Stuff to Do in San Diego: Tour the Taylor Guitar Factory

What's better than having fun? Having fun for FREE!!!! The Taylor Guitar Factory, located in El Cajon, California, offers free tours of their guitar factory five days a week. Whether you're a guitar player, aspiring luthier, or just love music, this is an entertaining and enlightening way to spend an afternoon.

The tour leaves the lobby at 1:00 p.m. and starts in the lumber yard. Taylor uses a variety of different woods to produce their guitars - everything from Maple and Walnut to Ebony and Indian Rosewood. One of the more interesting woods they use is Stika Spruce. It is estimated that the planet only has about 9-years worth of Sitka Spruce left for consumption (the trees take 500 years to mature to make a guitar soundboard, and it's also used for pianos and sailboats). In the lumber yard, you'll get to check out raw hunks of wood as they begin their transformations into Taylor Guitars.

Most of the parts Taylor creates for their guitars are machine-made. While some may scoff at this fact, there are two very prominent reasons why Taylor chooses to go the machine-made route: first, it drastically cuts down on waste and second, it gives the guitars a higher level of consistency and quality. On the tour, you get to observe every stage of guitar manufacturing, and it's not as though there are just machines and robots everywhere. There are people who are passionate about the product they are creating!

Once the individual pieces are created, they have to be put together. Skilled woodworkers complete the finer points of crafting while a team of amazingly detail-oriented women carefully glue bracing on the tops of the guitars. Another team of workers assembles the guitars.

Probably one of the coolest jobs at the factory is the quality control. After all the hardware is installed, each and every Talor Guitar gets tested and played by a person who is directly responsible for the quality of the guitar - they're not going to sign off on an instrument if it's not playing perfectly, and to me, that says a lot about the high standard of quality that Taylor upholds.

Of course, there's a neat gift shop too!

Taylor Guitar Factory Tour Info from TaylorGuitars.com:

A free, guided tour of the Taylor factory complex is given every Monday through Friday, at 1 p.m. (excluding holidays). No appointment is necessary; simply check-in at our receptionist desk in the lobby of our main building by 1 p.m. sharp, tell the receptionist that you’d like to take the tour. The tour lasts approximately one hour and 15 minutes. Our main building is located at 1980 Gillespie Way in El Cajon, California. Map / Directions

There is a good amount of walking involved, and due to the technical content of the tour, it may be unsuitable for small children.

Large groups (more than 10) and school-supervised groups must schedule special tours in advance by calling (619) 258-1207 and asking for the Factory Tour Manager. Please give us at least two weeks notice.

The TaylorWare store is located in our visitor center. Here you'll find everything for the Taylor fan, from apparel to gift items to replacement guitar parts. New items are added all the time, so be sure to stop by often.

A free, guided tour of the Taylor factory complex is given every Monday through Friday, at 1 p.m. (excluding holidays). No appointment is necessary; simply check-in at our receptionist desk in the lobby of our main building by 1 p.m. sharp, tell the receptionist that you’d like to take the tour. The tour lasts approximately one hour and 15 minutes. Our main building is located at 1980 Gillespie Way in El Cajon, California. Map / Directions

There is a good amount of walking involved, and due to the technical content of the tour, it may be unsuitable for small children.

Large groups (more than 10) and school-supervised groups must schedule special tours in advance by calling (619) 258-1207 and asking for the Factory Tour Manager. Please give us at least two weeks notice.

The TaylorWare store is located in our visitor center. Here you'll find everything for the Taylor fan, from apparel to gift items to replacement guitar parts. New items are added all the time, so be sure to stop by often.



Tours are held at the Taylor complex every Monday though Friday (excluding holidays) at 1:00 p.m. - and once again, the tour is FREE!

Stuff To Do in San Diego: The San Diego Zoo

No trip to San Diego would be complete without a visit to what is commonly regarded as the nation's best zoo, the San Diego Zoo. And if you think if you've seen one, you've seen 'em all - think again!

In addition to being one of the few zoos in the world to house pandas as well as over 800 different species, the San Diego Zoo is also home to a wild animal park (San Digeo Zoo's Wild Animal Park) in which endangered animals from around the globe roam in free-range enclosures. In stark contrast to a typical zoo, in which animals are displayed in cages, the animals of the park are exhibited in their natural habitat. It's as close as you can get to a Safari without leaving the country!

San Diego Zoo Exhibits

• Monkey Trails
  
• Absolutely Apes
  
• Panda Research Station
  
• Polar Bear Plunge
  
• Gorilla Tropics
  
• Ituri Forest
  
• Owen's Rain Forest Aviary
  
• Sun Bear Forest
  
• Reptile Mesa
  
• Kopje
  
• Wings of Australasia
  
• Flamingo Lagoon
  
• Tiger Rive
  
• Children's Zoo

San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park Exhibits

• Journey Into Africa Tour
  
• Lion Camp
  
• Heart of Afirca
  
• Elephant Overlook
  
• Hidden Jungle
  
• Nairobi Village
  
• Condor Ridge
  
• Lorikeet Landing
  
• Kilimanjaro Safari Walk
  
• African Aviary
  
• Harter Veterinary Medical Center
  

Here's what the folks over at TripAdvisor.com have to say about the San Diego Zoo:

The San Diego Zoo is truly one of America's treasures. With it's long history of research and breeding of rare animals, the San Diego Zoo is much more than a Zoo. It is a glimpse in to how zoologists care for thousands of species while giving visitors a unique look at many of these magnificent creatures. Be warned, the habitats are built for the animal's comfort, not the visitors feet. A walk through the enormous park can be a trying experience. Bus tours make this task much easier and is highly recommended. To locals, this Zoo is one of the most important locations in San Diego and one if it's most irreplaceable sites. Don't miss it! The San Diego Zoo is unique by any measure and will leave you much more educated and excited about these magnificent creatures.

Maloo, baby koala, born in April 2001.

A lucky couple gets a visit from a polar bear cub at the Polar Bear Plunge exhibit.

Lions with cubs in the Lion Camp exhibit.

Visit SanDiegoZoo.org for ticket info, schedules, and the latest happenings at the San Diego Zoo!

Stuff To Do in San Diego: Balboa Park

A trip to San Diego would not be complete without a visit to Balboa Park. Balboa Park is the largest urban cultural park in the United States. It's also home to 15 museums, numerous performing arts venues, lush and beautiful gardens, and the famous San Diego Zoo. 

Of the many beautiful spectacles within Balboa Park, here are some of my favorites:

Balboa Park Carousel: Before you head into the Zoo, spend 5-minutes on this antique ride. Originally built in 1910,  the carousel still features all but two original hand-carved creatures. The Balboa Park Carousel is also one of the few remaining carousels to play the Brass Ring Game.

Japanese Friendship Garden: Within the two acres of exquisitely maintained Japanese gardens you'll find a Zen garden for meditation, koi ponds, a bonsai exhibit, and a lush & tranquil Fujidana (wisteria arbor). there are classes offered on the weekends for sushi-making, bonsai, calligraphy, and conversational Japanese. 

Spanish Village Arts Center: This is where the artists of San Diego gather to sell their goods. Over 200 local painters, sculptors, metalsmiths, jewelry designers, clay artists, gourd artists, photographers, printmakers, glass artists, basket weavers and more assemble here daily. There is something for everyone to enjoy in this unique market. Don't waste money on junky souvenirs, buy something lovingly handmade by a San Diego artist to commemorate your trip.

Museum of San Diego History: There are many wonderful museums within Balboa Park, but if you don't have time to see them all, make sure you at least see this one. To truly appreciate the city of San Diego, one must first appreciate the colorful and diverse history of the region. In this museum, you'll discover a dazzling array of artifacts, costumes, textiles, art, and photographs detailing life and development of the local area. 

For the extensive list of  attractions and activities of Balboa Park, visit the official website, BalboaPark.org.

Stuff To Do in San Diego: Sarah's Smash Shack

The mention of San Diego usually conjures images of oceanfront beauty, historical missions, and of course, the nation's most popular zoo. But when I think of San Diego, I think of smashing. Yup, that's right: smashing, as in breaking, destroying, shattering. I have my friend, Emma, to thank for that. You see, she enlightened me to the absolute delight that is Sarah's Smash Shack.

Sarah's Smash Shack introduces an imaginative and innovative opportunity for people to express themselves in a safe and exciting new way. Customers are able to throw, smash, and destroy an array of breakable objects in two private rooms. It's a great way to release energies and emotions without fear of reprisal.

Founders, Sarah Lavely and Ed King, opened Sarah's Smash Shack with the hope of bringing a little levity to life's trials and tribulations. Their goal is to allow people to let go, let loose and go home with a smile on their face. The inspiration for the Smash Shack came to Sarah at an especially low point in her life. She literally woke up one day and thought "I wish I could just go somewhere and break some things. Hmmm...other people must feel this way, too. I should open a shop where people can come and break stuff!" And, so the Smash Shack was born.

Smashing sessions start around $25, which includes safety gear, use of a private "break room", and breakables. You can bring your own goods or order off the "Smash Shack Menu", which includes a surprisingly stylish selection of glasses, vases, plates, frames, and even glass flowers.

Get your "smash" on next time you're in San Diego! Visit SmashShack.com for more info.

Dining in San Diego.

One of the first things I want to know when traveling to a new city is, "what's the food like?" I was pleasantly surprised by the quality and quantity of restaurants in San Diego. If you're planning a trip, I recommend checking out SanDiegoRestaurants.com before you go. With so many selections and a restaurant for every pallette, it's worth reviewing your options and seeing what others diners have to say before deciding upon your dining destination.  

Living in LA causes serious pizza-deprivation for a native-New Yorker like myself. Desperate for a good nosh, Dan and I headed over to what we heard was "the best pizza in San Diego", Sammy's Woodfire Grill. Let me just say this: it's not NY-style pizza, but it's darn good! I'm still jonesing for seconds of the artisan pizza I had: kashkaval cheese, caramelized onions, and fresh basil with a delicate french bread crust - to die for! Other than pizza, Sammy's also has an extensive and eclectic tapas menu, a number of tasty looking salads, and a decent pasta selection. We enjoyed delicious food, great service, and a lovely setting at a very reasonable price. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for Sammy's in LA.

Road Trip to San Diego for a Jimmy Buffet Concert.

While the Mystic one has been galavanting across the country, I've been getting familiar with parts of California that were once foreign to me. Behold the great city of San Diego!

I never had a reason to stop by San Diego until Jimmy Buffett paid a visit to the southwestern city for one of the last concerts on his "Year of Still Here" Tour. Determined to catch Jimmy and his Coral Reefer band, I made quick plans for an impromptu road trip.

Road trips may not be most people's idea of luxury, but for me, cruising down an open road in my ultra-comfortable Scion with the Laguna Mountains to my left and the Pacific Ocean to my right is the ultimate luxury! I shared the ride with my brother and fellow parrothead, Dan. 

We drove in early enough to explore the city before heading down to Chula Vista for the show. What we found in our explorations was some beautiful architecture, stunning scenery, and a slew of great restaurants. Details to come...

Lake Champlain Islands, Burlington Vermont

What a change of pace, from the heat and humidity of a smoldering summer day in Houston to a crisp cool cloudy late fall stroll around the lake. Ah twenty four hours can make all the difference. I left Houston behind and arrived in Burlington Vermont. A sunny 50 degrees when I arrived its now 38 and raining. Sitting in the living room at the cottage on the lake, the fog rolling over the water and the last of the fall color glimmering on the trees, and it is perfect.

Burlington is a little city by my L.A. standards and serious big time for Vermont. The largest city in Vermont, with a population at around 40,000, Burlington is home of The University of Vermont which contributes significantly to the population. Sitting on the edge of Lake Champlain, Burlington is between the Adirondack and Green Mountains.

Yesterday I took a drive up thru the islands. The Lake Champlain Islands are a string of islands in the middle of Lake Champlain on Route 2 that stretch from Burlington up to the Canadian Border. Quaint towns and rolling hillsides with great views of both mountain ranges make this a picturesque drive. There is also Grand Isle State Park, which unfortunately I missed as it was closed for the season.

Even at the tail end of the foliage season, Vermont is remarkable. Stop by the Vermont Tourism Office for more great trip ideas for any season.

Houston - The City of Water Fountains

I lived in Houston for a year in 2005. It was a great adventure getting to know the city. After LA it was a study in differences. Flat, water everywhere, politeness and different varieties of food. I never thought I'd live in the south. I loved Houston. And I still do.

It does feel a bit different. A bit more disheveled. Honestly, it feels like New Orleans used to...a mix of decrepit and posh just with a Texan flavor. I'm sure part of the reason is I'm staying downtown. And part of the reason is New Orleans moved to Houston, or at least a good chunk of it did. Then there's the remanents from Hurricane Ike. A visit with a local and I found out the are still people without power here. There was this huge building downtown with hundreds of its windows boarded up on the higher floors where Ike had blown them out.

I'm here for all of 36 hours for a trade show. Staying about a mile from the convention center, I walked over and back this morning. There's nothing like walking it to get the feel for a place. Houston has a modern rail system that runs thru downtown. On my meanderings I rediscovered one of my great loves in Houston - the water. Coming from Los Angeles, our glorious empire in the desert, water is an honored scarce resource. So the abundance of water and its grand use in the fountains of Houston just feels downright lavish to me. I adore lavish!



On one downtown street a whole block is taken over by water. The road itself (Main Street between Walker and McKinney) is closed to traffic. While the metro rail still runs thru this block it glides over open pools of water surrounded by geometric marble slabs that provide both planters and seating for passersby. Great geysers burst up towards the heavens. Just another splash of water in Downtown Houston.

Main St Fountains
Originally uploaded by Shay Haas

Once, before I lived in Houston, I was discussing my impending move with a shop owner in New Orleans. I'll never forget she said "Well, its definitely a well appointed state". That is absolutely true. On the walk to the convention center I passed thru Discovery Green which is an amazing park. Where again there was the ever present water in Houston. A small pond with carp and water lillies is set against the backdrop of the George Brown Convention center. I saw a beautiful Chinese dance ensemble at the Anheuser-Busch Stage.

Discovery Green, Houston, Texas
Originally uploaded by JWSherman

Then there's the interactive fountain where you can get a quick drench to stave off the Houston heat. Its almost November and it was definitely hot enough to join the fun today. There were about 10 people in this fountain when I walked by. And there's something different about the sunlight in Texas. It just made everything in the park glow. It was the perfect warm summer day right before Halloween.

It was a joy to be in Houston as always. Up next, for a nice change of pace: Vermont

Here's some more great water fountain shots in Houston:

Fountain at Discovery Green, Houston, TX
Originally uploaded by JWSherman

Children at fountain
Originally uploaded by GP(MPK)

Dandelion Sculpture - Houston, Texas
Originally uploaded by virgil4u

For more info please stop by:
Discovery Green
Visit Houston Texas

Mecom Fountain - Houston Texas

Thankfully this year the lights of glory came back to Mecom Fountain. In 2006, 246 lights that were used to light the fountain at night were stolen. On Feb 29, 2008 the lights were relit to great fanfare as the citizens of Houston got one of their iconic landmarks back.

Mecom Fountain is located outside Hermann Park in Houston at Main and Montrose.

Mecom Fountain Through the Trees
Originally uploaded by mtnguyd

Mecom Fountain Houston
Originally uploaded by Christoph Mendt

Houston's Theater District

Houston's Theater District
Originally uploaded by Notsuoh Photography

Ranked second in the nation for theater seat concentrations in a downtown area, Houston's Theater District is among the best. Get more info at The Houston Theater District Website and of course, there are more fountains. 

A few more great Fountains in Houston

Here's some more Water Fountains of Houston, including the Bob and Vivian Smith Fountain at Polk and Smith as well as some great night shots.

Bob and Vivian Smith Fountain at Polk and Smith
Originally uploaded by imelda

 

Fountain Houston Texas
Originally uploaded by PhotoByRonnie

Fountain of Houston
Originally uploaded by Michael (mx5tx)

Wortham Fountain - Dandelion Fountain - Houston Texas

Wortham Fountain HDR
Originally uploaded by DistortedReflections

The Wortham Fountain is located on Allen Parkway at Waugh,in Houston Texas 77019. The fountain is also known as the Dandelion Fountain. Its a great spot to cool down in the hot summers (ok, and most of the rest of the year) in Houston. Houston philanthropist Gus Wortham saw a fountain like it in Australia while on vacation and decided Houston needed one too. There's an urban legend that when he finally tracked down the designers of the original fountain it was a Houston firm. More more details check out the scoop at this Houston architecture site.

Hermann Park - Houston, Texas

Hermann Park is another example of Houston's charm.

Here's a list of 101 Fun Things in Hermann Park
(brought to you by Hermann Park Conservancy)
Have a picnic.
Watch and enjoy nature.
Meet Inda the Orangutan at the Houston Zoo.
Go for a two-mile run on the Hermann Park Jogging Trail.
Lounge on the Moroles Bench on the north side of McGovernLake.
Play Frisbee.
Enjoy a free show at Miller Outdoor Theatre.
Count the number of cypress trees around the Lake.
Take a nap under a big old tree.
Ride the miniature Hermann Park train with your favorite person.
Visit Bayou Parkland to learn about Brays Bayou watershed and how you can help keep Houston's bayous clean!
Play in the Hermann Park Conservancy's annual golf tournament at the Hermann Park Golf Course.
Stand at the dock of McGovern Lake plaza and get sprayed by the geyser.
Tour the ecological habitats at the future site of the Green House in Bayou Parkland.
Visit the Cockrell Butterfly Center at the Houston Museum of Natural Science.
Roll down Miller Outdoor Theatre Hill after finding the sculpture of Oliver Twist.
On a hot day, run through the water works at the Playground for All Children.
In the Japanese Garden, look for the koi fish with markings in the shape of Hermann Park or of the Sam Houston monument.
Get an award from Houston Happy Hikers for doing a Run 10K walk through Hermann Park.
Ride your bike along one of the City's longest bike trails.
Stop and smell a rose at the Houston Garden Center.
Expand your olfactory horizons by stopping by the Fragrance Garden donated by the Herb Society.
Play catch ball on the raised lawn at the Lake Overlook.
Take a picture of the gorgeous live oak allees bordering the Reflection Pool.
Do pull-ups at the Marvin Taylor Exercise Station.
Identify some of the 202 species of birds in Hermann Park.
Learn how to bongo at the Friday evening drum circle.
Take a shaded stroll under the promenade along the Reflection Pool.
Celebrate the friendship between Japan and Houston at the Japanese Garden.
Say hello to the sculpture of George Hermann.
Honor your mother on Mother's Day by donating to the Hermann Park Conservancy Tree Conservancy Fund Endowment in her name.
Get married at the Garden Center.
Watch a Snowy Egret chase fish in Brays Bayou.
Watch fireworks while listening to the 1812 Overture from the hill at Miller Theater on the fourth of July.
Find all of the monuments in Hermann Park.
Hike through the Urban Forest in Bayou Parkland (the paths are wheelchair accessible).
Skip around the Sam Houston Monument.
Take pictures by the Mecom-Rockwell Fountain and Colonnade.
Stand on your head by a tree and watch the park upside down.
Visit the Pioneer Memorial Log House Museum.
Relax and listen to music under a tree.
Learn to use a map and compass with the Houston Orienteering Club.
Go to the zoo, but look at the plants. There are two Harris County Champion Trees on the Zoo's horticulture tour.
Touch a Kugel Ball at the Playground for All Children, or the Houston Museum of Natural Science.
Ride the pedal boats on McGovern Lake.
Look at the wildflowers on the Fannin side of McGovern Lake.
Check out the historic sculptures at the Garden Center.
Take a picnic lunch to Bayou Parkland.
Volunteer with the Natural Guard on a Saturday morning.
Ask an Urban Ranger what the best part of his/her job is.
Listen for woodpeckers.
Count how many different-colored pigeons you can see.
Pick up trash on the ground and throw it in a garbage can. Then give yourself a big pat on the back for helping to keep your Hermann Park blue, green and clean!
Look for the little guys- try to discover the smallest insect in Hermann Park.
Dangle your toes in the newly restored Mary Gibbs and Jesse H. Jones Reflection Pool.
Lay on the raised lawn at the Lake Overlook and cloud watch.Read your favorite book while sitting on a park bench.
Count the different kinds of fish you can see in McGovern Lake.
Practice your acting skills onstage at Miller Outdoor Theatre.
Get a snow cone by the Hermann Park train station.
Roller blade along the hike and bike trail.
Eat at the Golf Course Club House located at the corner of Almeda and McGregor (they have excellent grilled cheese sandwiches and french fries!).
Sit in the Enchanted Throne located in the Urban Forest in Bayou Parkland.
Drive your remote-controlled car around McGovern Lake.
Sign up for a scout program at the Houston Museum of Natural Science or with Hermann Park Conservancy.
Check out the cancer survivors' information at Bloch Plaza.
Count the number of baby ducks at McGovern Lake.
Run through the four interactive fountains at the Molly Ann Smith Plaza.
Discover the significance of the stone lantern in the Japanese Garden.
Watch an IMAX movie at the Houston Museum of Natural Science.
Look for the Yellow-Crowned Night Herons and snapping turtles at the Bayou Parkland teaching ponds.
Go fishing at Bob's Fishing Pier on McGovern Lake! (You must be under 12 years old or over 65 years old and bring your own equipment).
Visit the dinosaurs at the Houston Museum of Natural Science.
Climb the portable Trojan Bear statue near Miller Outdoor Theatre.
Look for butterflies in the wildflower meadow at McGovern Lake.
Stare at a squirrel until he chatters at you.
Look for rabbits (some of their favorite places are the zoo and Bayou Parkland).
Enjoy a performance at Miller Outdoor Theatre.
Have your next party at the Judson Robinson, Jr. community center.
Enjoy the peace and quiet in the cool shade of the Chinese Pagoda.
Wave at people riding the Hermann Park train.
Sit at the Lake Overlook and watch the pedal boaters.
Learn Tai Chi every Tuesday and Thursday morning at 7 am in Bayou Parkland.
Relax on the benches at the Arbor in the Pines near the Reflection Pool .
Take a picture in front of the African Elephant sculpture at the Zoo West Entrance.
Buy a membership to the zoo or Museum of Natural Science so you can enjoy special discounts and events.
Read the inscription on the Pioneer Monument Obelisk.
Have an Easter egg hunt on the hill at Miller Outdoor Theatre.
Take a moonlight stroll with your friends and family around McGovern Lake.
Look for mosquito fish and tadpoles at the water garden in the Garden Center.
Count the number of statues at the Houston Zoo.
Walk all the way around the Jones Reflection Pool. You've just walked the length of five and a half football fields!
Take a nap on the raised lawn at the Molly Ann Smith Plaza.
Fly a kite!
Skip around McGovern Lake (that's quite a workout!).
Stop by the Hermann Park Conservancy office (6201-A Golf Course Drive) and share your favorite Hermann Park memory with the HPC staff.
Look for the star-shaped garden at the Garden Center.
Watch the turtles at McGovern Lake.
On a rainy day, bring an umbrella and enjoy the park while it's less crowded.
Sign up as a volunteer on the HPC website - www.hermannpark.org.
Run or walk in the annual Park to Park Fun Run, held every year in February.
Stand in your favorite spot at the park, and remember how important it is to protect and care for Hermann Park so that your children will have as many special memories of it as you do.

See more at Hermann Park Conservancy and give generously

Getting to Downtown Houston from Bush International Airport IAH

Its always an adventure getting from the airport into the downtown of any area. Today we're exploring the options in Houston from Bush International Airport.

There are four options. First is regular bus transit. $1 and about an hour

Second is the Metro Airport Direct non-stop bus service. $15 will get you from Terminal C to Houston's Downtown Transit Center at 815 Pierce Street in a half hour. Here you can connect to Metro's extensive line of bus and rail transportation for easy access to destinations throughout Houston. Details available at ridemetro.org or call 713-635-4000.

I went for easy this trip and got SuperShuttle into downtown. The rate was $24 one way and $44 for roundtrip. It was about a twenty minute wait and then there were the usual million stops around the airport picking up other passengers before we got on the road. More info is available at supershuttle.com or call 1-800-BLUEVAN.

I was told the taxi flat rate into downtown is $50.

I'll be back next weekend. Maybe I will try the Metro Airport Direct for the fun of it.

Getting to London from City Airport

In case you've arrived in London via a non-Heathrow airport. We're going to give you a quick update on how to get into central London from City Airport. Your options are twofold. You have expensive and flexible by taxi. Then there is the rail line.

The joy of taxis is, of course, door to door. It's easy and no hassle. Of course this is your most expensive option. The time on a taxi ends up about half an hour. As always be sure to ask your driver costs before you get in the taxi. At City Airport you can just follow the signs to the taxi line in the Arrivals Hall.

Docklands Light Railway connects to the Tube at Bank, Canning Town and Canary Wharf Stations. From the Tube stations, you can get a taxi to your hotel direct or jump on a connecting tube or a bus line. Trains run every 10 to 15 minutes and its a quick 30 minute trip into town. For updated rates and info stop by tfl.gov.uk

Whichever method you choose - Enjoy London!

Getting to London from Stansted Airport

In case you've arrived in London via a non-Heathrow airport. We're going to give you a quick update on how to get into central London from Stansted Airport. Your options are similar to Heathrow less the Tube option. You have expensive and flexible by taxi. Then there is mid-range cost and fast speed with Stansted Express. Last but not least there's the bus lines.

The joy of taxis is, of course, door to door. It's easy and no hassle. Of course this is your most expensive option. The time on a taxi ends up about an hour. As always be sure to ask your driver costs before you get in the taxi. At Stansted you can just follow the signs to the taxi line in the Arrivals Hall.

Stansted Express goes direct from Stansted to Liverpool Street Station in central London. From Liverpool Street Station, you can get a taxi to your hotel direct or jump on the tube or a bus line. Trains run every 15 minutes and its a comparatively quick 45 minute trip into town. There is no faster way to get into central London from Stansted. For updated rates and info stop by stanstedexpress.com

Last but not least is the bus. The main bus service is operated by National Express and takes about an hour and a half. Stop by nationalexpress.com or call 0870 575 7747 for more info.

Whichever method you choose - Enjoy London!

Getting into London from Gatwick Airport

In case you've arrived in London via a non-Heathrow airport. We're going to give you a quick update on how to get into central London from Gatwick Airport. Your options are similar to Heathrow less the Tube option. You have expensive and flexible by taxi. Then there is mid-range cost and fast speed with Gatwick Express. Last but not least there's the bus lines.

The joy of taxis is, of course, door to door. It's easy and no hassle. Of course this is also your most expensive option. The time on a taxi ends up about an hour. As always be sure to ask your driver costs before you get in the taxi. At Gatwick you can just follow the signs to the taxi line in the Arrivals Hall.

Gatwick Express goes direct from Gatwick to Victoria Station in central London. From Victoria Station you can get a taxi to your hotel direct or jump on the tube or a bus line. Trains run every 15 minutes and its a quick 30 minute trip into town. There is no faster way to get into central London from Gatwick. For updated rates and info stop by gatwickexpress.com

Last but not least is the bus. There are two bus stops. The first is located at the North Terminal, the second is located at the South Terminal. The main bus service is operated by National Express and also takes about an hour and a half. Stop by nationalexpress.com or call 0870 575 7747 for more info.

Whichever method you choose - Enjoy London!

Jack the Ripper Tour

I didn't actually go on this tour. Not enough time allowed for all the fun it seems. However, it looked cool so I thought I'd share. Here's the info from the flyer:

A Jack the Ripper Walking Tour

Meets every night of the year

At Tower Hill Tube Station

Make sure your guide is Kevin, Ken, Steve, Dickie, Simon or Mark

For additional information

Email: jackfromhell1888@aol.com

Website: jack-the-ripper-tours.com

Tel: 07813 559301

Come along on the trail of Jack the Ripper, visit the murder sites or where the victims disappeared from, hear the story and fell the fear as you walk the streets, Jack the Ripper made his own, by striking fear and terror into Victorian London in the year 1888. Your guide is an expert, who belongs to an historical body of men, this historical Body of Men have been guiding in the area for centuries, each of your guides has been delivering presentations for over 25 years and uses his skills perfectly to tell you of the mystery of Jack the Ripper. Dining before the tour, try the Liberty Bounds pub on Tower Hill or the Tower Cafe in the vaults of the Tower of London, both do Fish and Chips at a very reasonable price and are close by so you can rest before going on the trail of Jack the Ripper.

Tourist Information Office London

One of the best things about traveling in Europe is the Tourist Offices. On this trip we flew into Prague where we had a two day hotel reservation and left from London where we had a one night stay already booked. For the nine days in between, we were winging it. We'd land at the airport ask for directions to the Tourist Office and take it from there.

The Britain and London Visitor Center is located at:

1 Regent Street, London, SW1Y 4XT (200 yards from Piccadilly Circus tube station)

The services available include: Accomodation Booking Free Bureau de Change (currency exchange) Theater and event tickets Public transport ticket sales (for London & across Britain London Pass card purchase Internet access Free brochures & maps They are open 7 days a week Monday 9:30am to 6:30pm Tues-Fri 9am to 6:30pm Sat 9am to 5pm (Jun-Sept) Sat 10am to 4pm (Oct-May) Sun 10am to 4pm For more info visitbritain.com and visitlondon.com

Getting into London from Heathrow Airport

It's time to visit all the glory of centuries of history and all the modern trends and conveniences in London. You've just arrived in London Heathrow, the busiest international airport in the world. How do you get into downtown London?

Great news is, you've options. Bad news is if you're coming from the states everything costs twice as much right now. That's the first thing to keep in mind. If the price says 15.00 pounds that's 30.00 dollars. Of course with the global banking crisis and meltdown of the financial markets who knows what this ratio will look like by the time you travel. Be sure to check the exchange rates so you know what you are spending. A good site for a Currency converter.

So back to your transport options. You have expensive and flexible by taxi. Then there is mid-range cost and fast speed with Heathrow Express. Last but not least there's as cheap as you are going to get and a long ride on the metro system. The metro system in London includes the Tube (which is the name for the subway system) and bus lines.

The joy of taxis, of course, it door to door with no hassle figuring out which bus lines or tube lines you need. It's easy and no hassle. Of course this is your most expensive option. The time on a taxi ends up about the same as the time on the tube at about an hour. As always be sure to ask your driver costs before you get in the taxi. At Heathrow you can just follow the signs to the taxi line in the Arrivals Hall.

Heathrow Express goes direct from Heathrow to Paddington Station in central London. From Paddington, you can get a taxi to your hotel direct or jump on the tube or a bus line. Trains run every 15 minutes from Terminal 5 and its a quick 21 minute trip into town. There is no faster way to get into central London from Heathrow. Trains run seven days a week from 5:07am until 11:42pm.

Current rates (in pounds) are:
Express Class - Single 16.50 Round Trip 32.00
First Class - Single 26.00 Round Trip 50.00
Be sure to by your ticket before you get on board as there is a 3 pound surcharge for buying your ticket on the train. For updated rates and info about discounts stop by heathrowexpress.com

Last but not least is the Tube. It cheaper and more complicated unless your hotel happens to be off the Piccadilly tube line which is the line that runs from Heathrow. Heathrow has two tube stations one serving Terminal 1, 2 and 3, another serving Terminal 4. The tube departs every five to ten minutes and takes about an hour to get into town. It is crowded which is not a lot of fun with luggage. The good news is you can get a day pass for the London metro system that will get you into the city and give you all day access to the tube and the train lines. When I got into town it was later in the day so I got the half day discount. So for 7 pounds I got to run rampant on the tube and the bus lines for the rest of the day. The upside of public transport is a more thorough view of the city. I got to talk with London natives, see parts of the city I would never have seen otherwise and experience what to me is true London. If you're not up for all that its only 4 pounds for a one way from Heathrow into town on the tube. More info at tfl.gov.uk

The Central Bus Station is located near Terminals 1, 2 and 3. The main bus service is operated by National Express and also takes about an hour. Stop by nationalexpress.com or call 0870 575 7747 for more info.

I was traveling light on this trip with one bag. So although it was crowded on the tube, I enjoyed the experience. Next time, however, I will probably fork up the extra cash and go for speed and ease on the Heathrow Express. Whichever method you choose - Enjoy London!

Prague Budapest Cesky Krumlov Vienna London and Austrian keyboard differences

Traveling is never what I expect and always a treasure. This is the first European trip I've had in a really long long time that didnt involve constant internet access. So the grand plan of bloggin my way around eastern europe dissolved into the mist. So instead, I've gone old skool and written it all down in pen and ink. Ok, so I didnt really write it all down. I scribbled notes and a log of sights I saw and ideas and future ramblings to share with you.

The first of which is the fact that on Austrian keyboards the y and the z are reversed. So if zou see some funkz spelling then please forgive me as I have not properlz adapted. :) There's also a few new keys: Ö Ä Ü and of course the very necessary €. Also for those of you who would like to use the @ to write out an email addy.... its conveniently located on the Q key and you will need to use the Alt Gr key.

So originally we had grand plans for Lisbon on the front end of this trip and I dont even remember what else. Oh yes, rail passes.. I was surprised how cheap rail tickets are over here. I think we saved money by not getting passes. And then there was the bus - cheap cheap cheap but not so good over 3 hours I'd say. Anyhoo its the middle of the night and I'm rambling.

Just wanted to drop you a quick note to let you know all sorts of fun and useful information is coming your way. The majority of the goods will be about Prague, Budapest, Cesky Krumlov and Vienna. Off to London tomorrow for a whole whopping 20 hours so I'm not sure what kind of goods I will dig up for you there.

So stay tuned for your handy eastern europe update. Happy Travels!

Listen to Trip Advisor

Ok, so this may seem obvious. I'm just finding I need the reminder myself.

1. Read Trip Advisor
2. Notice applicable information
3. Take information to heart

On the trip to Utah, Ruby's was noted as a family establishment. I read that. I thought about it. I decided it wasn't that big of a deal. When we got to our room there were screaming children running up and down in front of our room. Alot of screaming children. And the screaming continued for quite some time. I grumbled and my illustrious fellow Diva reminded me....trip advisor warned about that. Damn! She's right. They are right. I ceased my complaining...mostly.

Then we leave LAX 6pm on a Friday (not the brightest traffic move), spend the evening sleeping (or not) on the plane, have a hellish layover at Heathrow, land in Prague and then we navigate the bus and metro. We arrive in town. I'm really excited about The Green Lobster, it's right by the castle, looks quaint and adorable - the perfect place to spend my birthday. We jump of the metro to discover a long, and I do mean LOOOOOOOOONG wandering walk that leads in a bit of a circle. After a helpful Czech Starbucks worker pointed us in the right direction, we arrived at the bottom of a Serious Hill. Yes, you guessed it. Trip Advisor warned me about this. I read it. I thought about it. I decided it wasnt that big of a deal. HA! Hauling luggage up a big hill after almost a full day of traveling - Not Fun! And Fun is, after all, paramount.

So, You? You're smart. You actually listen to Trip Advisor. Me? I need this reminder.

Bryce Canyon National Park, Day II

I don't know about anyone else, but I wanted to go to Bryce to see the Hoodoos.

Hoodoos are tall, beautiful spires of red rock that rise up from the bottom of the dry basins. What separates Hoodoos from ordinary spires is their unique formation and thickness. The Hoodoos are formed by erosional patterns of alternating hard and softer rock layers that has taken place over the past 30 million years. Different mineral deposits cause variations in the height and color.


We saw some beautiful Bryce landscapes along the way.











Bryce Canyon National Park boasts an 18-mile paved road, which provides access to the 13 "lookout points". It is by far the fastest and easiest way to view the majesty of this beautiful park. Just be sure to actually get out of the car and peek over the edge of the canyon every now and then.

Bryce Canyon National Park, Day I

As my comrade noted in her earlier post, we went to Bryce National Park where we stayed at Ruby's. On the plus side, Ruby's is a stone's throw from the park, on the minus side it's a destination for families of extremely loud & obnoxious children and oblivious parents. After a two and a half hour drive from the Grand Canyon, I was in no mood for screaming bratlings. We dropped off our stuff and cruised on outta' there.

We trekked to the park after dusk to scope out the scene. There we saw two points of interest: Sunset Point, which we had arrived a little too late to enjoy, and Sunrise Point, which offered us hope for the morning. It seemed like a good idea to go get cozy in our room until the adventure began in the morning.

Wrong! After another failed attempt at getting settled in our room, we went back to the park to stargaze. Aside from nearly wandering off the edge of a cliff in the vast darkness, it was absolutely glorious! Interestingly, in most rural areas of the United States, 2,500 stars can be viewed on a clear night. At Bryce, 7,500 stars can be seen twinkling in the void.

We decided we couldn't bear being in the room at Ruby's without some booze. Conveniently, Ruby's has a huge general store on-site. My fellow Diva and I stocked up on Coors Original, cheese, and snacks and headed back to the screaming shack that was our lodging. That bottle of Tuaca we had been carting around came in quite handy! We spent the evening drowning out the noise - and our sorrows - the good ol' fashioned way: with lots of alcohol.

So, naturally when the alarm went off at 5:45 am, we chose to skip the sunrise in favor of sleeping off our booze-fueled stupor.

North Rim of the Grand Canyon

From Kanab, we high-tailed it over to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. In stark contrast to the overcrowded tourist-laden South Rim of the Grand Canyon, the North Rim is surprisingly mellow. In fact, only 10% of Grand Canyon tourists visit the North Rim. Too bad for the other 90%, because the North Rim is about 1,000-1,500 feet higher than the South Rim and offers the most majestic views of this astonishing slice of earth.

We did most of our exploring, hiking, and photographing at Bright Angel. Other than boasting one of the best views in the Canyon, Bight Angel is also home to the historic Grand Canyon Lodge and North Rim Visitor Center.

It's an amazing experience to stand on the edge of the canyon. For me, it truly put life into perspective. Our problems are not these monstrous beasts we make them out to be. Our problems are itsy bitsy teeny things in the grand scheme. Heck, we are itsy bitsy teeny things in the grand scheme. And I like it that way.

For breathtaking views and a quiet, peaceful haven, visit the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.

Road Trippin' through Utah: Part II

We first stopped at the most scenic canyon country in the United States, Zion National Park. Originally established as Mukumpuweap National Monument in 1909, Zion National Park was renamed and re-established in 1919. "Zion" means "a place of refuge", and it truly was. It's the oldest National Park in Utah and by far the most beautiful.

We took a short hike to the Weeping Rock, where Navajo sandstone meets the clay-based siltstone and retains water. As the water accumulates, it moves sideways and emerges from the rock as gently trickling springs.

We met a big, fat, hairy caterpillar there. I was hoping to encounter a mountain lion, but oh well, the caterpillar was fun too.

We spent the night in the horrifyingly scary town of Kanab. A word to the wise: skip Kanab if you don't want to sleep in fear of being robbed, raped, or beaten. The hotel was nice enough; it was just the people that were, um, creepy.


More good times to come: Stay tuned for Bryce Canyon, the Grand Canyon, and Las Vegas.

Road Trippin' through Utah: Part I

Every now and then even city girls need to get away. Recently, my comrade in global domination and I went national park hopping in my brand spankin' new Scion xD.

Of course, traveling to a state like Utah, forces a woman to take certain matters into her own hands. A bottle of Tuaca traveled from LA to Utah with us.

It was shortly after the devil took over my speedometer that we got pulled over for speeding. I did my best "Oh, Mr. Officer, please help - so lost - so in need of a big strong cop man to show me the way" and it worked. We got off with a, "yell at her if she starts speeding again".

Interstate Love Song

There's something to be said for the feeling of freedom that unfurls when pushing 90mph down an open road.

We made our escape yesterday: Buh-bye LA. Utah, here we come! It was amazing to watch the terrain transform as we crossed state lines. From the crusty dry flats of California to the scrub and cactus-laden land of Nevada into Arizona's monumental mountains and out to the rainbow-colored hillsides of Utah.

I love this world and all of it's wonders.

DK Travel Guides - Love 'em!!!

When you need to know where to go, look for this symbol:

  

Eyewitness Travel Guides

I'm a really visual person so I love these guides. Great maps, beautiful pictures and lots of great info. I've got a whole collection of them at home for easy planning, quick reference and plotting n scheming my next great adventure.

Knowing your Airline options - More stops added for Free

So you're getting to go on a gut busting, click a pic n dash, mad grand tour of Europe. Every day is a new city, a new adventure and you're looking for a way to squeeze in one more quick stop. Or maybe you're flying from the entirely wrong side of the continent you are on and you'd just like a break from the hours and hours and hours in the air.

Its time to explore the 24 hour layover rule. I'm doing my usual yesterday, wandering the internet for good air fare deals. I think I've found what I want. I'm about to hit Buy Now - then the thought of 18 hours of travel hits me like a ton of bricks. Wow, that sounds like no fun. So I check with my travelin buddy for this trip....did you say you wanted to see London? Yep. So instead of finishing my transaction online I go old school and dial the digits for American Airlines reservations.

Yes, its true you can stop in any city that is on your route for up to 24 hours of fun and exploring for no additional charge. Lets take a peek at what I did. The original plan was to leave Austria at 11am arrive in London at 1pm sit around for two hours and get on the flight home at 3pm. Which means I would have been in airports from nine in the morning for almost 24 hours. Instead we broke it up into something more manageable.

Now we leave Vienna at the same time a day earlier, and arrive in London at 1pm. Plenty of time for a few rounds about town on the tube and a boat tour for a river view of London before we grab some munchies at Piccadilly Circus and hit the town at night. Time for a proper english breakfast before its off to the airport for our non stop flight home.

Since this was my first 24 hour layover adventure, I went a head and booked with the reservation agent so there was a $20 per ticket charge. So this extra day in London cost me $40 this time. Now I know what the restrictions are and that I have to keep my layover under 24 hours. I will just use the multi-destination search option online next time and get the extra stop for free. You can too! Here's to seeing more and spending less. Cheers!

Cha Cha Changes - The Rule of the Travel Road

Yep, the only constant is change itself. The biggest fact of life on the traveling road: what ever your plan - Things Will Change. Alot of things will change. And that's the joy of traveling, being willing to do things different, do altogether different thing, roll with the punches and have fun while you're doin it.

Ahhhh, the tickets have been purchased. Its amazing how life can change so much with one little click of the mouse. Well, actually this time it was one little phone call. So now its real. No dreaming of getting back on the road and thinking of million places I may want to go someday. No. Now its real. Now its time to get focused researching where I really want to go. Lisbon is out, London is in, and its time to get cracking on finding all the culture, adventure, food, exploring and fun to be found in Austria and the Czech Republic.

When in Greece last year, we went to Rhodes for a few days - Amazing!!!! I'll post some pix from that in the next few days just for the fun of it. The Palace of the Grand Masters, the walled city of Old Town Rhodes, the Mosque of Suleiman, the Street of the Knights, it was like stepping into the past and walking thru medieval times. Ok, well, just as far as the architecture goes. The city was a bustling, exotic mix of shops, restaurants and people. Beautiful sparkling jewelry, unique items and stacks upon stacks of bright colored carpets called my name. I had heard of World Heritage Sites before that. Now that I've been its my new addiction(well, after National Parks). So I'm excited to be able to see so many more World Heritage sites on this trip.

Take a peek at the full list of World Heritage Sites. Its organized by country and includes both natural and cultural sites. There are 878 amazing sites of our human culture to explore all over the world. Find your call to adventure today.

Bryce, Zion, Lisbon, Prague, Milan, Vienna..not too bad for one month...

Revving up the engine for a bit of global fun. September's gonna get a great start with a quick zip over to Utah for some RnR in the National Park zone. We'll be going on a National Park extravaganza, Zion, Bryce and maybe even Arches and Mesa Verde. Once the rubber hits the road who knows how far we'll go. Ah, Adventure.

Later in the month its off on a quick Euro-Break. Starting in Portugal with a few days in Lisbon and some wandering in the vicinity. Looking to take in Sintra, as well as Alcobaca and a few other monasteries. Then its off to Prague, with a quick stop in Milan for some shopping on the way.

After some time settling into the Golden City of Bohemia, we'll wander off again to Cesky Krumlov and Lednice-Valtice. Gotta love the World Heritage Sites! Then its a quick hop over the border to Austria. Starting in Linz we'll make our way down the Danube Valley to the Wachau to take in the scenery and medieval glory. Next its Vienna with possibly a quick zip to Budapest and then back to Prague to zip home.

So buckle up and stay tuned. There's more wandering coming your way!

Oh! The Places You'll Go!

...You have brains in your head

You have feet in your shoes

You can steer yourself

any direction you choose...

And that's always the trouble, isn't it? Choosing the direction. So many adventures, so many destinations whirling 'round my mind. On the top of the list is castle-hunting in Bavaria, closely followed by another round of Grecian ruins exploration. But then there's the Australian outback safari I've been meaning to go on and the cool, quiet allure of Russian churches and palaces.

The world beckons, and lucky me: I've got brains in my head, feet in my shoes, and money in my pocket. 

...wandering, wandering, always wandering.