Exploring the French Medieval Village of Perouges

Posted on July 15, 2015 by Jan Ross

DSC_0953Visiting Perouges was actually an unexpected surprise on our recent trip to France. My husband and I were on a cruise of southern France with Viking River Cruises but, because the Rhone was overfilled with the run-off from melted snow in the Alps, our beautiful Viking Delling longship was berthed in Lyon and we were bussed to locations we would have normally cruised to.

Perouges is not usually on this itinerary but, because we had been so inconvenienced by not having the cruise experience we had planned, along with going out of their way to make sure we enjoyed the experience we were having instead, Viking added a visit to this medieval walled city and we were delighted with the addition.

Read the rest of this article HERE.

Categories: Cities, Countries, Cruises, Europe, France, My Itchy Travel Feet, Viking Cruises | Tags: , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Enjoying Summer in the Windy City

Posted on July 14, 2015 by Jan Ross
Sponsored Post

Chicago in the winter is not a pleasant place to be, with icy winds whistling off frozen Lake Michigan. However, summer in the Windy City is a completely different destination with daily warm weather and a balmy lake breeze. Book a stay in the middle of downtown Chicago at the gorgeous and contemporary Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel and leave your car parked while you walk to most tourist sites, or use the readily available public transportation.

There is plenty to do in the city, but start by purchasing a Go Chicago Card online, which offers discounts on twenty different attractions and tours.

Chicago River by Martijen Scheepers via trover.com

Chicago Foundation Architecture Tour

Be sure to arrive early for this very popular tour since it may be a little difficult to find as it leaves from a dock area on the river. Sit on the top-level for the best view, but wear a hat and bring bottled water as the sun in summer can be very hot on this tour. Have your camera ready to capture some of the most interesting architecture in Chicago on this narrated and fascinating tour.

Chicago Beach by Sarah Pfenning via trover.com

Lake Michigan Beaches

Surprisingly, for a major metropolitan city, Chicago has several beautiful and well maintained beaches. One of the best kept secret beaches, however, is Kathy Osterman Beach. Considered to be part of Lincoln Park, this lovely, crescent-shaped beach is located on North Lake Shore Drive and has clean water, white sand, spectacular views of the lake, and a concession stand serving alcohol and all kinds of food. There is also a large comfort station with restrooms, lifeguard offices, and a first aid station. This is a very popular family beach with shallow water the kids will love. Parking is limited so public transportation is your best bet for visiting this beach.
Chicago Beach by Richard Remington via trover.com

Lake Michigan by Richard Remington via trover.com

Sailing Lake Michigan on the Tall Ship, Windy

You can be forgiven for thinking you are actually on the ocean when you are sailing on Lake Michigan. The furthest shoreline disappears into the distance on this 23,000 mile body of water. One of the best ways to enjoy it is on the Tall Ship, Windy for a boat tour. Leaving from popular Navy Pier where you can enjoy the famous Ferris wheel before or after your cruise, there are a variety of tours everyone will enjoy. Be sure to take seasickness medicine before your cruise if the lake is choppy.

Chicago Pizza by Adam Sockel via trover.com

Chicago Pizza by Adam Sockel via trover.com

Pizza Tour

Chicago has a lot of claims to fame, depending on your interests, but one of the most well-known of these claims to fame is their delicious pizza choices. A fabulous way to sample a number of slices of this wonderful concoction is by scheduling a pizza tour with Chicago Pizza Tour. After sampling pizza at the first location, board the van that drives around to different pizza places, each more delicious than the last. From Margherita pizza to pizza prepared in a coal-fired oven, you will enjoy every bite as well as getting to experience a number of Chicago’s distinctive neighborhoods.

You will love Chicago in the summer!

I am a writer for Hipmunk and this is an article for the Expert Opinion Piece category. 

Categories: Chicago, Cities, Copypress, Countries, Hipmunk, Illinois, United States | Tags: , , , | Leave a comment

Shrimpin’ Aboard the Lady Jane

Posted on July 13, 2015 by Jan Ross
Hosted Activity

I kneshrimp boatw how this cruise would go. We would meander around, see the backs of a couple of dolphins, everyone would ooh and aah, and we would head back to the dock. But first we would stay out way longer than anyone was actually interested, just long enough to get incredibly bored.

I have had this experience many times.

However.

I could not have been more wrong in this case.

We were visiting the beautiful King and Prince Beach and Golf Resort on charming St. Simons Island, Georgia for a girlfriends getaway and they had offered us a shrimping excursion aboard the Lady Jane one afternoon. Even though I thought I knew exactly what to expect, I’m a travel writer always open to new experiences, so I agreed.

We headed over to Brunswick where the Lady Jane is docked, just a few minutes away from the resort. The Lady Jane is a Coast Guard certified passenger steel shrimping vessel which was used for years by the shrimping industry. With an air conditioned cabin, restroom, and a large, covered deck with plenty of room to walk around, it’s a comfortable ship to cruise on and provides a great family experience. The cruise takes place on the calm waters of St. Simon Sound, so you don’t have to worry about getting seasick on this adventure.

The Lady Jane

The Lady Jane

Read more »

Pin It
Categories: Countries, Cruises, Family Travel, Georgia, Islands, St. Simons Island, Tours, Travel with Children, United States | Tags: , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Charming St. Simons Island, Georgia

Posted on July 8, 2015 by Jan Ross

I am constantly amazed at how many lovely islands are tucked away along the southern coast of the United States. Unique, beautiful places, many of which are still undiscovered and unspoiled by tourism. The Golden Isles, strewn along the quiet waters of the Georgia coast like the jewels in a priceless necklace comprise several enchanting barrier islands, including Jekyll Island, Sea Island, Little St. Simons Island, St. Simons Island and the mainland city of Brunswick.

The largest of the Golden Isles is St. Simons, where visitors return year round to enjoy the warm and temperate climate, miles of beautiful and wide sandy beaches, four golf courses and plenty of interesting little shops and restaurants. Located quite near Savannah, Georgia, the island is easily accessible and has been popular for families, couples and groups of friends for generations. Chosen America’s Favorite Beach Town by Travel+Leisure in 2014 for its Southern charm, serenity and affordability, the island well deserves this honor.

Read the rest of this article on Luxe Beat Magazine HERE.

Pin It
Categories: Accommodations, Countries, Georgia, Islands, Luxe Beat Magazine, Resorts, St. Simons Island, United States | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Alltech Craft Brews and Food Fest

Posted on July 6, 2015 by Jan Ross

Beer Glass ClipartHosted Activity

I am not a fan of beer.

In college, I could make a Solo cup of beer last for hours as I never actually took a sip of it.

So, no beer for me.

On the other hand, Tom loves beer. He has been drinking beer and enjoying since those college beer blasts when one Solo cup of beer might have lasted 15 minutes.

With all our travels in the last few years, Tom has discovered microbreweries and fallen in love with the huge variety and tastes of these wonderful, locally made beers. Whenever we visit a city, we often find the local microbreweries to take a tour and buy some to take home. This could possibly result in a situation where we have purchased a bunch of beer in below freezing temperatures, then realized we would need to carry all that beer into the hotel with us so it wouldn’t freeze.

The hotel staff must have thought we had planned a hell of a party.

So, when we found out about the Alltech Craft Brews and Food Fest which was to be held in our home city of Lexington, Kentucky, Tom was all about attending. They were kind enough to give us media passes for two so we technically had plenty of tickets, half of which we went home with despite all of Tom’s good intentions. There is only so much beer one person can drink, despite all the good intentions in the world.

Beer barrels at the entrance.

Beer barrels at the entrance.

Read more »

Pin It
Categories: Cities, Countries, Kentucky, Lexington, United States | Tags: , , , , , | Leave a comment

Cannon Beach, Oregon: Exploring the Northwest Coast

Posted on July 3, 2015 by Jan Ross

Fort Stevens ShipwreckWe thought we knew all about Oregon before my husband and I visited for the first time. Oregon is Pacific rainforest, we believed. It’s lush and green and it rains a lot. And there is some sort of coastline. With rocky beaches. And then we made a trip to Oregon and learned that it is absolutely nothing like what we thought. Oregon does indeed have lush, green rainforests and an astonishingly beautiful coastline, but it also has mountains and a high desert that is gold and brown and nothing like the rest of the state. Oregon first surprised us, then astonished, us, then forced us to fall in love with its unique and overwhelming beauty.

Our first experience with surprising Oregon was when we doubted our GPS, which told us we would be at the coast in five minutes. But we were in the middle of the mountains, so of course that was impossible. Only in Oregon, it is definitely possible — because the mountains careen right down into the water, and one minute you are driving along in the forest and mountains and the next you arrive at the coast.

Read the rest of this article on Luxe Beat Magazine HERE.

Pin It
Categories: Accommodations, Beach, Cannon Beach, Cities, Countries, Luxe Beat Magazine, Oregon, Resorts, United States | Tags: , , , | Leave a comment

Photo Friday: Perouges, France

Posted on June 27, 2015 by Jan Ross

We love fascinating little Perouges, a beautifully maintained medieval city in France.

Perouges

Pin It
Categories: Countries, Photo Friday | Tags: , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Dining Our Way Around Savannah, Georgia

Posted on June 23, 2015 by Jan Ross
Po'Boy at Belford's of Savannah

Po’Boy at Belford’s of Savannah

There are a lot of things to like about beautiful, sultry, romantic Savannah, Georgia. The gorgeous, grassy parks with fountains, statues, walking paths, and an amazing history. The beautifully maintained historic homes surrounded by equally beautiful gardens and landscaping. The scenic Savannah River winding through the city with cobblestoned River Street, complete with interesting shops and restaurants.

But one of the best things by far in this lovely southern city is the food. Fabulous restaurants offering amazing food are on every corner, many complete with outdoor dining, and as many glasses of sweet iced tea chock full of ice as you desire. Savannah has plenty of culinary choices but the specialty is quite naturally southern cooking of all types. You can’t go wrong with any of the local restaurants but here are a few suggestions to get you started.

  1. The Forsyth Park Inn. Although this location is a Bed and Breakfast and not a restaurant, you won’t find a better breakfast anywhere in town. As you will need a place to stay while you sample all the culinary delights Savannah has to offer, you might as well stay in one of the most charming locations in the city while you do so. Overlooking Forsyth Park, this beautifully restored Queen Anne Victorian mansion is the perfect place. Each morning, a gourmet breakfast is served complete with a beginning buffet of homemade granola or oatmeal, an assortment of freshly baked breakfast breads, muffins, yogurt and juice, then a first course of seasonal fruit, and finally a full, hot breakfast. It’s the perfect way to start your day in Savannah.                                                                Read the rest of this article on Epicurean Traveler HERE.
Pin It
Categories: Cities, Countries, Epicurean Traveler, Georgia, Restaurant Reviews, Savannah, United States | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Wilderness Wildlife Week in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

Posted on June 22, 2015 by Jan Ross
Deer-300x146

Deer grazing in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

We hadn’t been to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee in years. Caught up in traveling all around the world, we had almost forgotten this charming town tucked away at the base of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, one of the most visited national parks in the United States.

We were in town to check outWilderness Wildlife Week, an annual event that brings together fans of nature with an astonishing variety of presenters, hikes, and bus tours of the area. What really amazed us about this event is that every single activity from the decorated entrance to the gorgeous displays in the beautiful LeConte Center to every single presentation, hike, and tour is totally free to anyone who would like to attend. Professional writers, park rangers, musicians, storytellers, wildlife experts, and others all provide their expertise for free in rooms full of fascinated spectators.

Read the rest of this article on Travelhoppers HERE.

Pin It
Categories: Accommodations, Cabins, Cities, Countries, Family Travel, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, United States | Tags: , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Kayaking, Zip Lining, and Gem Mining, Oh My! Adventures in Door County

Posted on June 18, 2015 by Jan Ross

MapLast summer, we planned a trip to Door County, Wisconsin thinking it would be the perfect summer getaway.

Lounging on the many beaches in the warm sun and swimming in the beautiful, clear water of Lake Michigan was a high priority, but unseasonably cold weather rolled in and we spent the week in jeans and jackets.

This, however, did not keep us from enjoying beautiful and charming Door County with its little villages, gorgeous water views, fabulous local cherries in everything from pie to pancakes, and many, many servings of fried cheese curds.

However, we are giving Door County another chance this summer to provide us with the warm summer experience we were seeking.

In July, we head back to our favorite place to stay, The Little Sister Resort, with big plans to enjoy everything the area has to offer. Last year, we didn’t make many plans for outdoor activities but this year will be different as we have big plans with both Gravity Trails and Door County Kayak Tours.

I am a huge fan of kayaking although Tom could not be less of a fan, and I plan to introduce this sport to our grandson, daughter, and son-in-law on this trip. It’s truly a great way to really experience the water and it’s easy enough for all ages. Door County Kayak Tours has several different kayaking tours, including one that explores caves and one that kayaks in the wetlands but we plan to experience the Bluff Kayak Tour.

I love kayaking!

I love kayaking!

This is one of the most picturesque and enjoyable tours offered and we will see plenty of Door county scenery while the rest of my family learns to love kayaking as I do. These kayaking tours are on stable, sit-on-top kayaks which are safe and easy to paddle. The guides will take photos of you so you don’t even have to balance your camera!

Because I know they will grow to love this fun and easy sport, we are also going kayaking with Gravity Trails, which offers not only kayaking but several other activities as well. We are very excited about the Clear Bottom Shipwreck and Wildlife Tour, which sounds amazing because the kayaks have clear bottoms which will allow us to see the area shipwrecks and fish.

The tour begins in North Bay, a sheltered and safe bay which is scattered with shipwrecks, many still visible in the clear, shallow water. I think our nine-year old grandson in particular will love this experience!

Kayaking is only of the activities Gravity Trails offers; they also have paddle board rental, zip lining, and Gem Mining. Just purchase pails of soil filled with gems, then sift through them in the mining flume to find some treasures to keep. I imagine we may have to purchase several pails of soil for our grandson! Gravity Trails is also located in the Egg Harbor Fun Park where they have Go-Karts, Batting Cages, Mini-Golf, Water Wars, Bounce Castles, Arcades, snacks, and plenty more. We may never get our grandson to leave!

Our outdoor activities are going to make this trip to Door County the best ever. We are hoping for warm weather on this trip, but if another cold front moves in, it won’t deter us at all. We can always wear jackets while experiencing one of our very favorite places!

Pin It
Categories: United States, Wisconsin | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments