centre
After a comprehensive tour of the Millcroft Inn I continued with the historic theme and visited another landmark destination in Alton: the Alton Mill – …
The Millcroft Inn – A Perfect Country Getaway
Summer weekend getaways in Ontario are some of my favourite things. But it’s strange, the older I get the less fond I am of driving …
A Train Trip to Orvieto, an Ancient Hill Town
My last full day in Italy had arrived. I had already done several rounds of sightseeing, starting with a double-decker bus ride, two guided bicycle …
A Panoramic Bicycle Tour of the Vatican and Old Rome
Following a nice morning excursion to the hillside town of Frascati, I had more sightseeing planned in Rome. After my half hour train ride back …
A Train Trip to Frascati
After a day and half in Rome I felt like escaping the frenzy and the noise of the Eternal City and I was pondering a …