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Koala and River Cruise by Mirimar Cruises

Chris Boothman
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Koala and River Cruise by Mirimar Cruises

While we were walking along Queen Street in the heart of Brisbane’s Central Business District, we noticed an Information Center where we discovered this Koala and River Cruise by Mirimar Cruises pamphlet. After researching the cruise, we decided that this would be the best bet for us if we wanted to go to Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary given that for the price it was reasonable in comparison with what it would cost us to drive there or take a taxi.

Mirimar Cruises

We were able to book tickets at the information center on the morning of the cruise which was very convenient and from there to the pick-up port was about a 5 minute walk or so across the Victoria Bridge.

The cruise departs at 10am daily from the Cultural Centre Pontoon located on the boardwalk outside the State Library. The Mirimar II  takes the hour and 45 minute cruise up the Brisbane River to the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. Our experience of the cruise was very positive with the constant commentary offering very informative descriptions of the surroundings areas and the staff very friendly and knowledgeable. We were also able to see the modern mansions and historic Queenslander homes, along Brisbane’s sought after riverfront.

Mirimar Cruises

They also can provide home-made snacks and light meals cooked on board. Once we arrived at Lone Pine we were able to spend 2.5 hours experiencing Australia’s wildlife (please read other post on the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary experience). On the cruise back the Aussie local music is played and they allow anyone who would like to drive the boat come up to the muster area and give it a go. Also, on the way back they allowed us to get photos of Brisbane skyline, which was very picturesque.

Mirimar Cruises

Admission for the Koala and River Cruises are very reasonably priced at $65.00 for adults for a round trip and admission into the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. They also have family rates (2 adults and up to 3 children) $190.00. Children (ages 3-13) are $38.00. Just the Lone Pine admission is $33.00 daily rates. The schedule of the journey is as follows departs Cultural Center at 10:00 am, arrive at Lone Pine at 11:15, depart Lone Pine at 1:45, arrive back at Cultural Center at 3:00.

Mirimar Cruises

The most relaxed, interesting and enjoyable way to the largest Koala Sanctuary in the world. This popular journey has been taking visitors to Lone Pine for over 70 years and is a must-do experience while in Brisbane. This was money well spent in a very expensive city.

I would highly recommend this to any visitors and locals alike. This is a very good way of spending a full day experiencing not only a once in a lifetime opportunity to cuddle koalas and feed kangaroos, but also to learn about the history of Brisbane’s development into one of the world’s sought after cities for people to reside in. For more information on the cruises, please visit www.mirimar.com.

Beauty Along the Fylde Coast

Chris Boothman
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Beauty Along the Fylde Coast

England has miles of beautiful coastline and the Fylde Coast in North West England, which stretches from Lytham St. Annes all the way to Fleetwood, is certainly no different. With this being so close to my home town of Ramsbottom, I have been fortunate enough to visit this part of the country of several occasions in the past but this was the first time I was able to experience this with Heather (we visited this area last Christmas when her parents visited but we really did not get to experience everything available here).

We tried to take in several of these towns during the time we spent there but we were really limited due to time constraints but we both enjoyed our time. I would recommend visiting the following towns if you are fortunate enough to visit the tourist coastline in NW England:

Lytham St. Annes

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The home of the 2012 Open Championship for all those golf lovers out there, this is a great spot for people to enjoy a relaxing walk along the front either by the famous windmill and nearby Lowther Gardens, or further along the coastline by Fairhaven lake which is in relatively proximity to the golf course. Royal Lytham is not your stereotypical links course given it’s location slightly inland rather than being directly on the seafront.

However, it’s stature among England’s great golf courses is certainly not to be underestimated and I for one would love to set foot on the first tee and tackle the links. Aside from being a great town for walking, there are some great little shops and even some leading brand names located here especially for those looking for a bargain. Taking in the local fish and chips is surely a must especially if you have the opportunity to walk along the seafront with them.

Blackpool

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The home of Britain’s version of the Eiffel Tower, Blackpool has plenty of tourist attractions including the infamous tower, Pleasure Beach which is home to “The Big One” (at one point the largest roller-coaster in Europe) and of course great entertainment options with theatres and Strictly Come Dancing being staged in the ballroom of the tower.

Unfortunately when we entered the tower in hope of venturing to the summit, we were left disappointed with a notice that the tower was closed due to the high winds present in the area. Typical English weather preventing tourists from enjoying the spectacular views but safety is paramount of course. Of course, you can’t come to Blackpool without experiencing the local amusement arcades though as all gamblers would know, there really is only one winner with them and it usually is not the person walking in!

Blackpool is home to a variety of shops and has recently spent several millions on improving the aesthetic appeal of the seafront and promenade. Combining this with the new and improved tram system that the Fylde Coast has spent, there really is a wonderful feeling around this town! Blackpool is also famous for the “Illuminations” that are present towards the latter part of each year in preparation for Christmas and New Year. These really are a great spectacle for families and couples wishing to see a variety of Christmas lights and in some cases animated iconic figures of your childhood memories.

Cleveleys

Cleveleys is probably the town that I am most familiar with given that my parents have always been keen visitors here. The shopping here is great and there are a variety of restaurants available though aside from that there really is not much to do! The drive from Blackpool to Cleveleys sees you take in the small town of Anchorsholme which offers a great little “Pitch and Putt” course which although may not be as testing as Royal Lytham, it gives players of all abilities the chance to relax and enjoy a walk around a small course.

One of the most famous shops in Cleveleys is B&M Bargains which really speaks for itself! You can always pick up a bargain here, just ask Heather because she always seems to fill a suitcase just from this place. There are a myriad of souvenir and gift shops available for tourists though again a negative aspect here has to be the price of parking which is available near the old bus terminal and also lack of things to do after 5:00PM.

Fleetwood

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The final stop along the tour of the Fylde Coast sees you arrive in the town of Fleetwood. Golf courses, shops, beaches, home of P&O ferries heading out over the Irish Sea to Ireland and even a cruise ship to the nearby Knott End are available here. Home to the outlet mall, Fleetwood Freeport, there are plenty of shopping options available here including Marks and Spencers, Thornton’s Chocolates and Next. The indoor and outdoor market are famous landmarks in Fleetwood, though the economy in recent years has lead to the demise of many locals trying to make a living purely from the market stall.

Overall, we really enjoyed our trip to the towns of Lytham, St. Annes, Blackpool, Cleveleys and Fleetwood. There are other smaller towns such as Thornton in close proximity and this is really the benefit of this part of the country given that everything is so close together. You could realistically spend a day in each of these towns if you just wanted to relax, or like we did you can spend a hour or two in each and continue along to the next spot. All in all a wonderful part of England that we would recommend to everyone!

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Sydney Tower Experience

Chris Boothman
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Sydney Tower Experience

So…stood in the middle of Sydney with time ticking by, what to do first? Our intentions were to follow the “Sydney in a Day” guide so we opted to follow suit and climb atop the Sydney Tower to provide a bird’s eye view of Sydney and see exactly what this city had to offer. The directions indicated that “the tower is located at the corner of Pitt and Market Streets in the middle of Sydney’s retail precinct and just a short walk from Town Hall and St James train stations”.

Sydney Tower Experience

Well we found the retail precinct and mall and could see the tower “towering” above all the other skyscrapers in Sydney directly above us, but we had a real difficulty locating the entrance! Entering the Westfield Sydney mall we found that the entrance is actually located on the 5th floor so we eventually found our way there.

Tickets are $26 per person if you are just wanting to rise to the summit of the tower but there are plenty of other ticket options available if you are interested in visiting other attractions (package deals etc.) which helps save you money. It is also beneficial to purchase tickets online (I have just noticed that now actually) as you save up to $7.80 per person. Hindsight is a wonderful thing and certainly pays to do research before travelling!

Sydney Tower Experience

We have climbed several of the tallest skyscrapers including the Willis (Sears) Tower and Empire State Building and the Sydney Tower is so far the best in terms of “ease” of getting through security and actually getting to the top of the tower. Perhaps this was because we visited during the week in the morning but it was relatively quiet meaning our ascent was barely interrupted and we were soon to the skydeck.

The first experience is a 4D short video of Sydney and in particular the tower and these always provide a positive feel before climbing to the summit. After climbing to the summit of the 309 metre building via the elevators, you are presented with views that are yet again amazing as with all skyscrapers. Our downfall was that we unfortunately picked a day to travel to Sydney with overcast skies but this was certainly not going to discourage our experiences.

Sydney Tower

One of the cool aspects of the Sydney tower is that there are 360 degree views and as you walk around there are touchscreen information points which give a photographic display of what you are seeing outside and point out key landmarks. I think for tourists this is a great selling point especially as you can determine from here how realistic it will be to see tourist spots if you are limited with time as we were.

The view of the Sydney Opera House was partially blocked, almost teasingly in sight but not clear enough for a good picture! Ah well, this was on a “must-see” list so that would come later. The impressive Sydney Football Stadium (Allianz Stadium) and the SCG (Sydney Cricket Ground) are impressive structures close to the CBD but a little far out for anyone wishing to walk!

Sydney Tower Experience

The Sydney Tower offers a gift shop at the summit and also you can purchase additional tickets to the “Skywalk” which offers visitors the chance to step out into the open air for a breath-taking 45 minute tour around the outside of Sydney Tower with experienced guides.

Time inside the Sydney Tower differs and is really dependent on personal preference. We managed to get to the top and back to the bottom within a hour but you could certainly stay longer and relax with the breathtaking views or probably get up and down quicker if you prefer!

Bringing in the New Year Down Under

Chris Boothman
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Bringing in the New Year Down Under

Ending 2012 and starting 2013 in Australia was a first for both of us and it was certainly a memorable experience. Although Sydney is stereotypically the place to be to celebrate the New Year in Oz, we were based in Brisbane and without a doubt “the Brisbanites” know how to party to bring in the New Year Down Under!

The evening was planned to have a firework display at both 8:00PM and Midnight and our intentions were to be at present at both. I have seen spectacular firework displays in England and the Australians certainly live up to their reputations of trying to outdo everyone else with their amazing spectacles.

New Year Down Under

Heading up Queen Street toward the Victoria Bridge around 7:45PM we were soon engulfed in the thousands of people flocking to get the perfect vantage point. Many had camped out for several hours on the South Bank shoreline of the Brisbane River as this has always been renowned as the “perfect” spot to see the impressive firework displays.

As we slowly moved on to the Victoria Bridge we decided that this was a pretty good spot to see the displays especially given that people were hardly moving. There was a slight delay of about 30 minutes before the fireworks began and at first we were unsure as to how impressive the show was going to be.

New Year Down Under

Gradually the firework extravaganza picked up and some of the most spectacular fireworks were those that appeared to come directly out of the river. The fireworks and pyrotechnics used by Brisbane worked well and they really saved the best until the finale when a combination of everything was released into the beautiful New Year’s Eve night sky.

New Year Down Under

Whenever you are from a country in the Northern Hemisphere, the New Year is generally celebrated in cold, crisp Winter weather so being part of an atmosphere on a glorious Summer evening is such a pleasant experience.

New Year Down Under

I would certainly recommend anyone experiencing New Year in Australia, not only to enjoy the warm climate but also to see how the Land of Oz says goodbye to one year and welcomes in the next one. If you are looking to set yourself a late New Year’s Resolution, why not consider visiting Australia at the end of 2013 and bringing in 2014?

2012 – Our Big Year of Travel

Chris Boothman
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2012 – Our Big Year of Travel

2012 was probably our first year of serious traveling. We were fortunate to visit several different locations together and we certainly expanded our knowledge of different regions of the world. This was also our debut year for “Tourist Guide Central” which originated from our constant traveling that gave us the inspiration to begin sharing our experiences with the world. Hindsight is a wonderful thing and of course looking back there are always opportunities missed but rather than looking back on those, I would rather cherish the moments that we did experience and the wonderful cities/locations we visited throughout the world.

Unlike many “experienced” travel bloggers who are fortunate enough (yes, we are both very envious of you guys out there that can travel all year round) to constantly travel, we have to juggle between travel, full-time jobs and day to day living. We all have expenses so trying to budget short term travel plans and long term travels is something we are learning and 2012 was a great year for helping us with this.

Our home is currently Jonesboro, AR. Heather is from here and I moved to Jonesboro in 2008 and unfortunately this town (sorry Heather but I think she will agree!) encourages traveling given that there is very little to do here and the surrounding vicinity. We make frequent trips to Memphis, TN (at least twice a month, in the summer months we were visiting Memphis weekly) which I am not going to include in the month by month travels. Memphis offers plenty for travel gurus and there is still so much there that we are yet to experience….just more material for future blogs though right!

So, here are our main travels from 2012:

January 2012

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Nashville, Tennessee – We visited Nashville for a weekend in the middle part of January. It’s about a 4 hour drive for us along I-40 so we would leave after work on Friday and come back Sunday evening. Nashville is increasingly becoming a popular weekend spot for us especially as are we becoming more and more familiar with the neighborhoods and what is on offer in this vibrant city. From a personal perspective, before I visited Nashville for the first time I was under the impression of the good old stereotype of “country and western” feeling and this is how I envisioned Nashville to look. You know when you watch those John Wayne movies, that’s what I thought about…ok pardon my ignorance but coming from England, I really had no idea about the Mid-West or Nashville in particular. How wrong am I!! Trust me, I am delighted to be proved wrong and enjoy visiting Nashville.

February 2012

Destin, Florida – Our wedding anniversary on February 25 was celebrated with a long weekend trip to Destin, Florida. This takes about 10-12 hours by car from Jonesboro depending on which route you take. The quickest is to go directly through Mississippi to Mobile, Alabama and then across the Florida Panhandle peninsula to Destin. However, we opted for the more picturesque drive across to Birmingham, Alabama and then south via Montgomery and on to Destin. Although Destin is probably not one of the first tourist spots you think of when you consider a Florida vacation, for us it is a perfect getaway and really one of the nearest “beach” locations in proximity to Jonesboro. Destin has so many advantages over fellow Florida locations, primarily it is much cheaper yet still has plenty to offer in terms of golden, sandy beaches as well as great cuisine and entertainment options.

March 2012

Nashville, Tennessee – We were back to Nashville again for another weekend vacation. The early part of 2012 really saw us traveling around Tennessee a lot to Memphis, Nashville and Jackson.

Las Vegas, Nevada – At the end of February, I visited Las Vegas for 5 days with my job. Staying at Mandelay Bay for a conference, I really was able to experience both the “Strip” and also my favorite, Old Downtown Vegas. Fremont Street really is a cool experience and for anyone traveling to Vegas I would recommend heading down here whenever you can. Of course the highlights along the Strip including the Bellagio fountains and seeing the infamous Caesar’s Palace and other leading casinos are impressive, but for the best deals and from my experience, best chance of taking away money, Old Vegas is the way to go! Plus we had out best meal there when staying for a buffet lunch which was only $12 for as much as you can eat!! I am always looking for a bargain but as travelers we have to right? I am really looking forward to going there again this time with Heather so that we can experience this city together!

April 2012

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New York City, New York – The first week in March (the week after I returned from Las Vegas), we headed to the Big Apple. Flying from Memphis to Atlanta and then to Newark, we spent four days in NYC. I have been fortunate to visit New York City on several occasions and sampled the “big” tourist attractions, but this was Heather’s first trip to NYC so of course the majority of our long weekend was spent visiting the Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, Central Park etc. I love NYC – simple as that! Would I live there? Probably not, simply because it would probably take away the thrill of visiting a truly 24 hour global metropolis. It took Heather a little time to adjust there, I think coming from Jonesboro it was rather a culture shock with the bustling lifestyle adopted by everyone there. By the end of the trip, we were both enjoying the multi-cultural communities that are present throughout the city.

May 2012

Little Rock, Arkansas – May was a relatively quiet travel month for us. We were trying to recuperate funds and also plan vacations later in the year. Aside from a couple of trips to Memphis, our other notable trip was Little Rock in our home state of Arkansas. For many readers out there, Little Rock or Arkansas in general, is probably not at the top of your list but if you are interested in learning more about former President Bill Clinton’s hometown, then LR is certainly worth a visit. The riverside market district is one of the key highlights of LR and worth a wander.

Nashville, Tennessee – Another trip to Nashville at the end of the month (you may wonder why we keep going back to Nashville). Well if you take a look on Google Maps at the location of Jonesboro, AR, there really is very little in terms of “places to go” within a 4 hour radius so when you have full time jobs and you want spur of the moment weekend trip, Nashville is one of the best options available to you.

June 2012

Birmingham, Alabama – Our trip to Destin earlier in the year saw us swing by Birmingham which gave us the incentive to visit here again. Another weekend trip (it’s about 5 hours from Jonesboro) which unfortunately was the most disappointing of all our travels in 2012. I am usually not negative about places we travel to and we usually look to make the most of wherever we are but  there was just a dull sense or feeling about our trip here. Our highlight was probably on the final day when we were leaving we drove downtown along their original cobbled streets which provided some old-town feelings which were pretty cool. Disappointing overall but no regrets as you have to visit places to experience everything about them.

July and August 2012

Tunica, Mississippi – Both July and August saw us travel less as I was concentrating on playing as much golf as possible. Our trips  saw us head to Tunica frequently to play at River Bend Links Course (It has a really Scottish Links feel to it probably one of the reasons why I enjoy playing there!) and also Memphis but apart from that there was very little in terms of travel.

September 2012

Miami, Florida – Despite July and August being quiet, we definitely made up for this in September. Our first trip saw us fly to Miami from Memphis via Dallas, Texas. We didn’t rent a car so used the Miami-Dade public transportation system which is a great way of getting around and seeing some of the lesser areas that are not renowned as tourist attractions. We enjoyed spending time at the Bayside Marketplace and even took a day trip to Fort Lauderdale using the direct train and bus service from Miami. There is a lot to do in Miami but if I had to give any drawbacks, I would suggest being careful about hotel location especially if you want beaches as they are not always the best!

Atlanta, Georgia – Our second trip of the month saw us head to Atlanta for the TOUR Championship, end of year PGA Tour golf tournament. This was a great experience at East Lake GC and I think both of us appreciated the quality of golf on offer. We both visited Atlanta for the first time in November 2011 flying from Memphis, but this time we opted for the 6-7 hour drive which actually turned out to be a nice drive! Driving back we opted for a different route via Nashville and visited Chattanooga, Tennessee along the way (read our post on Ruby Falls which was a great attraction). 

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Chicago, Illinois – This was probably the most random trip of 2012 but for me the most enjoyable! Driving back from Atlanta the week before, I mentioned to Heather that I had been researching on Stubhub the price of Ryder Cup 2012 tickets. On average they were $200 per person per day which was well above face value but potentially a once in a lifetime opportunity. We made the plunge midweek to purchase the tickets (after a few issues with the seller not sending them and Stubhub’s customer service being particularly helpful in locating alterates, we received them on Thursday).

We left after work on Friday afternoon and headed on the 9 hour drive north to Chicago. We had our route planned that we would drive to Springfield, IL and stay Friday night (that was about 6 hours) and then get up early on Saturday and head on to the Windy City. We arrived in Chicago around 9:30AM Saturday morning and spent the day downtown enjoying the sights and our particular highlight was ascending the Willis Tower Skydeck. Sunday was Ryder Cup day and what a day to remember!!!! I will let you read our post on Ryder Cup 2012 for all the details (I am probably biased being from UK but what an experience). We drove back that night after leaving Chicago at 8:00PM and arrived back in Jonesboro at 3:45AM before heading to work at 8:00AM! That’s devotion to golf for you.

October 2012

Another quiet month for us after such a hectic travel schedule in September and with our big travel plans in the final two months, it was important for us to rest!

November 2012

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England – Our annual trip to England was the week of Thanksgiving. Every time I return to England, I appreciate something more about this wonderful country. Living there for the first 23 years of my life, you take things for granted but when I return now with Heather we experience so much more than what I ever did when I lived there. The beauty that is present throughout the English countryside is astonishing. Heather’s favorite spot in the world is Haworth, Yorkshire so we always make a trip back there. It is so quaint and idyllic in the Yorkshire Dales, no wonder the Bronte sisters found this to be the perfect spot for their novel writing.

December 2012

Australia – We certainly saved the best until last! Our ‘belated’ honeymoon trip was to Australia. Earlier in the year I had planned to surprise Heather with our honeymoon trip but at the last minute we decided to work together on our destination. Both of us had a desire to head to Australia so this was our trip. The most difficult aspect of the trip was actually getting there. We left from Little Rock on Christmas Day and unfortunately the elements were against us as pretty much the first snow of the year arrived. Now the southern half of the States are not used to snow and ice so whenever it arrives, airports generally grind to a halt.

We arrived in Dallas after our first connection but were then unable to get out of there to get to Los Angeles. Fortunately there was a direct flight from DFW to Brisbane leaving that evening and that was one of the only flights that managed to depart. Our stay in Australia comprised of 5 days in Brisbane and 5 days on the Gold Coast (including a day trip to Sydney in between). It was a wonderful experience and great way to finish 2012 and begin the New Year.

Best trip of 2012 – Australia

Worst trip of 2012 – Birmingham, Alabama

So that brings an end to 2012 and a nice way to start 2013. Just writing this blog brought back many wonderful memories and gave me inspiration to begin thinking about possible trips in the coming 12 months. I will get my thinking cap on and will put together a blog on possible trips in 2013! What were your favorite trips of 2012 and why?

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The Idyllic Landscapes in the Lake District

Chris Boothman
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The Idyllic Landscapes in the Lake District

It’s been several years since I had visited the Lakes and yet again I was left astonished by the true beauty that surrounds the English countryside when we visited here during our trip to England in November 2012. This was Heather’s first trip to the Lake District and I don’t think she left disappointed with what she saw.

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Bowness and Lake Windermere

To put the Lakes into context, it is a large national park with many small towns and hamlets spotted around the flora and fauna present in the vast countryside. The landscape is rolling hills with several challenging mountains for those interested in hiking and rock climbing. The Lake District is really not a part of England that can be visited in one day, though I wanted to show Heather a glimpse of what was on offer in just a few hours.

The Lakes really are easy to access via the M6 motorway and then several junctions available to take dependent upon exactly where in the Lake District you intend on heading. We took the first exit and headed on the winding ‘A’ roads to Lake Windermere which is the largest of all the lakes on offer and the nearby town of Bowness.

This is a great spot to get out and spend several hours investigating the quaint shops whilst at the same time having spectacular views over the lake and far beyond to the snow capped mountains in the distance. The first and probably only negative aspect that we noticed was the pricing of all the car parks. For only 2 hours you are looking at about £3.50.

With limited parking available around the town, the local council can obviously raise the prices especially given the number of tourists that visit this region annually. We walked along the front of the lake passing several local gift shops and also noticing the ferry cruises on offer around Lake Windermere. We continued walking up the street looking in various establishments and picking up a few memories along the way.

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Bowness is famous for being the home of Beatrix Potter, the infamous author of Peter Rabbit. A museum dedicated to Potter is available for viewing at a price for tourists interested in this. We opted against this given our time constraints and headed back down the street to the ferry where there are three options available.

The most expensive option is a pass that allows for three different routes to be taken over a 48 hour period, so if you are staying in the region this may be the most beneficial option for you. Priced at around £18 this is certainly the best value for money.

Another interesting option is the 90 minute cruise around the lake stopping at Ambleside where visitors can walk around and then catch a later ferry back to Bowness. The most basic option, at £7.50 per person, provides a 40 minute cruise of the lake taking in the history and also gorgeous scenic views around the area. We pursued this option and were left delighted with this choice. ‘Miss Cumbria’ as the cruise ship is named offers two levels of seating, one undercover with a bar and cafe and the other on the top leaving visitors exposed to the elements but better seated to take in those breathtaking views of the surrounding fells.

A word of warning here, in the winter months it can be very chilly in the Lake District and this is only enhanced when you take one of these cruises. Be prepared and dress appropriately!! The cruise has a tour guide that provides commentary of the surrounding area so visitors learn more about the history of the town and lake. Windermere stretches over 15 miles in length and is over 220 ft deep in certain parts. We disembarked from the highly enjoyable cruise and headed back to the car to warm up.

Ambleside and Keswick

As we left Bowness we headed north through the village of Ambleside, which although we didn’t stop to look around appeared to offer less options than Bowness but may be worth visiting especially if you take the cruise mentioned earlier. Driving around the Lakes offers you the opportunity to stop on the side of the road to take some great pictures such as the snow capped mountains, natural waterfalls that flow down the mountainside or maybe just a wandering, stray sheep that is near the roadside.

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Our final stop in the lakes saw us head even further north to Keswick which geographically is located in the northern part of the Lake District. Parking was cheaper and we were able to park on Booth’s supermarket for 2 hours (£2 with the option of receiving £1 back if you spend a fiver in the shop).

For anyone interested in the great outdoors such as fell walking and rock climbing, this town is your perfect location to get kitted out in preparation for your adventures. Many of the shops are Nordic outfitters but there is also a nice mix of restaurants and other quirky little stores that can catch your eye. A great little town to relax and enjoy a cup of tea and scone in the late afternoon, peering out into the main street as the Christmas lights are turned on.

Why Visit the Lake District?

The Lake District is such a calming spot enhancing England’s stereotype of offering true beauty in the natural landscape. Gorgeous views are everywhere and you can certainly spend days here experiencing the inner beauties that lie within those mysterious fells.

The cruises at Bowness may be a little pricy, but they are certainly informative and give tourists the perfect opportunity to snap a few memorable pictures of the Lake District scenery.

Keswick is the northernmost part of the Lakes so is a great location to end as you are able to drive through the winding roads taking in the beautiful scenery. Once in Keswick, you are not left disappointed as there are plenty of things to keep you busy.

Parking can be difficult and also expensive so our advice is to get there early to take advantage of the premium spots. Be prepared to walk as you can get better deals on parking if you are not concerned with how far you have to walk. In the Winter months especially, many of the shops close early in some cases around 4:30 in the afternoon. For British folks this is the norm but for many overseas visitors this may seem strange. Plan accordingly and you will be fine.

The weather in the Lakes can be very unpredictable so take plenty of clothing to be prepared. The beauty of this part of England is only fully experienced when you are willing to walk and be adventurous. This is only possible if you are wearing appropriate attire.

Spectacular Ruby Falls in Chattanooga

Chris Boothman
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Spectacular Ruby Falls in Chattanooga

After traveling to Atlanta, GA for the weekend of the TOUR Championship in September 2012, we made a spur of the moment decision to head back home on Sunday using an alternative route. After researching a route that would take us back home through Nashville, we noticed that on the way about half way from Atlanta to Nashville was Chattanooga, TN.

Researching this city gave little to suggest there would be much to do there until we came across a website advertising an underground waterfall, namely Ruby Falls. We decided to pay this a visit though I think both of us thought it would probably be a bit of a letdown given the random location in the heart of Tennessee, not the stereotypical spot for an apparently gorgeous waterfall. The fact that this was underground also made this a little unusual and probably encouraged us to see this with our own eyes.

After about a 10 minute wait we entered the elevator and began our descent underground. Only after the doors closed and we began rapidly descending did we realize just how far down we were going. The doors opened and reality set in as we were encapsulated among the sedimentary rock and limestone. The tour guide began the tour indicating that we would be walking for at least 1/2 mile to the final destination, the sight everyone was waiting for – Ruby Falls!
ruby falls

Heather and I were given the task of being the tail of the tour group, the “folks from Arkansas/England” as we were referred to would be called upon to let the guide know that everyone was in front of and we didn’t have any stragglers. This worked out well for us because although we slipped behind on several occasions, it gave us the opportunity to take the best photographs and also examine the rock formations throughout the trek down the mountain.

To put this into perspective, by the time you reach Ruby Falls, you have traveled the height of the Empire State Building underground (over 1000 ft), so for anyone who suffers from claustrophobia, this may not be the trip for you. The majority of the trip allows you to stand up though there are parts (maybe a few more for Heather and I given our height) you have to crouch down or walk single file through the cracks and crevices!

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There are a number of cool rock formations along the way, each has unique names and references. But the real treat awaits at the end of the tour down the mountain and it really is worth the wait. The tour guides increase the drama because on arrival at the waterfall you are in complete darkness. The lights are turned on and you see the amazing sight of the largest and deepest waterfall underground in the United States. You are able to get close to the waterfall and have your photograph taken in front of the amazing sight. The sound of the gushing water simply enhances the experience and it truly is a worthwhile attraction to visit.

The walk back up the mountain seems to be much shorter, maybe because you are now under the realization that you are walking away from the main attraction. However, after taking the elevator back to the gift shop and further upstairs, you are given the opportunity to stand on the “Lookout” which provides breathtaking views over Chattanooga and the Tennessee landscape. This really does provide an opportunity to see the beauty that is present within the eastern side of the state of Tennessee, much of which is not apparent in the Memphis and western regions.

Positives

  • A breathtaking experience well worth the $18 admission fee. The tour is detailed, the views are amazing and the guide is knowledgeable and informative.
  • Easy location to find and ample parking makes this a great attraction to visit.
  • Photograph opportunities are a must at attractions like this and Ruby Falls certainly offers plenty of these.

Negatives

  • Anyone suffering from claustrophobia should probably consider how they would feel 1200 ft underground before venturing on the tour. Once in the elevator, there really is no turning back!
  • The gift shop is rather expensive but it does provide a vast array of mementos.
  • There really doesn’t seem to be much else to do within the Chattanooga area so unless you are traveling specifically there to see Ruby Falls, you may be left disappointed (the views and waterfalls within the area do make up for the lack of attractions).

How to Enjoy an Action-Packed 4 Day Trip to Miami, Florida?

Chris Boothman
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3
How to Enjoy an Action-Packed 4 Day Trip to Miami, Florida?

For Heather’s birthday, we decided to head on an action-packed 4 day trip to Miami, Florida for the holiday weekend. Given that we usually rent a car for such trips, this was a more unique experience for us especially Heather, as we knew that this was going to be a trip of relaxation and full use of the Miami public transportation system.

How to Get from the Airport to Miami Beach?

Arriving at Miami International Airport, we first realized that the walk from the arrival terminal to the bus station to catch the Airport Flyer express bus to Miami Beach was certainly a fair workout for even the fittest of folks! Arriving at the bus station we purchased our tickets at the machine, later realizing that it would have been more beneficial to load a more substantial amount on the card given the amount of trips we would make!

Miami Beach

The trip from the airport to Miami Beach was a little sketchy at first but became more picturesque as you crossed over the causeway and down into the Miami Beach region. I had determined that we could get off the bus on Collins Avenue and walk 1/2 mile to our hotel, the Grand Beach Hotel! We went ahead and did this but what we didn’t realize is that in 90+ degree weather, walking 1/2 mile dragging suitcases seems to be a much longer distance than it really is.

Where to Stay in Miami?

We finally arrived at the Grand Beach Hotel and were certainly not disappointed. The views over the Miami Beach causeway were amazing and the size of the houses and boats were certainly fitting for the location. The entrance and hallway to this hotel is truly spectacular with marble floors and a very modern architecture noticeable throughout the interior.

Entering our room was a real treat, the views over the Atlantic Ocean were spectacular and the balcony and space we had throughout our suite was amazing! Everything inside our room was bright colors and modern to meet the rest of the hotel’s decor.

The first evening saw us venture back on the bus, which we realized there was a bus stop right outside our hotel, and head back to downtown South Beach, Miami. We got off at the American Airlines arena stop which was hosting the Enrique Iglesias and Jennifer Lopez concert so as you can imagine it was overcrowded to say the least. We headed past the arena and to the Bayside Marketplace where we were treated to some great Cuban entertainment and also a variety of dining options.

Miami Arena

Where to Eat in Miami?

The first night we decided to sample the Hard Rock Cafe cuisine though later in the trip we sampled some local Italian food at Lombardi’s Ristorante which was truly exceptional and a must for anyone in the region!!

There is so much to do at the marketplace including tours around the Miami bay and also a cool opportunity to take a water taxi from one part of Miami to another if you want to avoid the extortionate taxi costs or time consuming bus services. We wandered around the local shops and every other store appeared to be a bar offering cut-price beer or customized daiquiri’s to meet your personal preference.

Things to Do in Miami

We spent much of our mornings at the hotel and either on the beach or by the two amazing pools! One of the great aspects of the Grand Beach Hotel was that there were loungers and personal umbrellas surrounding the pools that were already included in the hotel cost which was a nice surprise given that there are usually surcharges. Wifi was also included which is another great incentive.

Miami truly is a vibrant city with a host of attractions, dining opportunities and shopping! We visited two malls while in the Miami area including a worthwhile day trip to Fort Lauderdale to visit the largest outlet mall in Florida, the Sawgrass Mills mall. This allowed us to experience both the bus and the train from Miami to Ft. Lauderdale which was another great experience and first for both of us.

The mall is literally massive, encompassing a vast area and offering hundreds of discount stores yet leading name brands. There are a variety of restaurants available also that are reasonably priced although I would conservatively recommend spending at least 5-6 hours here (really a full day experience with all the traveling involved if you don’t have a rental car available!) to visit all of the shops available.

One word of warning is that the bus trip from the Grand Beach Hotel to the train station is both rather lengthy and also travels through probably parts of Miami’s worst areas though during the day, it really is not too bad. Returning from Ft. Lauderdale we opted to take the subway transit system to head back to the Bayside Marketplace to sample more of their excellent cuisine options.

The Aventura Mall is another great mall but is more expensive but a better location for anyone not looking to travel too far from the heart of Miami. I would certainly recommend taking one of the bayside tours especially those that offer the opportunity to view the spectacular multi-million dollar mansions host to some of the world’ most famous superstars in music, sport and movies.

If you are ready to really go “off the beaten path,” check out this collection of offbeat Miami attractions for a more authentic experience.

Summary

Our four day adventure to Miami was an awesome experience and we are already raring to go back to explore further. Here is a quick breakdown of the positives and negative aspects that we experienced during this visit:

Positives

  • There are a variety of great hotels available, especially the Grand Beach Hotel where we stayed.
  • The Bayside Marketplace is a perfect, relaxing hub for dining and entertainment throughout the day and well into the evening! In particular if you enjoy Italian food, sample the Lombardi Ristorante!
  • Sawgrass Mills Outlet mall is huge and offers a great shopping experience. Although it is located in Fort Lauderdale, FL it gives you the opportunity to sample the Miami-Dade public transportation system and also venture out to see more of Florida’s landscape

Negatives

  • Many of the beaches, especially at the Grand Beach Hotel are a little disappointing. Not only is there a lot of seaweed, the beaches were very rocky. Certainly not the stereotypical golden beaches that you think of when considering Florida for a vacation. On a positive note, the beaches in South Beach Miami are apparently better.
  • Traveling on the bus is time consuming and can get expensive if you don’t pre-purchase a travel card. Make sure you have correct change at all times because the bus drivers DO NOT carry any change.
  • In the heart of Miami Beach, there are very few dining options and you are almost forced into traveling further downtown to South Beach or north to the Aventura Mall.

What are your experiences in Miami?

Experiencing the 2012 Ryder Cup Adventure

Chris Boothman
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3
Experiencing the 2012 Ryder Cup Adventure

Sunday September 30th, 2012 was the scene of the most amazing comeback in golfing history as Europe fought back from 10-4 behind midway through Saturday’s Fourball section to seal an astonishing 14 1/2 – 13 1/2 victory over USA in the 2012 Ryder Cup.

Only a week after travelling to the TOUR Championship in Atlanta, GA, we were unsure as to whether we could justify the 9 hour drive on Friday night knowing that we would have to do the same drive on Sunday evening following the golf. Knowing that the Ryder Cup is only once every two years, we decided to purchase two Sunday tickets for a little over $400 and venture north to Chicago, IL.

Facing a deficit of 10 – 6, Europe were serious underdogs heading into the final day singles but captained under the Spanish maestro, Jose Maria Olazabal, the strong European contingent continued their never say die attitude in a desperate hope that the ‘Miracle at Medinah’ could prevail.

2012 Ryder Cup

The scene was set on the practice green and first tee with the vociferous American crowds chanting ‘USA, USA’ and the European ‘Ole’s’ struggling to make any sort of impact.

No fear, what USA did not possess was a certain Mr. Ryder Cup – Ian Poulter. The Londoner is an absolute legend in Ryder Cups and truly shows his patriotism with his heart on the sleeve reactions. He certainly set the scene for the Sunday play with a delicate chip-in for birdie on the first which gave the Europeans the slightest of hopes that this could be their day.

2012 Ryder Cup

Throughout the morning, we walked around the course catching glimpses of pure class from the Europeans and the Americans struggling to stay in touch with the apparent comeback. Even so, the US team still remained favourites with the likes of Phil Mickelson fighting back against Justin Rose after falling 2 down early in their encounter and Webb Simpson taking the initiative against the inspired yet inconsistent Poulter.

We found an excellent spot at the furthest point of the course around the 6th green, 7th tee, 9th green and 10th tee all within close proximity. We spent the majority of the early afternoon here and then moved over to the 15th green which was a key hole on the course, a driveable par 4 with water lining the right side of the hole.

Immediately after we arrived, Keegan Bradley drove his ball left against Rory McIlroy not far from where we were standing giving us a great opportunity improve our view. Watching Bradley hit an impressive flop shot to a pin location just over the greenside bunker was soon followed up by the cheers of McIroy holing his putt to win the hole sending the European fans into uproar. The slight chance at the beginning of the day for a European victory was now becoming a possible reality. This became even more possible when Paul Lawrie followed Luke Donald, Ian Poulter and Justin Rose in becoming the third European winner to reduce the score to 10-9.

We watched all the remaining groups come through including Lee Westwood’s 15 ft birdie putt which saw another European roar sending shockwaves across the course. With the scores tied at 13 – 13 and only two matches remaining on the course, we headed to the 17th and 18th where we saw Steve Stricker fail to get up and down against Martin Kaymer to go 1 down. With Tiger Woods in the final match struggling to see of the spirited Italian, Francesco Molinari, Stricker new that he had to win the 18th to salvage the American’s disastrous meltdown.

We lucked out as we approached the 18th green finding an excellent viewing point to the left of the green among the loud European following. After Stricker sent his first putt wide of the target, we knew that Kaymer had two putts to secure the Ryder Cup but we were left biting our nails as Kaymer slipped his first effort 6 ft beyond the cup. With thousands watching, Kaymer held his nerve to send us into raptures.

2012 Ryder Cup Medinah

Now I know that I keep referring to us as I am a die-hard European golfer but Heather, with her American heritage, couldn’t help but follow the passionate European supporters especially when the atmosphere became electrified following Kaymer’s winning putt.

Summary

What an amazing day and probably the greatest sporting event that I have ever been part of!!

This will long live in our memories along with all those typical European chants such as “Ole, Ole” and “There is only one Ian Poulter”!!!

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A Guide to Exploring New York City Part 2

Chris Boothman
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3
A Guide to Exploring New York City Part 2

So….after our morning and afternoon adventures, we decided to spend our early evening venturing to the top of the Empire State Building. We wandered down 34th St passing the infamous Macy’s department store (a brief visit leading us to see masses of shoppers was sufficient for us to turn around and continue down towards the landmark skyscraper.

Arriving at the foot of the Empire State we were visited with plenty of ticket touts trying to sell us VIP passes that would apparently ‘expedite’ and ‘enhance’ our experience both at the summit and on the Sky Ride that is offered.

Empire State Building

Undeterred by these folks, we entered the basement of the Empire State which on it’s own is very impressive with the entrance hall providing plenty of excellent photo opportunities.

Empire State

Entering the first elevator is a little misleading as you are only doing this to go to the first level where you begin the lengthy waiting game to go first through security and then the ticket booths to purchase tickets.

Again, we realized that purchasing the Go Select tickets was not particularly beneficial as we had to wait the same amount of time as all other individuals who had no pre-purchased tickets. It appears that only the ‘New York Pass’ VIP members were able to skip the long queues and advance through security faster than everyone else. Either way, part of the whole experience was waiting in line hearing the many languages that were there. Heather was probably feeling like the minority as there really were not many Americans present.

After getting through security which is just as tight as TSA in airports we purchased just the basic tickets to view the Observation Deck on the 86th floor though there are a myriad of options available including  the ‘top deck’ which allows visitors to go an extra 16 floors to the 102nd after the initial viewing. Overall we probably waited around 90-120 minutes to get to the 86th floor but this was certainly worth the wait. Visitors are able to be both inside and outside on the Observation Deck with stunning views over the NYC landscape and over into New Jersey.

Empire State View

The early evening on top of the Empire State is a great time to visit as you capture both NYC in the day and then the beauty of the sun setting in the distance as night time approaches and NYC’s vibrant nightlife springs into action.

We would recommend this attraction to any tourist visiting New York as it allows you to piece together all of New York’s boroughs and also cultures together from a bird’s eye view which at ground/street level you may well miss given that the majority of the time you are enclosed within the vast structures present throughout Manhattan. The gift shop offers interesting yet extortionately priced souvenirs and if you are like us you will probably be forced into purchasing at least a small memento of your trip to one of the world’ most famous landmarks.

After leaving the Empire State Building we began walking back to our hotel after realizing it was quicker and cheaper than either a yellow taxi or getting back on the complex NYC Subway system. Walking back we found, or should I say Heather found, a street corner with a group of ‘flea market’ sellers trying to quickly offload some legitimate (at least Heather thought so) Louis Vuitton purses. After a little wheeling and dealing by yours truly, Heather left happy with her new sidekick “Louis”.

Dinner that evening saw us visit a great little Irish pub, O’Lunney’s, just off Times Square and both the food and atmosphere was top notch and a great advertisement for Irish culture and cuisine.

Central Park

Day 2 saw us start walking from our hotel with our third attraction in mind that we had pre-paid for, the American Museum of Natural History which was on the north side of Central Park. Given that Central Park was one of our other attractions we wanted to visit, we decided to walk and get some breakfast on the way at a little coffee shop, aka Friends style….ok so it was just Starbucks but given the volume of Starbucks there are in NYC, it was one of our better options. Walking all the way to Central Park was another great experience as it gave us ample time to see the change from Times Square hustle and bustle, to the more day to day calmness of working life in NYC as you move towards the entrance of Central Park.

Walking around Central Park, sitting on the grass overlooking the “Home Alone” scenes was certainly memorable before we continued through the heart of the park watching a combination of families having fun and people working out on bikes and jogging.

American Museum of Natural History

The American Museum of Natural History was our destination and upon climbing the steps and entering the building, the vast enormity of this building was the first striking thought. The wait was actually not too bad, maybe around 10 minutes before we presented our pass and got our tickets for the self-guided tour. After reviewing the map, we soon realized that this could be a full day attraction and we probably wouldn’t be able to see the full extent of the displays on offer.

I was particularly interested in the Earth and Planetary Science halls which gave you an IMAX style experience of how the Earth evolved and then you are left to walk out and down the different periods that make up the history behind earth. There are also plenty of ‘hands on’ experiences including an opportunity to stand on scales showing your weight in a variety of different locations, e.g. on the Moon, on other planets etc.

The birds and reptiles exhibits were also interesting as it divided these into their different groups and then provided detailed information on their anatomy, behavior, and various adaptations. We probably spent 2-3 hours at the museum though as mentioned this was probably nowhere near long enough given the magnitude of the exhibits on offer.

Little Italy

We headed onto the subway and headed back downtown to have lunch in Little Italy in a wonderful little restaurant, Il Palazzo Ristorante Italiano. The food was excellent but the standout feature of this restaurant was the unbelievable services by the waiters who were always on hand to refill drinks and meet your needs. We visited several little stores in this neighborhood and also walked around Chinatown just to experience the variety of cultures that spread this vast city. Walking down one street being in Little Italy and then turning right/left and being in Chinatown is enlightening to say the least.

The rest of the afternoon and early evening was spent shopping and investigating downtown Manhattan further before we returned to our hotel around 9:30PM. We initially decided we were just going to grab something but around 10:30PM we decided to venture back out on to Times Square and sample some more NYC food.

We ended up at Planet Hollywood and the food was overall a little disappointing especially given the price. You are probably paying more for the name of the location rather than the actual quality of the food. Leaving here around Midnight and back on to Times Square is certainly worth the late night dining experience just to see how this city truly is the 24 hour city of the world given the number of people that are still walking up and down.

Central Park

Bryant Park

Our final day saw us go to Bryant Park which on a glorious Sunday morning was a perfect relaxing spot to watch some Eastern European’s playing table tennis in the park. We then walked down to the United Nations complex which was worthwhile as we were able to walk through Grand Central Station which was one of Heather’s ‘must-see’ spots.

We visited the NBA Store and then grabbed lunch at Heartland Brewery & Chophouse. I experienced a buffalo burger for the first time here and this is a definite choice for anyone who loves a little extra spice in their burger.

Leaving here brought an end to our New York City trip but this was certainly memorable. The journey back to the airport also saw us use New York’s public transportation system to the max as we used both subway and the bus to get to La Guardia.

Positives

  • Central Park is a great, relaxing location for all ages.
  • The Empire State Building, despite the lengthy wait, is worthwhile with the stunning views on offer over the NYC landscape.
  • Try the variety of local cuisines, especially the Irish pubs and Italian restaurants in Little Italy. I am sure the Chinese restaurants are equally appetizing for anyone who likes this (sorry Heather, I am not a Chinese cuisine lover!)

Negatives

  • Always keep a close eye on your credit card especially in restaurants. A few days after returning from NYC I realized I had several hundred dollars of credit card fraud against me.
  • Plan your days and trips accordingly based on the amount of waits to expect at the top attractions

New York City is truly an exhilarating, 24 hour city that is a must see for EVERYONE!!! WE WILL BE BACK!!!

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