City Trips
40+ BEST FREE ACTIVITIES IN LOS ANGELES
Los Angeles has a huge variety of activities but did you know that many of them are free? Of course there are many LA activities with a hefty price tag that are great fun. Universal Studios Hollywood, Celebrity Home Tours, Whale Watching Tours... the list goes on and...
A PERFECT DAY IN DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES
I love Los Angeles - there is so much to see and do. So I am always surprised to hear that many do not care for the city at all. I think it has to do with expectations and the fact that Los Angeles is different from many other famous cities. Attractions are spread out...
REVIEW: MAGIC CASTLE HOTEL, HOLLYWOOD
With its central location in Hollywood, the Magic Castle Hotel is an obvious choice for a visit to LA. Over the years, my kids and I have stayed at numerous hotels of all types. If I ask them today one of their top five experiences ever would be the Magic Castle...
IS HOLLYWOOD WORTH A VISIT?
Hollywood is usually on top of the list for first time visitors to Los Angeles. The iconic Hollywood sign, Walk of Fame, the glamour of the movie industry - what could be more emblematic for Southern California? But if you do any sort of research - be it on...
INN AT VENICE BEACH HOTEL REVIEW
Sunny beaches, shopping, restaurants, and the laid-back Southern California vibe - Santa Monica/Venice is deservedly is one of the best areas to stay in for visitors to LA. Unfortunately, hotel prices in these popular beach neighborhoods are often astronomical. So I...
OLD TOWN SAN DIEGO – IS IT WORTH A VISIT?
Old Town San Diego is one of the top tourist sights in San Diego but is it worth a visit or just a tourist trap? On my recent trip to Southern California I only had half a day in San Diego before moving on to Solana Beach. Having been to San Diego a number of times...
PARANORMAL WALK ON QUEEN MARY
When my Uber driver dropped me off at the Queen Mary's parking lot in Long Beach he shuddered and declared that he would not want to stay the night there. Not because the ship didn't look inviting (it does) or because he was afraid of being on the water. No, he was...
HOW TO GET TO LAX WITHOUT A CAR
Wondering about the best way to get to LAX (or from LAX to your hotel)? Many dislike Los Angeles International (LAX) but if you are visiting Los Angeles there is a good chance you will have to travel from and to this large airport. With a car, getting to LAX is fairly...
SANTA MONICA TO LAX BY BUS – A STEP-BY-STEP-REVIEW
Getting to LAX without a car can be quite a challenge. In most cases Uber is your best option but on my recent trip to Southern California I had already more than maxed out my travel budget so was looking for a cheaper option. Luckily, I was at the Inn at Venice...
THREE 7 DAY GERMANY ITINERARIES BY TRAIN
Are you looking for a 7 day Germany itinerary with the Deutschlandticket (Germany's new flat rate monthly ticket for almost all non-express trains)? Or are you interested in train itineraries in Germany in general? If so, read on as I have three great itineraries to...
SHORT WALKING TOUR OF PONTA DELGADA
Are you looking for ideas for a walking tour to explore Ponta Delgada? Do you have some free time before/after an organized tour or just not feeling up to an all day excursion? You have come to the right place! During a cruise stop in Ponta Delgada on my recent...