A Brit and A Southerner

Where Are the Best Places to Eat in Oklahoma City?

Oklahoma

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Apr 11, 2016

Where Are the Best Places to Eat in Oklahoma City?

Any time you start thinking about food, do you start salivating at the thought of all those delicious dishes waiting to be devoured? We do too! It’s hard to imagine any city not having some great local spots to dine and sample fine cuisine but frequently they are not always the easiest to find. But it’s these local establishments that we were interested in finding during our recent trip to Oklahoma, so we now want to share our guide to the best places to eat in Oklahoma City. The only caveat for restaurants to make their way on our list is that they were NOT a mass chain establishment.

Amidst all of the chain restaurants that frequent major cities, local establishments are all too often fighting a losing battle against these global chains that have little interest in meeting customers needs aside from creating food en masse and having a pretty standard menu that you expect to find anywhere. From home cooked cuisine to fresh ingredients used in the creation of a dish…these are all aspects of local restaurants that we love to experience when visiting a new city.

Let’s take a look at what we now consider as the best places to eat in Oklahoma City. This is by no means a definitive list, rather it is a collection of restaurants (bars and diners included also) that we either sampled through first-hand experience or at least considered based on recommendations from others.

When you only spend 48 hours in a city, there is only so much that you can sample but we certainly left OKC feeling pretty full of amazing food!

Waffle Champion

If you have a sweet tooth or love the idea of starting your day with an appetizing selection of delicious waffles, Waffle Champion in Midtown Oklahoma City is surely the spot for you. Be prepared to wait in line, especially if you are visiting Waffle Champion on the weekend. We waited for about 30 minutes before ordering and being seated inside the restaurant.

When Mayer Hawthorne spoke the following words, he really emphasized the importance of having a good breakfast to keep your energy levels high to enjoy the day ahead.

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and I definitely have a hearty breakfast before I do anything.

A word of caution before visiting Waffle Champion if you are thinking the above quote is applicable to you. This trendy restaurant may have the exact opposite effect you are hoping for, because the dessert waffles are not necessarily the healthiest options on the menu.

For those of you that don’t have a sweet tooth, don’t worry because there are plenty of savory options available at Waffle Champion. Check out the menu and I am sure there will be something that intrigues you.

Local, handcrafted sodas are also available for purchase as are a variety of beers and wines.

We opted for the S’mores Waffle and Grandma’s Apple Pie Waffle and both were delectable.

The S’mores dish was served with chocolate ganache, house made marshmallow and graham cracker crumble on top of the buttermilk waffle (Belgian ‘Liege’ style waffles are also available for those that want extra sweetness).

The Grandma’s Apple Pie waffle included cinnamon baked apple, vanilla bean ice cream, bourbon caramel and graham cracker crumble. Just thinking about both these options is enough to justify a trip back to OKC!.

After having the ultimate waffle experience in Brussels, we didn’t think it could get any better than that. But visiting Waffle Champion was certainly a pretty good way of realizing that we don’t have to travel all the way to Belgium to experience a delicious array of waffle dishes.

Useful Information

Opening Times
Tuesday to Sunday (7:00AM to 2:00PM)*Also open from 7PM to 2AM on certain nights (call ahead for details)

Address
1212 N. Walker #100,
Oklahoma City, OK 73103
Tel: (405)525-9235

Website
Waffle Champion

Iguana Mexican Grill

Our first night in Oklahoma City saw us visit the wonderfully named ‘Iguana Mexican Grill’. I love Mexican cuisine, whether it is because I am relatively new to this type of food given that England really doesn’t have many Mexican restaurants or perhaps just because the flavors are awesome. When our gracious hosts for the night recommended Iguana, we were both excited about trying out this menu.

Oklahoma is famous for having a myriad of Tex-Mex options but this restaurant was very different from anything we have experienced before.

I am sure you are all familiar with the sub-standard Mexican restaurants that have items on their menu that are pretty comparable everywhere, but Iguana’s menu was completely different.

A refreshing selection of entrées in addition to a wide variety of alcoholic beverages that are a perfect accompaniment to both your main meal and of course, the stereotypical appetizers of guacamole, queso, and salsa.

Useful Information

Opening Times
Tuesday to Thursday (11:00AM to 10:00PM); Friday and Saturday (11:00AM to 11:00PM); Sunday and Monday (11:00AM to 9:00PM)

Address
9 NW 9th St,
Oklahoma City, OK 73102
Tel: (405)606-7172

Website
Iguana Mexican Grill

Pops 66 Soda Ranch

Looking for a local diner that is iconic to Oklahoma? Look no further than Pops 66 Soda Ranch which is famous for being home to over 700 uniquely bottled sodas. There are two locations in the vicinity of Oklahoma City but both of them are close enough to justify visiting.

The original location in Arcadia, OK is iconic because of the modern looking gas station located along historic Route 66. A giant neon sign in the shape of a soda bottle stands at 66 feet tall and is a perfect reflection of Pops 66 culture.

If you are driving around the area at night, this provides a spectacular attraction for visitors and well worth visiting.

Inside the diner is where you can begin picking your sodas from the large selection available. Where do you even begin? Well, that depends on personal preference.

We tweeted Pops 66 and they provided us with a handy guide of their top 25 best-sellers, but honestly you probably can’t go wrong with any of the options.

The windows at both locations are full of perfectly aligned bottles and visitors are advised to leave these intact and head for the coolers to grab a selection of sodas.

Drinks from all around the world are available for purchase here so if you have stumbled across a soda while on your travels, you may well find this here at Pops 66.

A second Pops 66 location has opened in Nichols Hills and we actually visited this first to sample the fine cuisine.

I have to admit that we were slightly disappointed by the food but this takes nothing away from the overall experience (after eating Waffle Champion for breakfast, I don’t think either of us was hungry enough to justify the food at Pops 66).

Useful Information

Opening Times
Nichols Hills – 7:00AM to 9:00PM Daily
Arcadia – 6:00AM to 10:00PM Daily

Address
Nichols Hills
6447 Avondale Drive,
Oklahoma City, OK 73116
Tel: (405)446-8767

Arcadia
660 W. Highway 66,
Arcadia, OK 73007
Tel: (405)928-7677

Website
Pops 66 Soda Ranch

Pie Junkie

I didn’t realize that visiting a place just to eat a slice of pie would have been quite as appealing until we experienced Pie Junkie in the Plaza District of OKC. The beauty of Pie Junkie is that you can visit here at any time of the day, and let’s be honest folks, eating a slice of pie is appropriate anytime! At least, that was our justification as we headed here late afternoon and sampled what I have to admit was some of the finest slices of pie.

Here is the problem though when you head to Pie Junkie. What pie do you choose? There is a wide selection to choose from and all of them look delicious.

Whether you have a real sweet tooth and want to sample the S’mores pie or perhaps something a little less sweet like the buttermilk pie, there will be something here that will intrigue you.

We opted for the Drunken Turtle and Buttermilk pies. I am not a fan of pecans so I was a little hesitant with the turtle pie, but I soon realized that I made a great choice.

Heather was a huge fan of the buttermilk so we had a nice combination of Pie Junkie’s unique creations.

If you want the best selection of pies, we strongly urge you to visit Pie Junkie earlier in the day because they go pretty quickly and you may be left with only a couple of options to choose from.

Useful Information

Opening Times
Tuesday to Thursday (10:00AM to 7:00PM); Friday (10:00AM to 9:00PM); Saturday (10:00AM to 7:00PM); Closed on Sunday and Monday

Address
1711 NW 16th St,
Oklahoma City, OK 73106
Tel: (405)605-8767

Website
Pie Junkie

Cattlemen’s Steakhouse

One of the most popular locations in Oklahoma City for good reason in Cattlemen’s Steakhouse. If you are interested in dining at a restaurant where legendary western stars such as John Wayne have dined, this is the spot for you. Located in the historic Stockyard district of Oklahoma City, this is a perfect spot to experience all of Oklahoma’s local western folklore.

It may not be the most luxurious restaurant in terms of decor but in terms of history and fine cuisine, you would be hard-pressed to find a better alternative in the OKC region.

A smoke-filled room and a lucky roll of the dice were all it took to move a little diner from cowtown obscurity to annals of western folklore.

Cattlemen’s Steakhouse is of course not only famous for their history and traditional western atmosphere but also for their delicious steaks and other menu options. We wanted to experience this restaurant and it was on our to-do list but after already sampling so much fine cuisine, we didn’t have the appetite to justify a visit here. But it is undoubtedly the first place we will visit when we return to OKC next.

Useful Information

Opening Times
Sunday to Thursday (6:00AM to 10:00PM); Friday and Saturday (6:00AM to Midnight)

Address
1309 S. Agnew,
Oklahoma City, OK 73108
Tel: (405)236-0416

Website
Cattlemen’s Steakhouse

Iron Star Urban BBQ

Oklahoma City and BBQ go hand in hand so it’s no surprise to hear that there are plenty of attractive BBQ options in the various neighborhoods across the city. If you need one recommendation, Iron Star Urban BBQ is a popular restaurant worth visiting.

Dating back to 2002 when Iron Star first opened their doors, it quickly became recognized for the gorgeous decor on the interior of the restaurant. Wood floors and brick walls provide a perfect setting for visitors to reflect on western history while sampling the traditional dishes associated with typical smokehouse flavors.

Useful Information

Opening Times
Monday (11:00AM to 9:00PM); Tuesday to Thursday (11:00AM to 9:30PM); Friday and Saturday (11:00AM to 10:30PM); Sunday (11:00AM to 9:00PM)

Address
3700 N. Shartel,
Oklahoma City, OK 73118
Tel: (405)524-5925

Website
Iron Star Urban BBQ

Kitchen 324

Renowned as offering only the freshest ingredients in town, Kitchen 324 is another viable option for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Located in a building in downtown OKC that was formerly home to an aviation business, Kitchen 324 is housed in one of the most famous buildings across the city.

Whether you want to start the day with a delicious looking maple french cruller or perhaps wait until lunch and sample a handcrafted sandwich, Kitchen 324 is a great choice if you want an authentic experience with the finest local ingredients.

Useful Information

Opening Times
Monday to Sunday (7:00AM to 9:00PM)

Address
324 N. Robinson,
Oklahoma City, OK 73102
Tel: (405)763-5911

Website
Kitchen 324

Tucker’s Onion Burger

You may not associate Oklahoma with being famous for burgers, but when you reference ‘onion burger’ among OKC natives, they will immediately know what you are referring to.

The Oklahoma Onion Burger has achieved cult status

Tucker’s Onion Burger is proud to have this iconic meat product as their primary menu option. The onion burger capital of the world is actually in nearby El Reno, OK but the history of this burger actually dates back to the Great Depression in the 1920s when the combination of beef and onions made this a necessity in locals everyday lives.

There are three different locations around Oklahoma City but given that this is local to the city, we felt it was appropriate to include this in the list. I am not a huge fan of onions so I am not sure what to think about this but given the positive recommendations on Tucker’s, I think it would be difficult to keep avoiding this restaurant on future visits to OKC.

Useful Information

Opening Times
Monday to Sunday (11:00AM to 9:00PM)

Address
324 N.W. 23rd Street,
Oklahoma City, OK 73103
Tel: (405)609-2333

5740 N. Classen Blvd., Suite 3
Oklahoma City, OK 73118
Tel: (405)286-3331

15001 N. May Avenue
Oklahoma City, OK 73134
Tel: (405)254-5555

Website
Tucker’s Onion Burgers

Bleu Garten

Oklahoma City is home to a really cool open-air venue that houses a variety of gourmet food trucks which makes for a great experience to sample local cuisine. With alcoholic beverages available for purchase, this is the perfect spot to spend a couple of hours relaxing in the afternoon before heading out and exploring the rest of downtown OKC.

I love the concept of this “gourmet food truck garden”. The name itself is derived from both the French and German languages. The German beer garden experience is something that is continuing to grow in the United States and Bleu Garten is definitely one of the best experiences that we have encountered around the country.

If you visit Bleu Garten’s website, you can check the daily schedule to find your favorite food trucks and when they will be located on-site. If you are visiting for the first time like we did, it’s cool to sample a little bit of everything while taking in the vibrant ambiance throughout the venue.

Useful Information

Opening Times
Tuesday to Thursday (4:00PM to Midnight); Friday and Saturday (11:00AM to 2:00AM); Sunday (11:00AM to 9:00PM)

Address
301 NW 10th St,
Oklahoma City, OK 73103
Tel: (405)763-5911

Website
Bleu Garten

McNellie’s

A short walk from the Ambassador Hotel in Oklahoma City is an Irish pub by the name of McNellie’s. Offering over 300 beers and a variety of stereotypical Irish cuisine, this is a great spot worth visiting if you are interested in sampling an atmosphere typical of a bar in the Emerald Isle.

Although we didn’t eat here, looking at the menu offered reasonably priced cuisine which is great to see for a location in the heart of a downtown metropolis. The original McNellie’s opened in Tulsa, OK back in 2004 with Oklahoma City’s pub opening their doors in 2008. This is a great environment for all the family and we look forward to sampling Irish cuisine on a future visit to Oklahoma City.

Useful Information

Opening Times
Monday to Sunday (11:00AM to 2:00AM)

Address
1100 Classen Drive,
Oklahoma City, OK 73103
Tel: (405)601-7468

Website
McNellie’s

Summary

Are you convinced now that Oklahoma City is a thriving hotbed for dining options? Even though we only spent a short time here, we were able to experience several of these and the rest are just on our list for the next time we visit OKC. Whether you want local cuisine, a sweet treat or just a relaxing atmosphere, Oklahoma City has a plethora of options waiting to entice you through their doors.

Which of these restaurants are you most excited about experiencing? If you have visited OKC before, what other restaurants would you include on this list?

A Review of Guided Walking Tours Around the World

Travel Tips

Chris Boothman

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Apr 7, 2016

14

A Review of Guided Walking Tours Around the World

If you are visiting a city or destination for the first time, the likelihood is that you will want to get out and start exploring. Questions such as “Where to go first?” “Which neighborhoods are safe?” and “How to maximize our time in a city?” are likely to be going through your mind as you plan a visit to your chosen location. Guided walking tours are the best way to achieve this and we are happy to share some of our experiences taking such tours along with a few of our travel blogging friends who shared their opinions on the pros and cons of each type of tour.

In our minds, the best way to see any location is on foot because not only can you experience the main attractions, but you can also stumble across some hidden gems that perhaps you wouldn’t if you simply used public transportation (or drove your own car).

All truly great thoughts are conceived by walking.

Do you agree with Friedrich Nietzsche’s comments above about walking? If so, keep reading because we want to share experiences of walking tours around the world.

What is a Walking Tour?

A walking tour will frequently have a designated start and end point, at least if you take the guided tour option. But are they all good value for money? That really depends on the type of tour that you take, how much you are willing to pay, and of course, the experiences encountered during the tour itself.

There are a couple of different types of walking tours that you can take around a city, regardless of the location. The ‘major’ global cities will generally offer a variety of all three tours that I am going to share with you, but others may be limited to just one or two. We have been fortunate to experience all three though this particular post focuses solely on the guided tour version.

Self-Guided Tour

The most obvious tour is one that you conduct yourselves, the self-guided tour. The key benefits of this is that there are no time constraints, more flexibility and it’s generally free.

A caveat here is that there are now self-guided walking tour apps available in many cities that connect to your phone’s GPS capability and provide information on landmarks you are walking by. There may be a cost associated with these types of apps. Alternatively, if you are an old-school traveler, perhaps you want to purchase a guidebook or map to give details on your proposed itinerary around a city.

Drawbacks of a self-guided tour are that you are limited to the amount of knowledge and information you will gain from the tour, in addition to potentially not knowing the types of neighborhoods you are walking around.

Free Guided Tour

A popular, relatively new attraction especially in Europe is the ‘free walking tour’ which is a great new philosophy that we personally love, having had some great experiences during our recent journey around some of Europe’s most historic cities.

The justification behind this is that your tour guide will provide you with an informative tour of their city and only when the tour has finished do you as the consumer get to determine how much value you place on the tour.

It’s essentially a tip-based system. This inspires the guides to provide better tours because they ‘should’ be compensated accordingly.

Admission Based Guided Tour

The ‘old-school’ approach to guided tours may still be the most popular, where you purchase tickets ahead of time to take a tour led by an experienced guided (or so you hope). The problem with this type of tour is that you are simply hoping for a great experience, rather than the innovative tip-based system.

We recently experienced two such guided tours in New York City though we were fortunate to have these included in the New York Pass so didn’t have to pay the $35 per person charge. Costs can vary depending on the type and length of tour but this is by far the most common around the world.

Let’s take a look at some experiences taking guided walking tours around the world.

Amsterdam Walking Tour

Tour Company – Sandemans New Amsterdam Tours
Tour Cost – Free Guided Tour (Tip Based)

Visiting Amsterdam for the first time, a walking tour of the city is a great way to experience everything iconic about the Dutch capital. From watching the thousands of bicycles fly past you to the canals that weave in and out of the city, we felt extremely fortunate to take the free walking tour offered by Sandemans.

Sandemans is certainly becoming the market leader throughout Europe in offering these tip-based free tours. Their tour guides are an absolute credit, as their knowledge and energy ensure their tips are well-deserved. Our tour guide took us through the controversial Red Light District before experiencing some of the finest architecture around the city and of course, listening to a few stories about the ‘coffee shop’ industry in Amsterdam.

We strongly recommend this tour which finished at the iconic Anne Frank house and if you are fortunate enough to have Katjalisa as your tour guide, well you are in for a great experience!

Check out our post reviewing the ‘epic yet controversial’ Amsterdam walking tour.

Belgrade Walking Tour

Tour Company – Go2Serbia
Tour Cost – Approximately 20 Euro

We didn’t realize how disoriented we were going to feel when we arrived in Belgrade: the Serbian Cyrillic alphabet rendered us practically helpless. We would have been entirely overwhelmed if it weren’t for our pre-arranged walking tour of the city highlights with Go2Serbia. A strategic military and political crossroads through the centuries, Belgrade’s past and present came alive.

Our personable guide, Demir, escorted us from the ancient fortress of Kalemegdan through the Bohemian neighborhood of Skalardija and back to the bustling city center. Along the way, we gained a new perspective on Belgrade and Serbia alike.

This tour was part of a promotional package from the Belgrade Art Hotel, but a similar one would cost about 20 Euro.

Thanks to Betsy Wuebker from Passing Thru for sharing her experiences while visiting Belgrade.

Berlin Walking Tour

Tour Company – Insider Tour Berlin
Tour Cost – 12 Euros

Berlin, oh the wonderful and unique Berlin. Home to the infamous wall and full of history, Berlin was a city that certainly opened my eyes. The Third Reich walking tour exposed myself as a young 21-year-old to the atrocities that occurred in World War II along with the heroics of many people.

Starting at the Reichstag, now a meeting place for German parliament but previously set on fire back in 1933 under circumstances not entirely known, we snaked our way on a 3.5-hour walking tour through this glorious city.

Taking in the history and many sites, which included the Jewish Memorial, the site of Hitler’s bunker, Topographie of Terrors and many more, we concluded our tour at the famous Checkpoint Charlie.

The information given by the tour guide and the stories told are what made this tour. I experienced this as part of my ‘finding myself’ group tour of Europe I did as a backpacker. Priced at only 12 Euros, this is well worth the admission fee!

Thanks to Lauren from The Traveller’s Guide By #ljojlo for sharing her experiences while visiting Berlin.

Boston Walking Tour

Tour Company – Free Tours By Foot
Tour Cost – Free Guided Tour (Tip Based)

Free Tours By Foot is a historic journey into Boston’s past on a budget. While the center of this region is tiny, it’s packed with tales of war, protest and how America came to be. Joining one of these daily tours at 10:30 am sharp, we were led by our guide, dressed for the time period of the topic and guided around to the city’s most significant sites.

Cruising past the site of the Boston Massacre, through the burial grounds of Samuel Adams and Paul Revere and to the Old State House, we learned more about America’s history than I ever remember learning in the history books.

Our guide was entertaining and knowledgeable, we got some exercise and fresh air and left with a complimentary coupon for a discounted bowl of Chowda at a nearby restaurant too.

Although the tour is free, tips are appreciated!

Thanks to Shannon Ullman from Lives Abroad for sharing her experiences while visiting Boston.

Bratislava Walking Tour

Tour Company – Be Free Tours
Tour Cost – Free Guided Tour (Tip Based)

Cities like Bratislava in Eastern Europe are frequently under scrutiny because of the misrepresentations and stereotypes associated with movies such as Eurotrip. We headed to Slovakia for the first time a little apprehensive but ready to experience the real Bratislava.

Thanks to our amazing free tour of the city, exploring the historic Old Town and experiencing a number of iconic attractions there, our opinion has certainly changed and we urge you to do the same.

Check out our post reviewing the free walking tour in Bratislava and perhaps you will be inclined to change your opinion, rather than listening to the stories on Eurotrip and Hostel!

Brussels Walking Tour

Tour Company – Sandemans New Brussels Tours
Tour Cost – Free Guided Tour (Tip Based)

Brussels has come under a lot of scrutiny over the last few months due to the security alerts caused by the recent terrorist attacks in Paris. However, our recent visit to the Belgian capital should hopefully inspire you to explore this part of Europe.

We took an entertaining and informative free walking tour of Brussels, courtesy of Sandemans and learned a lot about what makes this such an attractive city for tourists and locals alike.

From the best Belgian waffle spots to the gorgeous architecture in and around Grand Place in the heart of the city, we quickly realized that Brussels should be on your European itinerary rather than being concerned about the security risks.

Check out our post reviewing the free walking tour in Brussels and why a trip to the Belgian capital should not be feared.

Bucharest Walking Tour

Tour Company – Walkabout Free Tours
Tour Cost – Free Guided Tour (Tip Based)

Anytime I visit a new city I always check into free walking tours. And last year when I found myself in Romania’s capital city of Bucharest, I stumbled upon a tour with Walkabout free tours. We met in front of the clock in Unirii Square Park and the group was compact with around seven of us. Our guide was a local and very friendly and knowledgeable on Romania and specifically Bucharest’s history.

From tales of Vlad the Impaler to its communist past we were taken through Bucharest’s city centre from the Palace of the Parliament to Stavropoleos Convent and around old town, ending in University Square. Our guide gave us tips on places to visit and bars and restaurants to drink and dine at. She had such passion for history, her country and pointed out everything from the large to the smallest of details.

The tour lasted approximately two hours and covered a lot, from the expected to the unforeseen treasures, and at its end, I gladly tipped her for sharing her amazing city with me.

Thanks to Stephanie Mayo from The World As I See It for sharing her experiences while visiting Bucharest.

New York Walking Tour

Tour Company – NewYorkTour1
Tour Cost – $35 (Free with New York Pass)

New York City is a myriad of adventures waiting to be uncovered. What better way to experience all of this than by taking a walking tour around one of many districts and neighborhoods in the Big Apple. NewYorkTour1 offer a variety of these tours including two that we recently experienced including a Broadway and Times Square tour, in addition to SoHo, Little Italy and Chinatown.

Regardless of your preferences, New York City is a melting pot of cultures that are reflected throughout these tours. It is a great way to learn some hidden details from a local, in fact the two tours we took were actually led by Broadway theatre performers.

Check out our post reviewing New York City walking tours and during your next visit to the ‘City That Never Sleeps’, maybe you will consider experiencing one or more of these!

Paris Walking Tour

Tour Company – Discover Walks
Tour Cost – Free Guided Tour (Tip Based)

We went on a Paris Night walking tour with Discover Walks, which is led by a local person who knows the city well. We were led be Eva, a young French woman who is passionate about her city.

We started at the Louvre. Eva told us that Parisians do not like change at all and were horrified when the President of the time, François Mitterrand had the pyramids constructed in 1984. They found it an abomination that a modern construction would be juxtaposed with the history and heritage of the Louvre Museum.

We crossed the river Seine where the Eiffel Tower was illuminated, and where a beacon arcs across it during the evening. We were fortunate to be at the Eiffel Tower during the sparkle show. It really is a magical experience!

From the Pont des Arts Bridge where the controversial love locks are now being removed, we could also see the D’Orsay Museum and Notre-Dame. The people of Paris detest the love locks, claiming it started after a Sex and the City scene.

We then went into the very vibrant 6th arrondissement of Saint-Germain des pres. Eva chatted the whole way about how they do have a good work-life balance in Paris, with the emphasis on life, not work.

This is a free tour though of course, tips are always welcome!

Thanks to Paula and Gordon from Contented Traveller for sharing their experiences exploring Paris.

Penang Walking Tour

Tour Company – George Town World Heritage Inc.
Tour Cost – 20 Ringgit (Less thank $5)

In Penang, Malaysia, the George Town World Heritage Inc. is the designated gatekeeper of historic George Town, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. One of the ways they promote the town’s legacy is by offering affordable guided tours and walks to the public and to schools.

The Traditional Trades Discovery Walk is a two-hour informative walk through the heart of multicultural George Town, focusing on traditional trades which are still very much alive today.

This fascinating tour is offered every second Saturday of each month. The registration fee is 20-ringgit per person and limited to a maximum of 20 people. For history and culture buffs, it’s not-to-be-missed.

Thanks to Vanessa Workman from The Island Drum for sharing her experiences while visiting Penang.

Prague Walking Tour

Tour Company – Sandemans New Prague Tours
Tour Cost – Free Guided Tour (Tip Based)

The walking tour I took in Prague stands out for being the only tour I’ve ever done while it was snowing. Not that this decreased the size of the group (well, it was free), or the enthusiasm of our wonderful guide, a local Prague student who was able to share her stories about growing up in the city. The snowy conditions meant the streets were quiet, apart from the very noisy snow ploughs that we occasionally passed, making it impossible to hear the guide.

Yes, the group was a touch large and, yes, we got the sales pitch for the paying tours (we took the paying Castle Tower the next day), but we covered a lot of Prague, learnt a lot about the city, and discovered which places we wanted to return to for a more in-depth visit.

Plus, by ourselves, we probably would have retreated to a snug café and not seen much at all!

Thanks to Shandos Cleaver from Travelnuity for sharing her experiences while visiting the beautiful city of Prague.

Rome Walking Tour

Tour Company – LivItaly
Tour Cost – 99 Euros

Imagine being transported back in time to when gladiators and beasts waged battle on the ground level of the Roman Colosseum. Today, you can tour the ancient wonder as a spectator (looking at the Colosseum floor from above) or as a participant (and visit the underground level). The latter is more interesting—especially if you have already done the regular tour—and the special tour is more fun when taken as part of a small group rather than a large tour.

I experienced that fun scenario with the Colosseum Underground & Ancient Rome tour with LivItaly. Our tour guide, Rachel, is a passionate lifetime student of history and all things Rome and her stories evoked vivid imagery of ancient times.

The tour later proceeds to the 3rd level of the Colosseum (also not part of the regular tour) and then visits Palatine Hill, the Forum, and the historic center of Rome.

The standard cost is 99 Euros but students, teens, and children have discounted rates and (McCool Tip!) watch for Groupon deals.

Thanks to Charles McCool from McCool Travel for sharing his experiences while visiting Rome.

Stockholm Walking Tour

Tour Company – Stockholm Free Tour
Tour Cost – Free Guided Tour (Tip Based)

Stockholm is one of the greatest cities in the world. It was voted the first European Green Capital in 2009 and has only become better since then.

As always, make sure that the Stockholm free walking tour is first on your agenda, so you know what to do for the rest of your stay. There are two tours to take, one exploring the “new” (300-year-old) town at 10 AM (10:30 in winter), and the second in Old Town (Gamla Stan) at 1 PM. They both start outside the Gamla Stan station.

Anastasia, one of the tour guides, does a great job leading the tour and giving the history and facts about the city.

Thanks to Skye Class from Skye Travels for sharing his experiences exploring Stockholm.

Warsaw Walking Tour

Tour Company – FreeWalkingTour.com
Tour Cost – Free Guided Tour (Tip Based)

The FreeWalkingTour.com tour around Warsaw’s Old City provided a great insight into the history of Poland. Be sure to join the right tour group as there is no shortage of tours starting at Sigismund’s column in the heart of the old city.

My highlight of the World Heritage Site was the Royal Castle, which was rebuilt as was much of the area after the World War II destruction. The building is massive, and while you only get a glimpse of the building on the tour it really helped me understand the magnitude of destruction the Poles went through.

While the tour was free, I happily tipped 5 Euros with the guide giving us so much information and even getting us engaged by testing us on things she mentioned at various sites (we were horrible).

Thanks to Jub Bryant from Tiki Touring Kiwi for sharing his experiences while visiting Warsaw.

Summary

Guided walking tours are definitely a great way to experience a new city, especially if you only plan on staying there for a short time. Not only do you get to explore the top landmarks and attractions there but you frequently are shown a few hidden gems along the way, perhaps your tour guides favorite spot to dine or enjoy a relaxing drink before taking time to explore the rest of the city outside of the tour.

We would like to thank all of our friends for collaborating together and sharing this awesome collection of walking tours around the world. We hope you have picked up a little information here for a future visit to your favorite city and we certainly look forward to taking more of these tours.

An InLinkz Link-up

Why the Ambassador Hotel in Oklahoma City Is Amazing?

Oklahoma

Chris Boothman

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Apr 4, 2016

13

Why the Ambassador Hotel in Oklahoma City Is Amazing?

The Ambassador Hotel in Oklahoma City is a boutique establishment that offers visitors an incredible experience while being situated in the perfect location to explore the rest of the city. During our recent visit to the Oklahoma capital, we were fortunate to stay at the Ambassador Hotel for three nights and experience everything this beautiful hotel had to offer.

When you research this hotel, you may be forgiven for thinking that this is going to be an option way out of your price range because everything here suggests that this will be a high-dollar option. However, you will be pleasantly surprised to see that the Ambassador Hotel is an affordable option in the Midtown district of Oklahoma City.

We want to share our review of this hotel and perhaps inspire you to consider booking this hotel during your next visit to Oklahoma City.

Ambassador Hotel in Oklahoma City Information

The Ambassador Hotel in Oklahoma City is part of the Autograph Collection by the Marriott hotel group. This collection specializes in providing a luxury experience for guests in a sophisticated yet contemporary style. The hotel in Oklahoma City epitomizes this style and as you approach the hotel, you notice the exterior that oozes historic elegance.

The philosophy adopted by the four different Ambassador Hotels (OKC, Wichita, Tulsa and Kansas City) is as follows:

Experience our refined style of hospitality, where a devotion to the guest experience is a signature of every stay.

I think this eloquently portrays the experience that guests have when they stay at one of the Ambassador hotels. We can certainly attest to this following our time in Oklahoma City.

Every time we left the hotel and arrived back, we would be greeted by one or more of the concierge staff. Whether it was just a pleasant “Good Morning”, or asking us if we needed anything, this was immediately a different experience to what you would normally expect from a standard chain hotel. But of course, the Ambassador Hotel is anything but a standard chain accommodation!

Address

1200 N. Walker Avenue,
Oklahoma City, OK 73103
Tel: (405) 600-6200

Website

Ambassador Hotel Oklahoma City

Hotel Amenities

Luxury Chauffeur Service

If you read our recent post on the best neighborhoods in Oklahoma City, you will know that the Midtown district is a booming area with delicious local cuisine options. The Ambassador Hotel is located perfectly in the heart of this district and provides easy walking access to a myriad of other neighborhoods such as Automobile Alley and Bricktown.

If you want to visit another part of the city outside of your walking distance, don’t worry because the hotel offers an amazing complimentary service in a luxurious Cadillac Escalade to any location within a three-mile radius of the hotel. It’s like having your own personal chauffeur for a few days.

Fine Dining

A sophisticated, cosmopolitan style hotel wouldn’t be the same without dining options to match the overall feel of the establishment. The Ambassador Hotel in Oklahoma City certainly doesn’t disappoint in this department with two awesome options to grab some delicious looking cuisine or grab a drink to wind down after a long day.

The Viceroy Grille is a full-service restaurant located on the first floor of the hotel, offering a plethora of options for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

This restaurant combines a casual atmosphere with upscale cuisine created by head chef, Leonard Novak. If you prefer room service, the Viceroy Grill offers a full menu also.

Meanwhile, if you want the ultimate experience while staying at the Ambassador Hotel, head to the seventh floor to visit the awesome rooftop bar. When you combine stunning panoramic views across Oklahoma City with a full bar service, this is a pretty cool setting to relax while enjoying your favorite drink.

The O-Bar offers some of the best views of downtown Oklahoma City and you choose to sit either inside by the large glass windows or head outside on the patio to enjoy the evident beauty.

Relax or Be Active

Whether you want to relax in one of the contemporary style chairs in the quiet lobby area or perhaps head to the gym for a few miles on the treadmill, this hotel offers both options to meet your needs.

An outdoor swimming pool is also available during the summer months along with a patio area with relaxing lawn chairs.

I love the à la mode decor throughout the interior of the hotel. The finest details are meticulously evident through paintings, furniture, and ornaments that perfectly blend with the hotels style.

The Rooms

By now we have established that all the ‘add-ons’ and benefits associated with a hotel are top class at the Ambassador Hotel in OKC. But you are probably wondering about what we all associate as the main component of any hotel – the quality of the rooms!

After a smooth check-in process, we headed to the fourth floor and after walking along a gorgeous hallway we entered our room and immediately realized that we were in for a great experience.

The bedroom was spacious, fresh and decorated perfectly to match the prestigious style of the Autograph Collection by Marriott. We particularly enjoyed the pillow on the bed depicting a variety of cities from around the world.

I claimed that they knew travel bloggers were here but perhaps it was just a nice coincidence!

For those of you that need to get a little work done, the desk is accompanied with an extremely comfortable chair making a perfect workspace to follow-up on emails or catch up on social media.

The bathroom had an elegant appearance with a marble countertop combined with a glass enclosed walk-in shower. Although we didn’t spend too much time in our hotel room, it’s always nice to know that when you return to your room for the evening, you have a comfortable bed waiting for you and somewhere that you can relax.

Summary

After a relaxing experience staying at the Ambassador Hotel in Oklahoma City, we can certainly recommend this to anyone planning a trip here. The hotel’s location is one of the main reasons why this is such an attractive option for visitors in OKC.

From the rooftop O-Bar with stunning views across the city to the luxury Cadillac Escalade service, this hotel is certainly worth considering if you love boutique style accommodations.

Disclaimer – We would like to thank Visit Oklahoma City for hosting us on this trip. These are solely our personal opinions/experiences and we were not financially compensated for this post.

Visit Yankee Stadium – An Ultimate Behind the Scenes Guide

New York

Chris Boothman

-

Mar 31, 2016

9

Visit Yankee Stadium – An Ultimate Behind the Scenes Guide

The hallowed turf of Yankee Stadium has seen many legends over the years, so to have the opportunity to stand where the great Lou Gehrig, Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle among others plied their trade is certainly an honor you should aspire to. If you plan to visit Yankee Stadium ‘off-season’, we highly recommend considering taking the behind the scenes guided tour of this iconic baseball stadium. Of course, attending a Yankees game would be the ultimate experience but we will have to wait a little longer for that bucket list item!

A Brief History

A visit to Yankee Stadium today will see you experience the newly constructed ballpark that replaced the original Yankee Stadium in 2009. Located a mere block away from the original, many of the original design features were moved to this new location. The roof of the new stadium features a replica of the gently curving frieze that was an iconic part of the original Yankee Stadium.

Although Yankee Stadium is primarily used by the New York Yankees, the recent formation of the New York City FC MLS team has seen them play their home matches at this venue. Concerts featuring artists such as Paul McCartney, Madonna, Jay-Z and Maroon 5 have graced the stage inside Yankee Stadium.

To play 18 years in Yankee Stadium is the best thing that could ever happen to a ballplayer – Mickey Mantle

It’s no surprise to hear the above words spoken by the great Mickey Mantle because, following our visit here, we immediately felt the passion and honor that surrounded this historic venue. Whether you are a New York Yankee fan or despise the pinstripe uniforms of this historic team, paying a visit to Yankee Stadium is something that everyone will enjoy and appreciate as you set foot inside this magnificent ballpark.

Visitor Information to Yankee Stadium

During our recent trip to New York City, we hopped on the subway and took the green 4 line from Fulton Street all the way to 161st street, stopping directly outside the legendary home of the New York Yankees.

The offseason is the best time to experience a behind the scenes tour, as tours are held almost daily at the ballpark between 11:00AM and 1:40PM (scheduled generally at 20 minute intervals).

Tickets can be purchased in three different ways:

New York Pass – Holders of the NY Pass gain FREE entry into this attraction. This was our preferred option as there is a lot of value in purchasing a New York Pass ahead of time. The Yankee Stadium was the first attraction on our two-day itinerary in New York.
Online – If you don’t have the NY Pass, I recommend purchasing your tickets online as you will save money! As of March 2, 2016, ticket prices bought online are Adults – $20; Children (Age 3-14) – $20.
Ticket Windows – If you choose to procrastinate, tickets can still be purchased at the ticket windows and are priced as follows: Adults – $25; Children (Age 3-14) – $23.

Even with the New York Pass, we were directed to the ticket windows to exchange them for valid tickets for the tour.

Babe Ruth Plaza

We only had to wait about 5 minutes for the next tour to start, but that did give us enough time to walk along ‘Babe Ruth Plaza’ and learn about the history of this Yankee legend through storyboards and porcelain images.

After taking a little time here to learn all about ‘The Great Bambino’, you will know why the original Yankee stadium was known as ‘The House that Ruth Built’.

We later learned more about this iconic figure in Yankee history while exploring Monument Park inside the stadium, but visiting Babe Ruth Plaza was certainly a great way to wet your appetite before embarking on the guided tour.

Yankees Museum

Legends of the baseball industry have all performed at Yankee Stadium, whether it was the original construction or the present-day location.

Our tour learning about these New York greats started in the best possible place, the New York Yankees museum located on the Main Level of the stadium.

Immediately leaving the elevator, we walked into a room steeped with rich history. The heart of the room is filled with two life-size statues of Don Larsen and Yogi Berra, symbolizing the first perfect game thrown in 1956.

Between these two statues is the iconic ‘Ball Wall’ which contains hundreds of ball autographed by some of the Yankees most important players, coaches, executives and other key figures.

The beauty about this wall is that they are organized in no particular order, so visitors to the museum can spend some time browsing around trying to find your favorite star. Yogi Berra, Babe Ruth, Mariano Rivera, Joe Girardi and many more Yankee names can be found here.

The rest of the museum focuses on the Yankees 27 championships that they have won dating back to their first success in 1923 up until the most recent win in 2009.

I was particularly impressed by the ring exhibit that promotes the team’s legacy by showing replicas of all 26 winnings rings, in addition to the 1 pocket watch that was given to the 1923 team. It’s cool to take a look at how ‘simple’ these rings were in past decades, and how distinctive and elaborate they have become in more recent years.

Monument Park

After leaving the museum, we headed downstairs and started our tour of the actual stadium. Our tour guide was knowledgeable and provided a lot of information about Yankee history while pointing out some of the key components in Yankee Stadium. If you are looking for a part of this venue that has more history than anywhere else, head down to Monument Park.

The Yankees have retired 18 numbers over previous generations and Monument Park is home to commemorating these iconic greats that have worn the pinstripe jerseys. As we entered this area, we immediately noticed these numbers on a large wall signifying individuals that wore the historic number.

One of the most interesting numbers here is 42. The great Jackie Robinson wore this number and although the league universally retired this number, there was no monument initially created at Yankee Stadium because another Yankee star was also wearing 42 – Mariano Rivera.

Once this great closer retired in 2013, the Yankees retired the number for Rivera and unveiled a bronze 42 for Robinson in Monument Park.

Our guide shared more information on Monument Park including how each different memorial and statue related to individuals in Yankee history.

Six granite monuments representing Yankee legends: Gehrig, Ruth, Mantle and Joe DiMaggio along with former manager Miller Huggins and owner George Steinbrenner. These are the highest honor in Monument Park and are offered as a posthumous memorial to these individuals.

Thirty-four plaques are scattered around the back wall signifying more great individuals in Yankee history though many of these are still alive. This was our favorite part of the tour because just standing here with so many legendary names around us provided a poignant yet inspiring feeling as we remembered those great players that have graced Yankee Stadium.

Walk on Yankee Stadium Field

The final attraction was probably the moment that everyone on the tour was waiting for. We had the opportunity to head down to the dirt and sit inside the Yankee dugout before heading on to the field and admiring the gorgeous venue that surrounded us.

Just taking a moment to close your eyes and imagine the thousands of Yankee fans cheering your name as you head out to hit a game-winning home run and make your way around the bases is certainly something that we could all strive for! But we will leave that to the pros that take center stage when they walk out at Yankee Stadium.

The tour provides visitors with the opportunity to have a professional photographer take your picture with the Yankee Stadium backdrop.

Whether you choose to create your own memories here or take a memento with you, this final experience walking on the field of the New York Yankees was a proud moment for all of us!

Summary

Ardent Red Sox and Cubs fans may consider Fenway Park and Wrigley Field to be the ultimate baseball venue, but Yankee Stadium is certainly up there with the most iconic of them all. Are you a baseball lover? Even if your response to this question is no, because we both fall into this category, you will have a wonderful time exploring Yankee Stadium.

Why not visit Yankee Stadium and take the informative, guided tour to gain the full experience behind the scenes? We had an amazing time exploring this gorgeous venue, but perhaps the real benefit for taking the time to take a trip to the Bronx is standing in locations where some of the sports greatest stars have walked.

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Ambassador Hotel in Oklahoma City Information

Address

Website

Hotel Amenities

Luxury Chauffeur Service

Fine Dining

Relax or Be Active

The Rooms

Summary

A Brief History

Visitor Information to Yankee Stadium

Babe Ruth Plaza

Yankees Museum

Monument Park

Walk on Yankee Stadium Field

Summary

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