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St. Louis Zoo – An Amazing Free Adventure!

Heather Boothman
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St. Louis Zoo – An Amazing Free Adventure!

If you are heading to St. Louis, Missouri anytime soon, we would highly recommend allocating some time to visit the zoo there. We have been to St. Louis several times before, however this time we decided to visit a number of new attractions. We left around 4am on a Saturday morning and arrived in St.Louis shortly after 9am. The 5 hour drive helped us figure out a game plan for where we wanted to start.

We decided that heading to Forest Park, home of the St Louis Zoo was the best place to explore earlier on a Saturday morning. Given that neither of us had ever been there before, we thought this was a wonderful opportunity.

st louis zoo

What You Need to Know

St. Louis Zoo is located in the heart of Forest Park and with admission being free (yes that’s not a mistake, you read it correctly…the Zoo is a FREE attraction!) it is a no brainer that you will want to visit here.

I will be perfectly honest that I didn’t have too many expectations heading inside the zoo given that it was free because nowadays there are not too many cool attractions around with no admission price. I was quickly proven wrong and this experience is anything but a boring attraction!

Just as a reminder, here are the key facts about St Louis Zoo:

Admission – FREE (Some attractions have minimal fees)

Hours (Winter) – 9:00AM to 5:00PM (Longer hours in the summer)

Parking – $15 for the ‘official’ parking lot, however there is ample FREE parking available in and around Forest Park

St Louis Zoo Experience – The Wildlife

From the moment that you walk through the doors of the visitor center and head to the first encounter, you immediately realize you are inside a pretty special place. Many zoos are poorly maintained but this is far from the truth at St. Louis Zoo.

The sound of the train passing through the zoo is a constant reminder of the opportunities available for all the family to enjoy a journey on the zoo line railroad.

lichtenstein penguin cove

The collection of animals inside the zoo can make your visit a full day experience. We spent half a day here and still felt like we missed some of the animals. Just watching the animals move around in their environments is a cool experience but of course we are all going to have our favorites that we prefer to visit.

st louis zoo

I personally love penguins and watching their quirky movements as they are either waddling around on the rocks, or zipping around underwater. The Lichtenstein Penguin Cove has been renovated over the last few years and this exhibit is a credit to St Louis Zoo and clearly well maintained.

st louis zoo

Rather than given a detailed look on all the animals you can experience inside the zoo, I urge you to take a trip to St. Louis to check them out for yourselves. From the amazing orangutans to the careful movements and prowess of the lions, this is an unforgettable experience.

st louis zoo

Natural Environments

One of the huge selling points of this zoo in my opinion is the quality of the exhibits and environments that the animals can enjoy. Frequently you see zoo animals kept in cages with very little space to move, and certainly nothing that is comparable to the natural habitats that they can relate to.

st louis zoo

St. Louis Zoo has gone above and beyond to ensure that all of the environments provide a landscape where all the animals can enjoy. The Asian elephants in particular have an incredibly large amount of space to roam and with this you see more natural movements from the animals themselves.

Summary

If you are visiting St. Louis, Missouri you will soon find out that there are plenty of free attractions to experience. This is undoubtedly one of the selling points of the Gateway City and St Louis Zoo definitely falls into this category given the awesome experience you can have with all the family inside Forest Park.

Not only can you visit the Zoo inside Forest Park, but there are a myriad of other free attractions not to mention just strolling around the beautiful landscapes throughout this green space within the heart of St. Louis.

If you love cheap or even free attractions, you will love St. Louis Zoo. If you love wildlife and are more of a conservationist, I urge you to visit this zoo because in my opinion this is a credit to the city in the way they treat the animals with love and respect.

Interview – Heather Cole (The Conversant Traveller)

Chris Boothman
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Interview – Heather Cole (The Conversant Traveller)

Our final installment of ‘Travel Blogger Interviews’ before we head out of the country, and we are delighted to welcome Heather Cole from The Conversant Traveller.

Please feel free to comment, ask questions and connect with Heather using her various social media fronts listed below.

We would like to give a special THANK YOU to Heather for taking time to interview with us!

Heather &amp Pete - Kinabalu in Borneo

Name: Heather Cole

Hometown: Kendal, England (United Kingdom)

Website: The Conversant Traveller

Social Media: 

What is your favorite aspect of traveling and if you are a travel blogger, why did you decide to create your website? 

I travel for the shy smiles and enthusiastic waves from curious village children, and the adventures that come from following the advice of strangers. I began my blog in September 2013 to provide an outlet for my travel writing, as well as to hopefully inspire fellow travellers, particularly those who, like me, have to fit a 9-5 job around seeing the world!

How many continents have you visited? 

Five

How many countries have you visited? 

21-30

What is your favorite destination in the world and why? 

At the moment, Morocco! It’s a whole new continent a mere 3 hours away by plane, and the cost of living means we can spend a few weeks living like kings in riads which are straight out of 1001 nights. The culture is a world away from what we’re used to here in the UK, and the experience all the more rewarding for it. The people are some of the most genuine we’ve ever come across (and we’ve seen a lot of SE Asia!) and the scenery is a geologist’s paradise.

If money/time was no object and you could visit anywhere in the world, where would you travel to and why? 

Probably, like many other people, Antarctica. Not because I particularly want to go (I love snow and penguins, but think I’d get a bit bored as I’m someone who can’t sit still for more than 2 minutes), instead rather because I know it’s somewhere I won’t ever go whilst time and money ARE an object.

Which of the following gadgets do you take on your travels? 

Camera and Phone. Oh… and more cameras! (3 to be precise)

What is your preferred method of transport? 

Car

Complete the following, “Everywhere I go, I visit….” 

The jungle! I’m terrified of bugs and apparently get rather grumpy in the heat, but for some reason I love rainforests with their lush environments and the constant reassuring symphony of insect wildlife.

Here is your chance to sell yourself and your website! Tell us some more information about yourself, what your travel philosophies & future plans are and anything else that people may find interesting to read about… 

Ok, so this is where I tell you about how I was sitting bored at my desk one winter morning, cursing the computer which had frozen yet again, wishing the guy sitting across from me would trim his nostril hair, and dreaming of exotic places flung far away from the daily office grind. I should then go on to impress you with tales of how I spontaneously jacked in the day job and headed off to explore the world. I have no money, but hey, I’ll become a travel writer and earn enough to keep me in daily croissants and cappuccinos. Enough. I’ll admit it. I do have a day job, and a hubbie and a mortgage to manage (one being easier than the other!), but through my blog I hope to prove that inspiring travel is still possible with a ‘normal’ working life.

My blog about our ‘wanderings and wonderings’ was born out of a love for creative travel writing, often with a humorous slant whilst talking about our many misadventures, often at poor hubbie’s expense, and the desire to help fellow travellers follow their dreams. So why not check out my blog www.theconversanttraveller.com for tips, tricks and tales from the road, and see if our travel dreams cross paths!

The Starbucks Lingo

Chris Boothman
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The Starbucks Lingo

I read a really interesting article published by Lee Abbamonte (Hope you don’t mind me using your great work for inspiration!) some time ago that really inspired me to write this short article on Starbucks. This is all about the lingo that we are all accustomed to now whenever we visit Starbucks.

Have you ever wandered into a Starbucks and thought for a second “Why am I ordering a Venti Caramel Macchiato?” What on earth does that even mean? We are all trained to go into a Starbucks and immediately know the difference between Tall, Grande and Venti sized drinks. Is there a reason we cannot simply order a Small, Medium or Large. Would you ever consider going up to the Starbucks ‘barista’ and asking for a ‘Large Coffee’? Probably not right, and that is likely because you would feel out of place.

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Ok, so let’s say you get past the difficulties of understanding the size of beverage that you want! Next you have the complexities of the actual menu. I seriously think whenever you get through all of this, it would be easier ordering from a 15-page menu at The Cheesecake Factory than ordering a drink inside Starbucks.

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What is the difference between a macchiato and a latte? What is the difference between your stereotypical mocha and a regular coffee? Throw all of these into a menu and you may as well be reading a different language – wait a minute you are reading a different language! No one told you in advance that you needed to take advanced Italian lessons before wandering into your local Starbucks that now appear on every other street corner, even in smaller towns!

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I don’t want this article to seem like I am totally opposed to Starbucks, because I am not! I love Starbucks (when I have figured out what I would like to drink!) and love the environment that they provide with their distinct coffee-shop ambience and décor. But why they can’t make it just a little easier on the regular coffee drinker is beyond me. I keep thinking about what my dad would be like if he walked into Starbucks. There is no one that I know that loves hot tea or coffee than my dad but if he ventured into a Starbucks in England, there is no telling what he would end up getting!

Are you a fan of Starbucks?

What’s the best way to explain the Starbucks lingo to a novice?

Visiting the Land of Oz

Chris Boothman
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Visiting the Land of Oz

One of our favorite vacations we have taken was in December 2012 when we went to the Land of Oz – AUSTRALIA.

To coin the phrase ‘Down Under’, Australia is a perfect location for anyone in the northern hemisphere that wants to head south in the winter and celebrate Christmas and/or New Year in the sun. Gorgeous weather, pristine beaches and plenty of fun attractions are all available in this amazing country. Our sole experience of Australia up until now is of course limited as we only spent 10 days here, but just in this short time period we were able to see the best (and of course on some occasions worst!) of what the Aussies have to offer.

What is so amazing about Australia that you probably don’t realize until you get there is the vast size of this nation. We were located for the most part on the Eastern coast in Brisbane and then moved a little further down the coast to Gold Coast. Our day trip to Sydney was our only real adventure away from that part of the country and in reality, this was not really exploring much more as it is about 500 miles south of Brisbane/Gold Coast.

So what is it about Australia that attracts so many people? From our experience it is certainly not the cost because it can be very expensive especially if you are staying in the heart of a city. However, the old phrase ‘you get what you pay for’ is for the most part true with Australia. Everything just seems to be of a ‘higher class’ and standard.

I am certainly not suggesting that the Aussies think they are better, though their brash swagger and vocal approach in life sometimes has to be taken with a pinch of salt and the realization that is just how they are. You can see the amount of money the Australian government and local governments have spent on infrastructure, attractions and natural beauty. The Aussies want their country to look good to tourists and locals alike, and they do a wonderful job at this.

Brisbane

Land of Oz Brisbane

Staying in Brisbane at the Sofitel Downtown near Central Station, we were in the perfect location to get out and explore the heart of this city. Of course, Brisbane is not stereotypically known as a ‘tourist spot’ in comparison to Sydney or even Melbourne but there is plenty to do here. Our excursions included a trip to the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary after a trip along the Brisbane River and without doubt this is a must for anyone who visits here.

Other key attractions included the Wheel of Brisbane, which although may not be as spectacular as the London Eye in England, is worth the fare to take a 12-14 minute ride to take in the views of the Brisbane skyline. New Year’s Eve in Brisbane was a blast, the fireworks were of course spectacular and our view from the Victoria Bridge was great especially given that we were one of the late arrivals among thousands of onlookers.

Possibly my two favorite experiences of Brisbane were the Brisbane Invitational tennis tournament and visiting the GABBA to watch the KFC 20/20 between Brisbane and Melbourne. Sunday at the tennis tournament was such an exciting experience possibly because it was a smaller competition and not as many folks were watching which made it easier to get ‘up close’ with the pros.

To cap things off, we saw Rory McIlory (number 1 golfer in the world at the time) chilling out watching his girlfriend, Denmark’s Caroline Wozniacki, practice on the outside courts. Getting our ticket autographed and several great pictures was worth the admission fee alone. Later that week we went to watch the cricket, which for Heather was her first time ever and for me, it was my first time in Australia. It was a hugely entertaining encounter and global stars such as Shane Warne, Brad Hodge, Cameron White and Kemar Roach were all on sight under the floodlights.

Gold Coast

Land of Oz Gold Coast

Moving away from Brisbane we headed to Gold Coast, which is home to ‘Surfers Paradise’. I have to admit that we were both a little fearful of exactly what this would be like and feared that the folks there would be young teenagers getting drunk and hitting the waves. We couldn’t have been further from the truth. Yes, the surfers were out taking advantage of the great ocean currents but if surfing was not your thing you could relax and wander around the shops or in the evening stroll along the beachfront and visit the local market.

Sydney

Land of Oz Sydney

Prior to heading to Australia, we had booked flights to Sydney for a day from Gold Coast and this was a trip we certainly made the most of. The first thing you notice, or at least we did, when you arrive in the center of Sydney is that there is much more history than the likes of Brisbane. The architecture and infrastructure appear to be much older and steeped with heritage. The city in my mind looks very similar to London in some respects; you get that feeling when you are in Hyde Park (yes, it’s the same name as the infamous park in London) that you are near Westminster with the cathedral nearby.

Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge are undoubtedly the most famous landmarks in Sydney, but actually visiting them in person is even more spectacular than Internet images make out. The design of these architectural marvels is astonishing.

Experiencing Cricket in Australia

Chris Boothman
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5
Experiencing Cricket in Australia

For all our American readers out there, please read on even though you may not at all think you are interested in the game of cricket. I have been fortunate enough to grow up surrounded by cricket, in England of course cricket is one of the leading sports along with Football and Rugby. So when we decided to go to Australia for our ‘late’ honeymoon in December 2012, I immediately began thinking about the possibilities of viewing a cricket match ‘Down Under’.

Let’s start with a quick “Cricket for Dummies” breakdown of what this game is all about:

  • The three main formats are Test Match, One Day International and Twenty20.
  • Each is slightly different but essentially the rules are the same, the team with the most runs wins.
  • Twenty20 is the most recent version to be created because cricket has always been globally known as a boring sport. The implementation of Twenty20 was done to liven up the game and make it a more interesting spectacle.
  • Each team takes its turn to bat in each form of cricket (idea is to score as many runs as possible). The opposition bowls at attempts to get the batting team ‘All Out’ which is equivalent to getting ’10 Outs’.
  • The Twenty20 version sees each team receive 20 overs (each over is 6 balls) to score as many runs as possible.
  • The teams swap over at the interval and whoever scores the most wins….simple as that really!

I tried to explain the above to Heather after we purchased tickets to The Gabba in Brisbane to watch the Brisbane Heat play the Melbourne Stars in the KFC Big Bash League but I am not sure she was totally convinced that she knew the rules! This is a perfect scenario as I am a frequent visitor to cricket matches and this was Heather’s first, so you can imagine how interesting the conversations were about this.

Cricket in Australia

Here is a quote from my mum which again my deter folks from understanding how anyone can love cricket:

Watching cricket is just like watching paint dry….the grass on the field grows quicker than a cricket match is played.

There may be some truth to the above statement when you are referring to test matches but this form of cricket has its own intricacies which I won’t get into right now.

The Gabba is a really impressive stadium. Our seats were perfect, we were located on the very front row in the Facebook fan section! Yes, we even received a free Brisbane Heat t-shirt and headband which was a nice incentive.

The stadium was far from full but the atmosphere was fun and entertaining prior to the match starting. The Brisbane Heat elected to bat first and were soon in the ascendancy as their captain, James Hopes, lead from the front with an entertaining 49, falling just short of what would have been a well-deserved half century.

Decent contributions from the rest of the team saw the Heat rack up a sizeable 171-5 (this refers to 171 runs for the loss of 5 wickets/outs). The Stars were left indebted to their Sri Lankan star, Lasith “Slinga” Malinga who was a thorn in the Heat side and picked up 3 wickets for only 26 runs conceded.
Cricket in Australia

The Stars began their run chase after an eventful interval that saw the Brisbane mascots entertain the crowd. “Heater” as the mascot is famously known around Brisbane certainly lived up to his reputation of being a crowd pleaser.

The Stars batting lineup on paper was much more impressive than Brisbane’s, with England’s Luke Wright and Australian stars Brad Hodge and David Hussey starring in their middle order. Tight bowling though again from Hopes and the Heat’s own international star, Kemar Roach, kept the Stars restricted and they fell well short of their target with a total of 147-9.

Cricket in Australia

The match was very entertaining and I have to admit that venturing to a cricket match in Australia is different to those in England. The Aussies are much more entertainment friendly whereas I think the English are a little more reserved whenever it comes to cricket encounters.

I would definitely suggest that everyone visit a cricket match at least once in your lifetime. If you are from a country where cricket is not a common sport, give it a try! You never know, you may be pleasantly surprised that you enjoy this sport.

Interview – Anastasia Sofia (Gallivant Girl)

Chris Boothman
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Interview – Anastasia Sofia (Gallivant Girl)

Today featuring in our series of ‘Travel Blogger Interviews’ is Anastasia Sofia from Gallivant Girl as we continue our SUNDAY SOCIAL theme!

Please feel free to comment, ask questions and connect with Anastasia using her various social media fronts listed below.

We would like to give a special THANK YOU to Anastasia for taking time to interview with us!

GallivantGirl

Name: Anastasia Sofia

Hometown: Sheffield, Yorkshire (United Kingdom)

Website: Gallivant Girl

Social Media: 

What is your favorite aspect of traveling and if you are a travel blogger, why did you decide to create your website? 

I just love a good old adventure, new experiences, and never knowing what each day will bring! Travelling is an immersive way of learning; it inspires and teaches you things about life, and yourself that you can’t read in books. I started the blog, as I wanted to write, and record my stories in the hope they might help out some other poor sod, like so many wonderful blogs out there have informed and inspired me.

How many continents have you visited? 

Five

How many countries have you visited? 

30+

What is your favorite destination in the world and why? 

This is by far the question I am asked the most, which is frustrating because it is impossible to answer it… Trying to compare Macedonia to Morocco would be like comparing chalk and cheese!

If you want my favourite place for adventure sports? I would probably answer New Zealand.

If you wanted the place I found to be the most emotive? I would probably answer Bosnia & Herzegovina.

If you wanted the most livable? I would probably tell you Australia!

If you wanted the most peaceful, I’d probably tell you the Sahara Desert!

The most vibrant? India!

I definitely liked some places more than others, but I appreciate every place I have visited; each place has its own qualities.

If money/time was no object and you could visit anywhere in the world, where would you travel to and why? 

If time/money was no object I think you would have a hard time trying to stop me travel and save the world! I’m also a medical student so I would (and hope to) work abroad, seeing the world, while supporting humanitarian organisations, global health initiatives, and medical education.

Which of the following gadgets do you take on your travels? 

Camera, Phone and Tablet. 

Like everyone else, I can’t live without a camera and phone. I like to travel light so I resist the urge to take a laptop, but recently bought an iPad and now can’t imagine being without it.

What is your preferred method of transport? 

Walk.

I LOVE to walk and will walk anywhere if possible. If I’m travelling long distance, I’ll look for the cheapest option, but I don’t mind paying an extra few dollars for a flight if the cost-benefit is worth it… I’d rather pay $30 for a short flight than $20 for a 12-hour night bus.

Complete the following, “Everywhere I go, I visit….” 

The local dive spots, the highest point to watch the sunset, and a pub to sample the local beer!

Here is your chance to sell yourself and your website! Tell us some more information about yourself, what your travel philosophies & future plans are and anything else that people may find interesting to read about… 

Just have a blast, and do a little good in each place along the way. I’m a big advocate for solo travel and think it’s important to do your own thing. I’ve independently travelled to over 30 countries, volunteered in India and Thailand, studied in Australia and I’ve just finished up 4 months in the Balkans. I love extreme sports, and I always try to stop by all the adrenaline junkie activities on my way. I’m hoping to show people that work/study AND travel is totally possible.

Right now I’m studying, learning Spanish, and working all the hours I can to save up for next year’s big trip. I’m thinking about heading to Central or South America… but really, I’m terrible at planning, so who knows where I will actually end up!

The Beautiful Island of Mauritius

Chris Boothman
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The Beautiful Island of Mauritius

If you are looking to really push the boat out and find a global location that has ‘ultimate relaxation’ written all over it, you won’t find many better spots that Mauritius. You may first ask – where in the world is Mauritius located? Set in the heart of the Indian Ocean off the East coast of Africa, Mauritius is a remote island of pure beauty and tranquility. Unfortunately this beauty comes with a cost and flights to even get there will likely set you back several thousand dollars (e.g. from USA or UK) dependent upon where you are traveling from. On the flip side, we do only live once so if you are given the opportunity to embark on a trip of a lifetime here I would say go for it.

Where to stay in Mauritius?

If you are looking for a recommendation on where to stay, our research suggests that a relaxing vacation spent at the infamous 20 Degree Sud is a great option. The beautifully manicured gardens provide a relaxing ambiance in this boutique hotel and for anyone who loves to either stay up late or enjoy a long lie in, breakfast is served here until 7:00PM! After an enjoyable breakfast on the terraces just feet from the ocean, your might be ready for a snooze by the pool followed by a soothing massage, Turkish bath or a gentle swim in the ocean located by the confines of a private hotel beach.

If relaxing and lazing around is not the only thing you want to do whilst in Mauritius, why not hop on one of the hotel bicycles and wander around the lanes into the buzzing village of Grand Baie. Alternatively, you can always take a shuttle offered by the hotel if biking is not your thing – oh by the way, the shuttle is via canoe which is not your stereotypical method of transport but certainly a cool experience in itself! The hotel is home to 34 rooms and 2 suites which all have spectacular views over the ocean and either a terrace or balcony.

Horseback Riding

Horseback

Centre Equestre De Riambel (CER) to embark on a lifelong memory of horseback riding along the golden sands of the beach. Riding along almost deserted stretches of beautiful beach, this is definitely a worthwhile experience. There are not many places in the world that offer such luxury and freedom so make the most of it if you can do this!

Visited CER on 10 Oct and went on the one hour beach ride which was excellent. I am an experienced horse women of 20 yrs + and thoroughly enjoyed having the opportunity to ride ex race horses. Arumina was a great host and the grooms and other customers made us feel very welcome. CER can accommodate different levels of rider – Linda, England

Read more testimonials here: CER Testimonials

Watch Dolphins on Tamarin Bay

The Bay of Tamarin is located on the southwest coast of Mauritius. It is also renowned as the surfing center of Mauritius. Beyond the palm trees are some lush green forests and mountains. There is also an old volcano located in the distance and this is an ideal location to take trekking trips down through these forests and experience the ecology of the surrounding areas.

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However, the main highlight of Tamarin Bay is the ability to see wild dolphins in the ocean and in particular a catamaran trip that you can take to see these beautiful creatures in their natural habitat. I am sure we have all seen these at a location like Sea World but to actually see them in their true habitat would be a breathtaking experience! They can often be seen in the morning and in the late afternoons.

Nature Trails in Mauritius

If you are looking for adventure and exploring the heart of Mauritius, off the beaten path so to speak, head off on one of the Nature Trails expeditions to see some hidden gems such as Tamarin Waterfalls.What about going off the beaten tracks to the tranquility of the island’s natural beauty? Well, these tours offer this perfect opportunity and you will certainly not be left disappointed. Tours last around 7 to 8 hours which is ample time to explore a myriad of hidden locations around the island. Depending on where your hotel is located will determine the route your tour guide will take you on but wherever you go, you will be shown a variety of beautiful attractions. Taking photos while venturing around the countryside is a must and will provide memories on your return.

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Mauritius is all about natural beauty and relaxation. There is so much more to do than I have covered including some quality golf courses if hitting the links is your thing (sorry, I had to get my golf pitch in there as I know I would want to take my clubs along for a round or two on the beautiful courses!). This location is probably not everyone’s cup of tea especially given the price you have to pay but I think if anyone goes here they won’t return home disappointed!

The Willis Tower Skydeck – On Top of the World?

Chris Boothman
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The Willis Tower Skydeck – On Top of the World?

Standing at over 1400 ft, Willis Tower is one of the tallest skyscrapers in the world. We had previously visited the summit of the Empire State Building in New York City, NY but at 200 ft taller, the Willis Tower was going to prove to be another landmark.

The Willis Tower is the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere and is a must for anyone wanting to traverse a variety of skyscrapers across the world.

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The picture above is the view from the bottom of the Willis Tower and gives little in terms of scale as to the enormity of this building. I was particularly excited heading into the building especially knowing we would have the opportunity to step out on the glass Skydeck ledges that were a particular attraction though for many with a distinct fear of heights, these could be classified as a terrifying experience.

We waited in line after getting through security for about 60 minutes which is about par for an attraction of this scope and with everything that has happened in recent year, I could certainly understand and appreciate the vast amount of security in place trying to get to the summit of the Skydeck.

willis tower

One of the most amazing features of this building was the vast amount of office space, given that this was initially designed as the home of Sears (hence the original name, ‘Sears Tower’) and I think we sometimes forget the reasoning behind these vast structures as they are not simply for tourist attractions.

After entering the elevator, we began rising to the summit of the 103 floors and the speed at which the elevator rose was particularly astounding. As the elevator rose from one floor to the next, tourists are presented with a video displaying details of other global landmarks and their heights as you pass above and beyond these.

willis tower

After reaching the 103rd floor, we were immediately presented with an incredible view of downtown Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. One of the amazing views was over Lake Michigan and thinking about the setting of Chicago’s vibrant city life on this beautiful lake.

willis tower skydeck

As we walked around the Skydeck we finally arrived at the glass ledges which was we were most excited about. Heather’s fear of heights led to a sense of trepidation at the thought of venturing out over the ledge but I think the excitement overcame her fears.

The Skydeck website publicizes the ledges perfectly as, “Step outside the tallest building in the western hemisphere and the third tallest in the world. At 1,353 feet in the air, the Ledge’s glass boxes extend out 4.3 feet from Skydeck.” The views from within the glass ledges were amazing, looking down directly by your feet almost 1400 feet was particularly enthralling. The picture to the left shows the view of our experience from within the perspex glass ledge.

willis tower

The gift shops located throughout the descent from the summit of the Willis Tower provided ample opportunities to purchase a memento Willis Tower or a variety of glasses, key rings and magnets were also reasonably priced.

Positives

  • Awesome views of the Chicago skyline and Lake Michigan
  • Skydeck glass ledge is a must for anyone (including those with a fear of heights as this gives an opportunity to conquer those fears)
  • Great location downtown with weekend parking reasonably priced ($14 for all day within a secure parking garage at the Prudential Plaza was a great choice)

Negatives

  • Price at $17.50 was a little on the expensive side especially with a 60+ minute wait before even ascending to the summit

The Willis Tower is a definite key landmark for anyone visiting the Windy City. This is a must especially on a nice day when views of up to 50 miles into surrounding suburbs and states is available.

Top 5 Random Road Trips

Chris Boothman
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Top 5 Random Road Trips

If there is one thing about traveling frequently that never gets old, it has to be taking random road trips to different places. To be fair, our road trips are generally not that random in terms of not knowing where we are heading though I am not ruling out such ventures in the future.

If you have a planned destination in mind, there are a variety of routes that you can take to arrive there. Of course, if it is a necessity that you arrive there at a certain time, you are likely going to take the quickest and shortest route which is usually via the interstate but if time is not of the essence, why not venture down the back roads in the country and marvel at the wonderful sights along the way. Here are some of our favorite and common road trips we have taken in the last few years:

Jonesboro, AR to Memphis, TN

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Let’s start with the road trip we frequently take to get anywhere that resembles city like civilization. Jonesboro is located in the NE corner of the state of Arkansas (for anyone not from around these parts of the world) and is about 80-90 miles from Memphis, Tennessee. There really is only one main road you can take to get to Memphis and in all truth it is fairly boring. Heading south on US-63 out of Jonesboro takes you to the intersection of I-55 where you head across the Mississippi River and into downtown Memphis. So is there anything along the way?

I could spend some time telling you about those gloriously names towns in Arkansas such as Trumann, Marked Tree, Tyronza or Lepanto but to be perfectly frank, there is nothing that is particularly appealing along the way until you hit Marion, AR and you know you are about to cross the bridge which equals civilization!

Road Trip Rating – 4/10 (Boring but at least you know at the end of the hour long trip you are reaching a city that has plenty to offer in terms of attractions and things to do)

Jonesboro, AR to Nashville, TN

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Another of our more common road trips takes us past Memphis and along Music Highway (I-40) to Nashville, Tennessee. As you head along the interstate from Memphis via Jackson, TN you begin to move away from the flat lands to more picturesque, scenic landscapes and surroundings. There is much more to see along the way both when you are driving and also if you want to swing off the main highway and take in some of the natural environments.

Road Trip Rating – 7/10 (A pretty drive for the most part and several stops along the way offer opportunities to break up the drive which lasts around 4 to 4 ½ hours)

Jonesboro, AR to Chicago, IL

This is probably one of our more random road trips that we took in September 2012 for the Ryder Cup held at Medinah Country Club near Chicago, IL. Leaving from work on Friday after 5:00PM, we knew that this was going to be a long haul trip. We had planned the trip to head north via St. Louis and get to Springfield, IL which was about 6 hours away and that would leave 2 to 3 hours on Saturday morning. The road trip itself is again unimaginably boring as you are driving through the states of Arkansas, Missouri and Illinois, none of which are particularly attractive (at least until you reach Chicago that is).

Of course there are spots along the way where you can take a break such as Cape Girardeau, St. Louis, Springfield and then Chicago. It takes about 9 hours to get from Jonesboro to Chicago and we wouldn’t recommend anyone doing this for just a weekend trip like we did – leaving out on Friday after work and then returning Sunday evening (we didn’t leave Medinah until almost 8:00PM on Sunday so it was 4:00AM before we arrived back in Jonesboro on Monday morning and with work at 8:00AM, that was not a particularly inviting thought).

Road Trip Rating – 8/10 (For pure spontaneity, this is up there with one of our favorites. The length of the drive is not too appealing and there is not much to see along the way especially if you are driving through the night but the final destination is great so it’s worth a trip!)

Manchester, England to Everywhere in England

In 2010, Heather and I traveled to England for the first time together and she met my parents and we spent a month traveling around England visiting all the infamous sights and camping around. We had the time of our lives and I think it is safe to say that this trip will reside in our memories forever. If you take a look at the map of England, we pretty much traveled around every part of the west coast and into SW England (Cornwall, Devon) before heading over to the Isle of Wight and over to London before almost retracing our tracks and heading back to Torquay, Devon and back to Manchester.

This was a 3 week long road trip and we put over 1200 miles on my parents vehicle. There is key advantage of taking a road trip in England over USA and that is the scenery is much more aesthetically appealing to the eye. Of course, the disadvantage is the price of petrol/gas which is much higher than the States.

Road Trip Rating – 10/10 (Utter bliss! Hopefully we will get the opportunity to relive a similar road trip in the future because this is a great opportunity for anyone to see England)

Brisbane, Australia to Gold Coast, Australia

RoadTrip

During our trip to Australia in December 2012, we rented a car from Brisbane Airport for a few days and took a road trip down the Queensland coast to Gold Coast to spend some time at the beach. For the most part this was a great experience until we later found out that I had picked up a speeding ticket ($150 fine) which put a little dampener on our whole trip. Nevertheless, it was great to experience driving in another country and also one our favorite day trips was on our last day when we drove into the mountains to Mount Tamborine. This is a scenic drive and a beautiful part of the world.

Road Trip Rating – 7/10 (Would have been higher had it not been for the speeding ticket. In addition, we really didn’t get to do a ‘true’ Australian road trip into the Outback which would have been nice but overall it was nice to see a different part of the world with the freedom of having a vehicle where you can go wherever you want to)

Where are your favorite road trips around the world?

Interview – Burcu Basar

Chris Boothman
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Interview – Burcu Basar

It’s been a few weeks since we last introduced a fellow travel blogger, but here we go again with another great installment of ‘Travel Blogger Interviews’. We would like to welcome Burcu Basar as we continue our SUNDAY SOCIAL theme!

Please feel free to comment, ask questions and connect with Burcu using her various social media fronts listed below.

We would like to give a special THANK YOU to Burcu for taking time to interview with us!

burcu
Name: Burcu Basar

Hometown: Istanbul, Turkey

Website: Burcu Basar

Social Media: 

I just finished a sabbatical of nine months during which I traveled intensely. I am now back to my lawyering job that I have been doing for over 8 years now and still use any travel opportunity I get.

What is your favorite aspect of traveling and if you are a travel blogger, why did you decide to create your website? 

I think traveling makes one to get more familiar with herself and also better understand and/or asses her own country as it allows you to have many other reference points. I also love the independence you get when you travel alone. I decided to display my travel photos through a personal website where I could also after ten years finally share how I feel when traveling and my thoughts on those places that I visit. I used to be more reserved about my travel experiences but I came to a point where I also acquired the taste of sharing and exchanging travel memories and I realized that such interaction does not necessarily have an adverse effect on the uniqueness of everyone’s own experience.

How many continents have you visited? 

Four

How many countries have you visited? 

28

What is your favorite destination in the world and why? 

Scandinavia – for the immense respect that the Scandinavian people have for the nature. Any Scandinavian destination pushes me to re-consider some of my priorities and the place I hold in this World.

If money/time was no object and you could visit anywhere in the world, where would you travel to and why? 

New Zealand would be my next destination and I hope it will be.

Which of the following gadgets do you take on your travels? 

Camera (with bunch of lenses), Phone, iPad and Laptop

What is your preferred method of transport? 

Air but within the city – just walking regardless of the distance.

Complete the following, “Everywhere I go, I visit….” 

Everywhere I go, I visit anywhere which is green and any photography museum the town may have.

Here is your chance to sell yourself and your website! Tell us some more information about yourself, what your travel philosophies & future plans are and anything else that people may find interesting to read about… 

I wrote down a quite detailed about page on my webpage where I tell about my travel philosophy and my travel preferences: www.burcubasar.com/about

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