A Brit and A Southerner

Best Things to Do in Akureyri – Why You Will Love It Here?

Iceland

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Jan 15, 2018

Best Things to Do in Akureyri – Why You Will Love It Here?

Reykjavik may be the renowned urban area in Iceland that most visitors want to explore but we would argue the northern town of Akureyri is equally gorgeous with plenty of things to do to keep you occupied for a few days. We want to share some of the best things to do in Akureyri and why we think anyone visiting Iceland should consider adding this northern town to their itinerary.

We spent an amazing 48 hours in Akureyri and used this as a base to explore some of the other top things to do in North Iceland, such as the spectacular Godafoss waterfall and the quirky coastal town of Husavik also known as the “whale capital of the world.” Akureyri may not be the first location on the tip of your tongue when thinking about the best places to visit in Iceland but following our recent visit, we are convinced that this needs to be on everyone’s radar.

Whether you are sampling delicious Icelandic ice cream or taking an evening stroll along the harbor front, Akureyri is a vibrant, lively town with plenty of attractions to spark your interest. It’s one of those urban areas that you can quickly fall in love with and it’s fair to say, Akureyri certainly has our hearts!

Where to Stay in Akureyri

Before diving into the plethora of things to do in Akureyri, let’s take a look at some of our recommended accommodation options in this town. During our Iceland road trip, we noticed that many parts of the country have very little in terms of accommodation choices and you have to be prepared to sleep under canvas or even in your car (we did both!).

However, neither of these options are required once you arrive in the town of Akureyri because there are a number of alternatives available. For those of you that are on a budget and have brought your tent along, don’t worry, Akureyri is home to a camp site located in the heart of the town – Tjaldsvæðið Akureyri.

If you are willing to live the life of luxury and book a hotel for a night or two while staying in Akureyri, be sure to consider one of these options.

Icelandair Hotel Akureyri – The Icelandair Hotel chain is prominent throughout Iceland and we can highly recommend staying at any of their hotels. We found a great last-minute deal through Booking.com at the Akureyri location and this was ideal given the location, amenities and overall comfort of this hotel. Check out the latest rates and availability here.
Hotel Kjarnalundur – Looking for something with a little more Icelandic remoteness? Just 5-10 minutes from downtown Akureyri is Hotel Kjarnalundur which was our accommodation option for our second night. Awesome breakfast, affordable rates, comfortable room, and great customer service. Check out the latest prices and availability here.

Best Things to Do in Akureyri

So what exactly is there to do in Akureyri? How about a combination of the following:

Sample delicious, local cuisine;
Enjoy an Icelandic botanical garden;
Explore a gorgeous harbor front;
Visit an iconic landmark church;
Experience an art museum;
Stroll around the old town of Akureyri;
Use Akureyri as a base to explore other iconic attractions – Godafoss, Husavik, Dettifoss and Lake Myvatn.

Are you convinced yet that Akureyri is the place to visit in North Iceland? Let’s take a look at some of the things to do in Akureyri along with our favorite dining options that we enjoyed during our two days in this part of Iceland.

When you start exploring Akureyri, you will immediately notice how steep some of the streets are. This town started as a small harbor village but as it started to grow, well there was only really one direction it could go – uphill!

Akureyri is the cultural heart of the north of Iceland, often known as the capital of the north.

Another fun fact about Akureyri, it is only 60km (37.2 miles) south of the Arctic circle! Various cruises are available from the town for those wishing to “cross” the Arctic circle but for those looking to enjoy the town, if you are visiting in the middle of summer, this is the perfect location to enjoy the “midnight sun.”

Be sure to take a look at the traffic lights scattered around the town. You may be a little surprised at what you see!

Where to Eat in Akureyri

Akureyri Fish and Chips

Looking for a great place to eat local cuisine? Head to the historic old town area which is just a short walk from the gorgeous Akureyri Church and enjoy the best fish and chips in town. Akureyri Fish and Chips is located directly across from the harbor and with plenty of parking options nearby, this is a convenient option for those ready to sample the best catch of the day!

Walking into this restaurant, you will notice ample amounts of seating options (high-top tables and regular tables are available) and a pretty wide selection of cuisine options. You may think it’s a little on the expensive side but remember, you are in Iceland and trust when we say, it’s well worth the price.

I opted for the traditional fish and chips while Heather decided to try the chicken sandwich. Glass bottled drinks are available and we didn’t have to wait long before our meal arrived. I consider myself to be a pretty good judge of fish and chips and I have to admit, this was delicious. You have to go a long way to beat fish and chips in England but Iceland certainly was a very close second!

Heather thoroughly enjoyed her chicken sandwich and perhaps the best part of this restaurant aside from the food was the overall atmosphere. This is clearly a popular spot for tourists and locals alike and definitely a great spot to interact with some local Icelandic folks who are always friendly and willing to give you some recommendations on the best things to see while you are in the area.

Brynja

After spending a few hours in Akureyri, we quickly learned that there was one place that EVERYONE (and I mean everyone!) visits in this town – Brynja! If you are ready to experience traditional Icelandic ice cream, this is undoubtedly the best place in the country to sample the delicious taste.

It’s not uncommon for the lines to be pretty long at Brynja so we opted to visit late in the day, shortly before closing. Be prepared to see everything on the menu listed in Icelandic but the reality is, it’s pretty obvious what you are ordering and the selection of toppings is pretty standard across all corners of the globe.

I’m sure you waiting to hear about the ice cream itself…well, we don’t want to spoil it too much for you but let’s just say it didn’t disappoint! Ok, who are we kidding…it was AMAZING and definitely some of the best ice cream we have sampled anywhere in the world. It really was that good.

Bautinn Restaurant

If you take a stroll around Akureyri’s historic old town, you cannot help but notice the gorgeous building on the corner of Hafnarstræti and Kaupvangsstræti. The Bautinn Restaurant is yet another popular choice among locals, particularly with the extensive salad bar being one of the best available throughout Iceland.

If you want to sample some local Icelandic soup, anyone placing a main order at Bautinn will receive a bowl in addition to your food. Fish, burgers, pizza, pasta and a few specialty items are available, including a peppered roast Icelandic lamb which sounds delicious (this is one of the most expensive items on the menu but I’m sure it’s worth it).

Akureyri Harbor

One of our favorite experiences was to explore the Akureyri Harbor and enjoy the gorgeous scenery surrounding this part of the town. Akureyri has become a regular stop for cruise ships visiting Iceland so you never quite know what you may see during your visit.

The Hof Cultural and Conference Center is the focal point of the harbor but this area is definitely popular among tourists that are perhaps interested in booking a tour to the Arctic Circle or other excursions available from Akureyri.

The Akureyri Art Trail also heads to the harbor district with “The Flight” by Petur Bjarnason being an iconic sculpture overlooking the fjord.

Old Town District

Just a short stroll from the Icelandair Hotel Akureyri where we stayed the first night, the Old Town District was a great area to explore. The oldest building in Akureyri dates back to 1795 and the history of this town can be found on the narrow strip of land between the water and the mountains surrounding what we can see today.

Several of Akureyri’s iconic museums can be found in this part of the town, including the former home of author Jon Sveinsson and poet Matthias Jochumsson.If you love learning about Icelandic history and folklore, Akureyri is definitely a place where you can capture a lot of information with the plethora of museums open to the public.

However, the best part of Akureyri is that you can quickly transition from the historic part of the town and wander into the modern day town where the hustle and bustle of daily life can be enjoyed.

Whether you are enjoying the sight of the colorful residential areas or simply taking a stroll around downtown Akureyri, there will always be opportunities to reflect on days gone by in this historic town.

Downtown Akureyri

The heartbeat of Akureyri is the downtown area where a variety of shops, restaurants, and cafes are available for locals and visitors to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere that reverberates around this urban area. That may sound a little contradictory but after spending a couple of days here, this is exactly how we felt.

Enjoying a latte in the early morning while watching the locals go about their day to day lives was certainly an eye-opening experience but one that enabled us to catch a glimpse of how relaxing life is here.

The majority of the retail therapy outlets and restaurants can be found on Hafnarstræti and Skipagata but should you head a little further away from this, you may stumble across more residential areas that have smaller shops, bistros, and art galleries.

Akureyri Church

Perhaps the iconic landmark that everyone visiting Akureyri will remember is the towering church that stands above the downtown area. The “Akureyrarkirkja” or “The Church of Akureyri” is a prominent Lutheran church that dates back to 1940 when construction was completed.

The gorgeous architectural design of this church has a slight resemblance to Hallgrímskirkja in Reykjavik, at least in terms of the unique construction and composition. However, that’s where the similarities end and Akureyri can be proud to have a church that possesses such distinctive features and certainly helps visitors remember this part of Iceland.

Summary

When you think about enjoying the best things to do in Akureyri, our top recommendation is to think about what the locals would do! Enjoy delicious local fish and chips, devour the best Icelandic ice cream on the island and just enjoy the gorgeous scenery and architecture surrounding this town.

After spending an amazing week exploring Iceland and covering over 1600 miles, we are now starting to reminisce on the highlights of this trip. Every time we talk about this, there is one place that is constantly on the tip of our tongues – Akureyri. I can’t pinpoint one reason why we enjoyed our time here so much but there is an inherent “feel good” vibe about it.

We thoroughly enjoyed our 48 hours in Akureyri and we are already looking forward to returning to North Iceland, just so that we can spend more time in this town. Perhaps hopping on a flight from Reykjavik would be a feasible alternative but the scenery between the two is breathtaking so it’s a win-win situation either method you take.

Have you spent time exploring Akureyri?

AFFILIATE – This post contains affiliate links. Should you choose to make a purchase via one of our links, we may receive a small commission. This income helps A Brit & A Southerner continue to explore and share inspiring stories.

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Why Knott End Is the Best Place to Learn About LS Lowry?

England

Chris Boothman

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Jan 8, 2018

10

Why Knott End Is the Best Place to Learn About LS Lowry?

Did you know that one of England’s iconic artists spent much of his time along the Fylde Coast in Knott End, Lancashire? Laurence Stephen Lowry, commonly known as L.S. Lowry, is one of England’s modern day artists as much of his work was completed during a 40 year period leading to his death in 1976. Although the town of Knott End frequently lies in the shadow of the popular tourist hotspot of Blackpool along the Fylde Coast, for anyone interested in taking a look at what inspired much of Lowry’s work, a visit to this village is certainly worthwhile.

Lowry was a proud “northerner” and focused much of his attention on highlighting daily life in north-west England through his paintings. His distinctive style of painting urban, industrial landscapes with human figures often referred to as “matchstick men” is what makes Lowry such a unique artist. Let’s take a look at why Knott End was a popular spot for Lowry and what visitors can enjoy today along this stretch of the Wyre estuary.

Knott End

Although the full name for Knott End is actually “Knott End-on-Sea,” it’s the shortened version that locals and visitors alike use. Located on the southern side of Morecambe Bay, this village is part of the civil parish of Preesall, just a few minutes along the banks of the Wyre estuary.

Interested in visiting Knott End? You have three options available to you.

By Car – The Shard bridge crosses the Wyre estuary near the town of Hambleton. Take the A585 from Thornton and head on the A588 to cross the bridge before following directions to Preesall and Knott End.
By Ferry – For those that prefer a more traditional method, why not hop on the seasonal passenger ferry from Fleetwood. A short ride taking less than 10 minutes is an experience in itself and for only £2.00 per person each way, it’s worth it if you don’t want to take the long drive around the estuary.
By Bus – A public bus service frequently runs from surrounding towns. The 2C Route takes visitors to and from Blackpool every 30 minutes. For those that want to visit from further afield, the 89 bus runs from Lancaster to Knott End every 90 minutes.

The first thing you notice as you arrive in Knott End is that it’s a relatively small town. With only a small number of shops, restaurants and things to do, it’s likely that you won’t need to spend more than a couple of hours here.

It’s one of those places that is worth visiting to take a stroll along the banks of the Wyre estuary to admire the scenery but you will probably want to use this as an opportunity to visit some of the other iconic towns along the Fylde Coast.

LS Lowry Statue

In 2015, the village of Knott End commemorated the life and works of L.S. Lowry by unveiling a statue of the iconic artist along the seafront, directly in front of the spot where visitors can board the ferry to cross the River Wyre to Fleetwood. Lowry’s painting, “The Jetty at Knott End, near Fleetwood” depicts the view that you can see as you look across the estuary and it’s a tribute to his ties to the village that this statue was erected.

The statue portrays a matchstick man and dog, stereotypically reflecting Lowry’s association with the village and how he would always have his dog by his side when creating his distinctive masterpieces.

It was on this exact spot where Lowry was known to sketch many of his iconic paintings and drawings. The Lancashire artist frequently visited Knott End during the 1940s and 1950s and painted a number of seafront scenes illustrating the Fleetwood ferry and people waiting on the jetty.

Celebrating Lowry’s links to Knott End is a means of attracting more visitors to the area and the sculpture will hopefully help put the village on the map. (Mayor of Preesall, Councillor Philip Orme)

Lowry’s association with the Fylde Coast area expanded beyond Knott End and the Wyre Estuary. As a youngster, he would frequently visit Lytham St. Annes for family holidays and in his later years he visited the same area simply because of his fond desire to admire the gorgeous scenery across the Irish Sea and beyond.

Take a Stroll Along the River Wyre

After spending a few minutes learning about Lowry’s legacy and his desire to paint the scenic views across the estuary, visitors to Knott End should take a stroll to not only enjoy more of the beautiful scenery but also take in the sea air that epitomizes this stretch of North-West England coastline.

Whether you choose to head inland on the public footpath that crosses Knott End Golf Club or perhaps continue along the banks of the Wyre towards Hambleton, there are several options available.

The moment you arrive in Knott End, the natural elements will likely welcome you, in particular the strong winds that frequently torment this stretch of the Fylde Coast off the Irish Sea. Don’t let that stop you from taking a short walk to enjoy the village and engulf the sea breeze!

Where to Eat

Although Knott End is relatively small, there is no shortage of dining options available to visitors. Enjoy some of the best local fish and chips at the local “chippy” (aka Knott End Chippy), sample a little international cuisine at Cumin Indian Restaurant and Takeaway or perhaps sit down to a homemade style meal at Knott End Cafe.

The history of Knott End Cafe dates back to the mid-20th century. The family run business has been open since 1946 when the cafe was still part of the railway station, built in 1908 as part of the Garstang and Knott End Railway.

A range of menu options are available, so regardless of whether you are looking for something light such as a soup or sandwich or perhaps something with a little more substance (e.g. burger, fish and chips etc.), you can be assured that there will be something on the menu that will satisfy your tastebuds.

Summary

The beauty of exploring England outside of London is that you can stumble across hidden gems such as Knott End in the North-West. There are countless places scattered across the English landscape that are frequently ignored but as you can see, there is a rich history behind many of them that warrant visiting.

The history of Knott End may be enhanced by its association with LS Lowry but it’s still a place that anyone that loves the outdoors will enjoy. There is nothing quite like taking an afternoon stroll along the coastline and enjoying the constant sea breeze that typifies this area.

After spending a few hours here, it’s easy to see why Lowry found this to be a safe haven to paint many of his masterpieces. Perhaps you will find some inspiration to produce something similar on your next trip to the Fylde Coast.

Shopping in Lower Manhattan – How to Enjoy the Best Package Deal?

New York

Chris Boothman

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Jan 4, 2018

12

Shopping in Lower Manhattan – How to Enjoy the Best Package Deal?

What do you consider to be the best city in the world to enjoy an extravagant shopping experience? Milan, Paris, London and perhaps Dubai would be at the top of most lists but for many, New York City is the ultimate city to sample the best retail therapy. And of course, with good reason! However, for those of you that want to visit New York City and experience a shopping spree without the masses of crowds along Fifth Avenue, why not consider shopping in Lower Manhattan?

New York’s “Fifth Avenue” is arguably the most iconic retail strip around the globe with the likes of Saks, Lord and Taylor and global fashion brands scattered along this major thoroughfare in Midtown Manhattan. But for those of you heading to Lower Manhattan, you are in for a real treat when you consider the myriad of retail outlets that have established around the World Trade Center.

During our recent visit to the Big Apple to enjoy the Christmas festivities, we were delighted to experience an amazing package deal offered by what we consider to be the best hotel in New York City – the Millennium Hilton New York Downtown, located in the heart of Lower Manhattan. Let’s take a look at what you can expect from this “Shopper’s Suite Package” and why we think you will be inspired to hop on this great deal in the New Year.

Shopper’s Suite Package

Are you ready to experience the very best of New York City and hit the streets on an epic shopping spree? Thanks to the Millennium Hilton New York Downtown partnering with the nearby Westfield World Trade Center shopping mall, visitors to NYC can now experience an amazing few days in the ultimate 24 hour city of the world staying in a gorgeous suite overlooking Lower Manhattan and enjoying great deals inside the mall.

Sounds appealing right? Don’t worry, there is plenty more! Here are the basic components of the Shopper’s Suite Package deal (come on folks, the name of it sounds cool enough to justify wanting to participate in this right!):

Two-night stay in a suite at the gorgeous Millennium Hilton New York Downtown;
A $100 Westfield World Trade Center gift card;
An exclusive Westfield bag of samples awaiting you upon arrival in your suite;
Access to Westfield concierge services and a tour of the Oculus.

Further details on the Shopper’s Suite Package can be found by clicking the following link: Shopper’s Suite Package

Shopping in Lower Manhattan

If you followed our adventures in New York City last year, you will know that we had an amazing experience creating our very own Millenium Memories as we participated in an epic scavenger hunt of Lower Manhattan. The beauty of staying at the Millennium Hilton New York Downtown is that you are able to explore an area that you may not usually consider when you first visit NYC.

The World Trade Center, Battery Park (Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island) and perhaps Wall Street may be on your radar but what about some lesser known spots such as Brookfield Place, Woolworth Building and the iconic “Charging Bull!”

Either way, when you stay in Lower Manhattan you are not only going to enjoy an amazing hotel experience at the Millennium Hilton, you are opening a number of doors to experience the very best of New York City in a potentially quieter and “local” fashion.

I want to add the caveat here that when I reference “quieter”, we are still talking about New York City here but in comparison with the likes of Times Square and Fifth Avenue, it’s relatively calm in Lower Manhattan.

For those of you raring to learn more about the Shopper’s Suite Package and love shopping, well you are in for a real treat because New York City is all about the very best designer brands and shopping experiences!

Considering the Lower Manhattan neighborhood, here are some of the best spots you can visit:

Westfield World Trade Center
Brookfield Place
Century 21
Fulton Center and Broadway
Wall Street

Several options and an eclectic range of brands to suit everyone’s budget. From the high-end luxury brands such as Tiffany and Co. on Wall Street to the bargain deals available at Century 21, you can be sure that there will be something to satisfy your retail needs!

Millennium Hilton New York Downtown Suites

When you stay in Lower Manhattan at the Millennium Hilton and embark on the Shopper’s Suite Package, you can be assured that you will stay in a gorgeous suite similar to what we experienced during our recent visit.

A corner suite overlooking Ground Zero, the World Trade Center and the Santiago Calatrava inspired design known as “The Oculus”, offer visitors with the perfect environment to start their day.

Spacious, modern and vibrant are all components of the suite that ensures every stay is the epitome of “ultimate luxury.”

A private bedroom and sitting room area are the main characteristics but for us, it’s those epic views of the Lower Manhattan neighborhood that make the corner suites at the Millennium Hilton the best place to stay in New York City!

We constantly share pictures letting folks know that we could quite easily get used to waking up to those views every day.

There’s more than enough room to store your shopping scores in one of our Suites!

Be prepared to indulge yourselves at the Millennium Hilton! But the best part of this hotel is that it is affordable. When you walk through the doors into the lobby and make your way to your suite, the gorgeous architecture throughout the hotel illuminates your experience and you immediately realize you are staying at a high quality establishment.

Imagine spending a full day experiencing the very best of New York City and then heading back to your luxury suite to enjoy a glass of your favorite wine while admiring the breathtaking panoramic scenes across Lower Manhattan!

We have previously stayed at hotels in New York City that are towards the luxury end but this is reflected in the price of them. The Millennium Hilton offers the best of both – luxury and affordability! What does this allow? More funds to spend on your retail therapy experience in the Big Apple!

Westfield World Trade Center

The Westfield World Trade Center opened its doors inside the ultra-modern “Oculus” in Lower Manhattan in August 2016. Whether you are looking to purchase high-profile designer brands, find your latest tech gadget at the split-level Apple store or looking to enjoy a makeover in the Dior store, you be sure that there will be something to intrigue you.

Let’s start by increasing your wanderlust for the Westfield World Trade Center by taking a look at the sample bag that you will receive if you choose to pursue the Shopper’s Suite Package deal at the Millennium Hilton.

As we opened our incredibly cute tote bag promoting the Westfield brand and the city of New York, we found a wide variety of samples ranging from Dior, Kiehl’s, Philosophy, Eataly and The Art of Shaving…that’s right, there is something here for the guys also, so don’t think a Shopper’s Suite Package is just for the females in your life!

After grabbing our coupons that were also included, we headed across the street and entered the Oculus!

The million dollar question is…where do you even start? Be prepared to allocate several hours or perhaps plan on visiting over several days because the Westfield World Trade Center covers a lot of space.

Tired of Shopping?

Ok folks, we know that shopping isn’t for everyone! What about if we convinced you that Lower Manhattan was the perfect place to go to enjoy shopping and still have time to experience plenty of other things that typifies why this area is such an attractive part of New York City?

Here are a few things you can experience in Lower Manhattan while staying at the Millennium Hilton.

The Battery

Take a short stroll from the Millennium Hilton to the Battery Park area of Lower Manhattan to not only enjoy a 25-acre public park that helps you get away from the hustle and bustle of city life but also to admire breathtaking views across the Hudson River.

Architecture aficionados would also argue that the views looking the opposite direction are equally spectacular, as you get to appreciate the gorgeous Lower Manhattan skyline featuring the One World Trade Center and perhaps capture a glimpse of the historic Brooklyn Bridge.

We mentioned earlier that Brookfield Place is another “shopping” hot-spot but this is also a popular area to enjoy quality eateries and even a light snack at Shake Shack! For those of you wanting to stay completely away from anything that resembles “retail”, head over to the The SeaGlass Carousel, a fish-themed carousel in Battery Park, that is a popular attraction for all the family to enjoy.

Schimmel Center for the Arts

Are you looking to experience a little culture during your visit to New York City? Head over to Pace University just a short 5-minute walk from the Millennium Hilton and experience a performance at the Schimmel Center for the Arts. During our stay, we enjoyed the Christmas festivities by enjoying an epic performance by Rob Mathes during his holiday concert featuring the one and only Vanessa Williams!

If you are looking for an intimate setting with high-quality production, the Schimmel Center is a great option, particularly if you are interested in a variety of genres. The seasonal productions offer something for everyone so be sure to check out the calendar of events to see what is playing when you visit New York City.

National September 11 Memorial

“Never Forget”…those words will resonate not only with NYC locals but also visitors from all corners of the globe. What better way to pay your respects than by visiting the National September 11 Memorial to honor the victims and also gain a greater understanding on how this tragic event has played a significant role in shaping the world we live in today.

Located at the World Trade Center site, the former location of the Twin Towers, the Museum and Memorial is the ideal place to pay your respects and as you peer up to the towering One World Trade Center, you can see how the city has transformed and become an even stronger community.

Special Discount

We are delighted to offer our readers the opportunity to stay at the amazing Millennium Hilton New York Downtown hotel and SAVE 15% on one night by clicking the following link:

Click Here to SAVE 15% at the Millennium Hilton New York Downtown

Discount code is available until March 31, 2018 for a stay throughout 2018!

Summary

When Audrey Hepburn spoke those infamous words, “Paris is always a good idea,” I think it’s fair to say she gave us all license to attribute these words to any city in the world. I can’t think of any other city to attribute this to than by saying “New York City is always a good idea!”

When it comes to shopping, NYC is the place to be and dependent on your budget and taste will likely determine which neighborhood you want to experience.

In our opinion, Lower Manhattan offers the best of everything and when you combine the amazing Millennium Hilton with the opportunities throughout this neighborhood, you have created an amazing package that you would be crazy to ignore.

Let us know when you are considering a trip to NYC next and which parts of the Big Apple you love for a little retail therapy.

Disclaimer – We were guests of the Millennium Hilton New York Downtown hotel and received a complimentary two night stay and discounted third night in return for consideration of a blog post. The views contained within this post are entirely our personal opinion/experience and we received no final compensation for this.

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2017 Year in Travel – How We Maximized Our Time on the Road?

Personal Reflections

Chris Boothman

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Jan 1, 2018

9

2017 Year in Travel – How We Maximized Our Time on the Road?

Every year we take time to reflect on the last 12 months and this year is no different. As each year goes by, we always say that the next year cannot get any better but yet again, 2017 was another amazing whirlwind adventure. We constantly surprise ourselves not only by the amount that we travel but also by the plethora of amazing adventures that we experience around the world. Let’s take a look at our 2017 year in travel and why this was yet another epic 12 months for A Brit and A Southerner.

Whether we are visiting new places such as the Baltic States or returning to old pastures such as Iceland and the UK, we now consider ourselves to be experts in maximizing our time on the road. When we look back over the last few years, we have been fortunate to travel to a myriad of memorable destinations. Take a look at the section below on our “travels in numbers” to get a better perspective on how many countries, US states and other amazing locations we have visited over the past few years.

For those of you that have been following our travels over recent years, you will know that we started this tradition of “reviewing” our year in travel a couple of years ago with our 2015 year end review.

At the end of 2016 and start of 2017, we embarked on an ambitious round the world adventure visiting the likes of UAE, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand and Hawaii. Looking back on our 2016 year of travel, that was a pretty amazing year but arguably, 2017 has been even better!

2017 Year in Travel – By Numbers

It’s always interesting to take a look at an overview of your travels over the last year. It’s crazy to think that we have visited twelve different countries in the past 12 months, many of which we visited for the first time. 2017 was a landmark year for us because in January we hit our 50th and final US state when we landed in Honolulu, Hawaii!

12 Countries – Canada, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, UK, USA.
14 US States – Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New York, New Jersey, Tennessee, Texas.
More Hotels than we count…but many memorable ones!

We are proud Hilton Diamond members so many of our hotel stays are at Hilton chains across the globe. However, we have also experienced a few local hotels that we can strongly recommend, particularly the gorgeous San Carlos Condominiums in Gulf Shores, Alabama.

Let’s take a look at some of the highlights during the past 12 months!

New Zealand

2017 started with a real bang for us as we brought in the New Year in New Zealand! Having spent the past week exploring the gorgeous city of Melbourne, Australia and taking an epic Great Ocean Road day trip, we thoroughly enjoyed a relaxing week exploring New Zealand’s North Island.

A blend of rural and urban adventure saw us explore downtown Auckland, take a day trip drive from Auckland to the Bay of Islands before heading further south to Hamilton and the Rotorua/Lake Taupo region of the North Island.

Spending a week in New Zealand gave us a brief glimpse of the beauty across the Maori nation and certainly inspired us to want to revisit this beautiful country in the not too distant future!

Hawaii

Many will say we saved the very best until last with our adventure to reach all 50 US states! Hawaii is just as many people told us – beautiful. The gorgeous sands of Waikiki Beach combined with the rich yet poignant history at Pearl Harbor makes Hawaii a must-see destination for everyone.

Although our trip was relatively short and we only stayed on the island of Oahu, it gave us plenty of inspiration to want to us to go back and explore further…particularly the surrounding islands that are less crowded and “off the beaten path!”

Whether we were enjoying the epic experience climbing Diamond Head or learning about the history at Iolani Palace, there was plenty to keep us occupied for the few days on the island!

Canada

2017 was historic for many reasons but perhaps one of the most iconic was celebrating Canada’s 150th anniversary! What better to way to celebrate this than by visiting the Maple Leaf Nation and exploring two of the breathtaking national parks – Banff and Jasper.

If you are looking for the ultimate experience for epic landscapes, these are perhaps the best two parks you can visit anywhere in the world. From the gorgeous Lake Minnewanka scenic drive in Banff to the towering Jasper SkyTram at Whistlers Mountain, there is no shortage of amazing experiences awaiting your next visit.

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to both and I think if we have any regrets looking back on 2017, it’s not having the opportunity to head back to Canada to explore more of the national parks. That’s definitely a bucket list item for 2018!

Iceland

After visiting Iceland during the winter season and falling in love with this spectacular country, we were eager to visit during the summer and experience the “24 hours” of daylight (the exact opposite to what we experienced in winter).

After an epic 7-day Iceland road trip where we enjoyed a myriad of the best waterfalls along with a spectacular whale and puffin tour in Husavik courtesy of North Sailing, we realized that the Land of Fire and Ice is at the very top of our favorite countries list. It’s one of those places that once you visit, you cannot help but fall in love with the beauty throughout the nation.

Gulf Shores and Orange Beach

One of the lesser known destinations in the US that we LOVE visiting is Gulf Shores and Orange Beach! We always look forward to returning to this stretch of Alabama coastline to enjoy 32 miles of pristine, white sandy beaches along with delicious cuisine available at the best places to eat in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach.

Three days of “fun in the sun” along the Gulf Coast is a great way to relax by experiencing the gorgeous Kiva Dunes Golf Course and a sunset dinner cruise on the Perdido Queen.

Disney World and Universal Studios

2017 was another iconic year for both of us as we visited Disney World for the first time (in Heather’s case, not once but TWICE!). 24 hours in Disney World may only be enough for one park for most visitors but we opted for a typical fast and furious visit by experiencing three parks in one day! Magic Kingdom, Epcot and Animal Kingdom in just one day – a lot of walking, extremely tiring but incredibly rewarding.

Heather is an avid Harry Potter fan so having the opportunity to head over to Universal Studios and experience the Wizarding World of Harry Potter along with everything else was an awesome experience.

Ireland

October saw us head across the pond to the Emerald Isle to enjoy a 7-day Ireland road trip while spending several days in Killarney for the TBEX travel bloggers conference. We spent three nights at the best self catering in Killarney courtesy of Luxquisite Property Lettings before heading along the Wild Atlantic Way to explore some of the iconic landmarks including the Cliffs of Moher and many others.

We partnered with Europcar for our car rental in Ireland and we can well and truly attest that they are a great company to hire cars when you next visit. Although we had limited time to explore Ireland, we still enjoyed many adventures and cannot wait to return to experience other parts, including Northern Ireland.

Poland and Baltic States

November saw us venture back to Europe again as we embarked on another ambitious trip through the Baltic States in only 9 days! We arrived in Warsaw, Poland to spend a couple of days exploring the history and gorgeous architecture there before heading to the smaller Baltic nations of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.

We fell in love with the Estonian capital of Tallinn, primarily because of the Christmas markets in the Old Town Square before heading across the Baltic Sea to Helsinki and our final stop in Oslo, Norway.

Christmas in the UK

Our final trip of 2017 saw us head back across the pond for the 5th time as we spent Christmas in North-West England. Prior to heading to the UK, we enjoyed three days in New York City to celebrate the holiday season. For those of you that haven’t spent Christmas in the Big Apple, it’s an amazing experience seeing all of the store displays on Fifth Avenue and of course, the iconic Christmas tree at the Rockefeller Center.

We spent much of our time in England exploring the Fylde Coast and the county of Lancashire. The city of Lancaster, market town of Skipton and idyllic village of Downham are all areas that we spent time walking around.

As we continue to travel around the UK when we return each year to spend time with family, we will be sharing more and more spots outside of London that we recommend visiting for visitors to the UK that may not be as aware of what is outside the capital.

Summary

We have been incredibly fortunate to enjoy so many amazing trips in 2017! If you were to ask each of us our favorite trip…well, it’s a tough one because every one we took was unique and amazing in its own right.

Iceland will always be a place that we love and we had an amazing road trip adventure exploring Ireland but as we close out the year in 2017, we are already excited about the potential opportunities awaiting us in 2018!

What was your favorite trip in 2017 and what are you most looking forward to in the New Year?

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Where to Stay in Akureyri

Best Things to Do in Akureyri

Where to Eat in Akureyri

Akureyri Fish and Chips

Brynja

Bautinn Restaurant

Akureyri Harbor

Old Town District

Downtown Akureyri

Akureyri Church

Summary

Knott End

LS Lowry Statue

Take a Stroll Along the River Wyre

Where to Eat

Summary

Shopper’s Suite Package

Shopping in Lower Manhattan

Millennium Hilton New York Downtown Suites

Westfield World Trade Center

Tired of Shopping?

The Battery

Schimmel Center for the Arts

National September 11 Memorial

Special Discount

Summary

2017 Year in Travel – By Numbers

New Zealand

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Hawaii

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Canada

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Iceland

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Gulf Shores and Orange Beach

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Disney World and Universal Studios

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Ireland

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Poland and Baltic States

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Christmas in the UK

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