Search results for 'Grand Strand Resorts'

Get ready for a journey through the beautiful coastal regions and farmlands of the Midwest! The beauty of Mackinac Island and the Great Lakes region is accented by old-fashioned traditions and incredible scenery.

Marbella, deep into Southern Spain, the region known as Andalucía, is one of the world's greatest and most famous resorts for the super-rich and very famous.  Its renewed popularity came with the advent of two concepts spearheaded by several great and famous men.

Ludwig II of Bavaria – “the Mad King of Bavaria” of drama and history. He may have been mad, but what he created with Neuschwanstein, and other palaces could only be divine madness. 

Nashville gives us the best stars and legends in country music and they also give us restaurants that are legends and stars…..The Victorian Home restaurant named Jimmy Kelly’s is on the top of that list!

Located about one hour by car from Milan's Malpensa Airport, sits one of the most majestic hotel properties I've had the privilege to stay. Villa d'Este sits on Lake Como as the Grande Dame of hotels. With its 16th century history and all the grandeur that evokes, this hotel is a must for your Bucket List. It has been host to royalty, aristocrats and stars of stage and screen. The hotel roster lists notables such as Mark Twain, Elizabeth Taylor, Greta Garbo, Alfred Hitchcok and Clark Gable to Madonna and Ralph Lauren.

Occasionally there are risks worth taking. In early December we took a chance on some late-season camping in central Indiana. The forecast predicted light snow, but we didn't let that scare us off.

So here's a spot you probably haven't thought to explore in Paris – the area known as Bercy. This is actually a great place to spend a few nights especially if you are traveling with your grandchildren. The Pullman Paris Bercy is one of the most reasonably priced hotels while visiting the City of Lights. Granted, you are not in the heart of Paris, but a mere 15 minute Metro ride into the center. The hotel has a very modern feel with amenities the kids will like – it is child and pet friendly. The beds are very comfortable and the food and service is quite good. The bathrooms are equipped with amenities and are quite large – all of which is hard to find in the center of Paris.

The sun tan from my fortnight’s visit to the Bahamas had barely started to fade when I took my wife to the cinema to see the 2006 re-make of Casino Royale featuring, for the first time, Daniel Craig as British secret service agent, James Bond.

Quite early in the storyline 007 jets into Nassau, from where I had just returned, and then, much to my surprise, Bond set off in his car toward the exclusive Ocean Club resort on Paradise Island where I’d recently stayed and played golf during my familiarisation trip to the island.

As Bond made for the bar and then the beach, the film afforded me a rare moment in my life when, with great pride, I leant over and whispered to my wife: “I stayed there!”   

Eilat on the northern tip of the Red Sea, is home to luxury resorts and breathtaking panoramic views. Israelis will tell you, Eilat is the land of domestic vacationers and international tourist. So come relax, rejuvenate and indulge in the city’s remarkable resorts and spas and experience royalty in the Middle East. 

Like pocketknives? Love a good bargain? Then Sevierville, TN is the place for you!

Sevierville hosts a bevy of factory outlets, has several campgrounds, and is a good starting point for touring Pigeon Forge, Dollywood, and Gatlinburg.

I’m no an adrenalin junky, take me anywhere near a bungee jump and I’ll run a mile. But I do enjoy skiing and should you fancy a change from Colorado, and if maybe you’ve ticked off America’s five best resorts like Jackson Hole in Wyoming and Snowbird and Alta in Utah, then Europe has so much to offer.

A couple of years back, I headed for Switzerland, the beautiful, landlocked country boarding France and Italy formed from 26 regions known as cantons. My base for the week was the scenic, yet little-known mountain-top town of Nendaz in the Canton of Valais.

Nendaz lies at the heart of a popular ski region which markets itself as The Four Valleys, and from here you can access 95 lifts, over 100 pistes and two snow parks designed specifically for burgeoning snowboarders.  

What’s even better is that skiing from Nendaz, compared to the de rigueur neighbouring resorts of Verbier and Lausanne, will come in at a fraction of the cost.

It was raining in the streets of Tiburon, as my family started out to enjoy dinner out. We peeked into this sweet American traditional, very inviting restaurant that seemed  welcoming and proceeded to enjoy dining for the next few hours. It was a single dining area, large windows all along the left side and the front, hardwood floors and darling blue and white checkered tablecloths (that’s the boomer in me, remembering those tablecloths from back when….). A long, beautiful mirror and fresh flowers were also a focus of the restaurant.

Rod, Kathy, Charlie, Patsy, Chuck, and Jeff enjoyed a perfect (beyond perfect actually) October day driving through the southern Indiana countryside to the past hangouts of the Chicago Mobs, Presidents, Actors, Actresses, and the wealthy.  The weather was unseasonably warm, starting in the upper 60’s and ending, believe it or not, over 90 degrees.  There wasn’t a cloud in sight. 

MONTE CARLO - or, as Somerset Maugham famously said, "A sunny place for shady people!" Some of those crimes have made international headlines, especially the sad, sorry tale of the death of international banker/financier billionaire Edmond Safra. Let's talk about the happier times, and more fun crimes.

SBM rules and reigns supreme in Monaco.  In addition to the grande hotels of bygone years, they own the two major Beach Hotels.  The famed Monte Carlo Beach Club, with its world famous concert facility the Sporting Club.  And the new SBM shuttle buses take you between these destinations during your stay at the SBM hotels.

For many years, I took groups of people on charter flights to Freeport, Grand Bahama Island. Oh, those were the days - unfortunately, the charter flights stopped, economies took a hit, 2 hurricanes came through, and the number of tourists dropped. The good news is that things are looking up and people are returning to visit this friendly and fun island. There are some changes from my trips from the past and now most of the activity centers around Lucaya where the magnificent Grand Lucayan Hotel sits overlooking the turquoise waters of the ocean. You have a choice of 3 types of views – the Marina, The Island and the Ocean – obviously, the price goes up for an ocean view, but it is so breathtaking, you may want to spend the extra cash.

We are always “On Patrol” looking for a place to take our kids and grand kids. It must be family friendly, which for us means there is something of interest for all ages. The Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History in Frankfort, Kentucky fits the bill. The permanent exhibit titled “A Kentucky Journey” is a great walk through our early history up until the present day. The exhibits are interactive and at eye level for children seven or eight years and older. It is filled with rare and authentic artifacts that reflect the strengths and talents of our ancestors. Many of the objects are in drawers so you have easy access for viewing.

Statford-Upon-Avon is a must to visit should you be attending one of the many celebrations this summer in the UK!  As part of the summer Olympic celebrations and 60th Year Celebration for the Queen, the UK is hosting the biggest ever Cultural Olympiad that began on Shakespeare's birthday in April 2012 and will run through October 2012.  This World Shakespeare Festival will feature 70 theatrical productions from the Globe Theatre in London to the RSC in Stratford-upon-Avon.  Thirty-seven countries will perform thirty-six plays in thirty-seven languages over a six week period!  Julius Caesar, Much Ado About Nothing, Twelfth Night, Troilus and Cressida, King John, Richard III, Romeo and Juliet in Baghdad, The Tempest to mention but a few!  Such events and productions are planned not only in London and Stratford but in many other cities throughout the UK.

Few destinations are as charming and poetic as Salzburg, Austria.  This cherished city, protected as a UNESCO World Heritage site, has no end of enchanting qualities.  Flowing rivers, snow-capped Alps, baroque architecture, castles, cathedrals, and a preserved “Old Town” transport you back in time.  It is home to one of the world’s most beloved composers, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.  Every summer, the city hosts the Salzburg Music Festival, a renowned celebration of music and drama, to honor their favorite son.  The Von Trapp family, from the beloved film The Sound of Music, also calls this city home.  Throughout Salzburg, you will recognize churches, gardens, and castles featured in the picture.  You may even hear Julie Andrews’ voice echoing from the hills themselves.  

The beautiful thing about traveling in an RV is that you’re always at home. Sleeping in your own comfy bed, a pantry full of favorite foods, clothes hanging neatly in a closet instead of crammed into a suitcase. And when you move from place to place, you never have to unpack.

A stroll down the National Mall in Washington D.C. is captivating. Flowers bloom all around as children enjoy the smell of freshly cut grass. National landmarks surround the grand avenue sprinkled with museums and gardens. The Potomac River flows into the Tidal Basin surrounded by cherry blossom trees. This is the first sight many think of as Washington D.C., a powerful city filled with history. I know it as a city of opulence and splendor.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK, is a hell of a town, the Bronx is up and the Battery down!

When was the first time, or the last time you saw Paris? But all those wonderful songs go humming through your mind as you stroll on the Champs Elysee. Wherever you are in Paris, you're walking through History. Streets and Parks that were created for Kings, Palaces that are now Museums, art galleries that hold the finest examples of art from centuries ago to the latest art from the sidewalks of Paris.

Stockholm is a must see destination for those of you who dream of yesteryear and take pleasure in being transported back in time where the elegance of rituals and beauty are valued, bound by the glue of freedom’s spirit of expression.