August 2009

  • Hotel Avalon: Portland, OR

    By dubayns on 8/27/09 4:49pm
    1 Comment

    Recently I had the opportunity to spend the night at the Avalon Hotel and Spa.  Finding the hotel was slightly harder than expected.  If your car does not have a GPS then I could see it taking a little longer than planned to find the place since it is a bit out of the way of downtown Portland.  But this out of the way location was certainly on of the Hotel Avalon’s strengths. 


    The first thing that struck me as I arrived was the location.  The hotel is situated between a greenbelt and the Willamette River, making views from the rooms incredible.  The suite I was in had a balcony off the bedroom that overlooked a grove of deciduous trees and a walking trail on the river bank.  I could hear birds singing and the sound of water lapping at the shore.  The room itself was clean, very elegantly furnished, and most importantly, very quiet.  I found my immediate surroundings to be more than I had hoped for.

    Read more >

  • Discovering Real America

    By becksta on 8/24/09 1:59pm
    Add Comment

    Rock CityRock CityNational Geographic writer Gary MacKechnie has been on the look-out for Americana, and much like everybody's favorite Republican Ms. Sarah Palin, he seems to believe that real America belongs to the people in the middle of nowhere, or what I lovingly like to refer to as BFE. MacKechnie's book, "USA 101: A Guide to America's Iconic Places, Events and Festivals" is a guide for those searching for real America. The author picked his top ten favorite places for USA Today.


    Read more >

  • Famous Windmills of Netherlands

    By akgoemans on 8/21/09 10:29am
    Add Comment

    Molen van SlotenMolen van Sloten

    I've covered a few interesting facts about Netherlands. This week I wanted to mention a feature that is a vital part of Dutch history – windmills.

    Photo source: Joshua M. Hoffman via Flickr

     



    Read more >

  • Five Rocks Worth Seeing Before You Die

    By selecter on 8/7/09 12:26pm
    Add Comment

    Rock of GibraltarRock of GibraltarBlarney Stone (Ireland)

    Located in Blarney Castle near Cork, Ireland the Blarney Stone is rumored to endow anyone who kisses it with the gift of gab. Coincidentally it was also recently named the most unhygienic tourist destination on Earth. The folks at Blarney Castle may want to quit their claim that it has been kissed by millions… The origins of the Blarney Stone are steeped with lore and multiple stories ranging from it being the pillow upon which various Saints rested their heads to being part of other famous stones (see Stone of Scone). To kiss the stone is no easy feat, one must hang upside down in the highest tower of the castle and pucker up.

    Law Rock at the Althing (Iceland)

    Read more >

  • A Guide to Amsterdam: Narrow Houses and Skinny Bridges

    By akgoemans on 8/7/09 6:06am
    Add Comment

    Amsterdam City LightsAmsterdam City Lights
    My last article mentioned a few noteworthy artists from Netherlands. So far, I've covered must-see attractions, tulips and, as an reader so aptly pointed out, must-do artists. This week, I will mention a few of the quirkier attractions in Netherlands, specifically in Amsterdam. 

    Photo Source: Daveness_98 via Flickr



    Read more >

  • Travel Tips: Keeping a travel journal.

    By selecter on 8/5/09 3:07pm
    Add Comment

    Travel Journal with ticket stubs, drawings and pamphlets.Travel Journal with ticket stubs, drawings and pamphlets.

    Many people try to preserve their journey in the form of a journal, thinking their inner Steinbeck will come out as they experience the riches of travel. What usually happens is the journal entries end up trailing off halfway through the journey and never get read again. Here’s a few tips to make your journal a little more manageable during your journey.

    Read more >