Search results for 'jet lag'

Last year was the 150th Anniversary of the beginning of the Civil War. If you want your understanding broadened, your senses dazzled, and your collector gene completely awed, The Civil War Museum in Bardstown, Kentucky is a must see. It has one of the largest collections of rare and authentic artifacts of any Civil War Museum in the country. Prominent Civil War magazine, The North and South, named it the 4th best in the U.S. out of 500. This is quite a surprise for this great small Central Kentucky town.

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.

With its cocaine days in the past, the Colombian seaport of Cartagena has emerged as the belle of the ball. Cartagena, a fairy tale city of romance, legends, and sheer beauty, is a captivating place that can be hard to escape. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, Cartagena draws legions of tourists and thus, inevitably, aggressive touts and money changers. This is the place to drop all sightseeing routines. Instead, just stroll through Cartagena's maze of cobbled alleys, where enormous balconies are hidden and massive churches cast their shadows across leafy plazas. 

Just east of Badlands National Park, take some time to visit Prairie Homestead. You’ll see an actual Sodbuster house and farm from the turn of the century, and wonder how these folks ever made a go of it! 

It often feels like holidays are becoming more jam-packed with things to do than the average workweek. If you’re tired of traipsing between monuments and mountains and feel in dire need of a long swig of rum punch - head to Jamaica.  Aside from being a stunning island with lush jungles and beaches, Jamaica is a state of mind.  People are happy, appreciative of life and quite literally ever-smiling.  Things on the island operate at a pace that would drive any true-blue New Yorker half insane, but that's the charm. 

Delve into an ancient and mysterious world. Spectacular bodies of water and lush vegetation give way to traditional ceremonies, ancient temples, culinary secrets and forbidden cities.

Don’t you love finding a new favorite spot to camp? Or maybe it’s a place that everyone seems to know about and you’re just discovering it for the first time. Our recent trip to Spring Mill State Park in Mitchell, Indiana proved to be just that.

Go beyond the landmarks and set off on excursions that include scenic vistas, magnificent wildlife and local immersion in magical Kenya.

Why would you want to see a big rock?

Because Devils Tower is more than just a geological oddity.

There’s something deep and profound here that led Native Americans

to hold this as a Sacred Place.

Travel from the Galapagos Archipelago to the Sacred Valley of the Incas.

Dog Mountain came to our attention when Susie and I were at Camp Gone to the Dogs.  The proceeds from an auction at the end of our week at camp were dedicated to the support of Dog Mountain in northeastern Vermont near St.Johnsbury. Unfortunately our schedule did not allow for a visit on this trip, since we were traveling up the western side of the state into Canada on our way to Montreal.

Blend the pearly sands of Florida with a dash of Atlantic City and a pinch of Gatlinburg and you’ve got the delights of Myrtle Beach.

Debbie Murray is a dog enthusiast from LaGrange, KY. She currently has five dogs - all Miniature Australian Shepherds who share a house with her and her husband Paul. Debbie also breeds her pets on occasion to share this marvelous breed with other dog enthusiasts. Susie is excited because she hopes to be getting another mini Aussie to keep her company from Debbie's  next litter. Debbie has been kind enough to share this article on choosing a veterinarian with the Boomer Travel Patrol.

For more detailed information on Debbie and her dogs you can visit her web site Alangus Mini & Toy Aussies as well as her blog. This article is one recently featured on her blog and offers excellent advice on selecting a veterinarian.

Discover a land and culture forged by fire and ice.

When we try to share our heritage with our grandchildren, many us can trace our roots to the enchanting land of Ireland.  Who doesn’t celebrate St. Patrick’s Day or wear green!  I would encourage you to just plan a three week trip to Ireland, to truly engage this beautiful land, and meet these most friendly people.  40% of the population is under the age of 25!

THE FRENCH RIVIERA - the bluest blue water, the clearest bluest sky, yellow perfection of the sun, and indolent days spent on a beach, a boat, or partying all night.  That's what most people think of the French Riviera, the Cote d'Azure, and of St.Tropez in particular.

Located in the Paradise Valley section of Scottsdale, Arizona on 125 acres is the spectacular Camelback Inn surrounded by cacti and desert flowers with terrific views of the Camelback and Mummy Mountains.

Behold the lush greenery of Ireland’s scenic landscapes while indulging in the fresh air that awakens the country’s warm hospitality, strong heritage and perfect blend of rural and urban atmospheres. 

When we are way up in the mountains, in high altitude and thin air, our GPS decides to set itself on Sherpa Mode. It carefully maps a route that is Longest, Obscure, and Steep Terrain - L.O.S.T.

Such as the day we travelled from Asheville, NC to Renfro Valley, KY. When we left camp in NC, a simple turn to the right would have led to the highway in a couple of easy miles, but instead the GPS sent us to the left. So we traversed the Appalachian Mountains on the back roads for two hours: though hill and holler, over dale and dell, around switchbacks and hairpin turns. All in the motorhome.

“Kiawah should have been a poem,” someone wrote years ago, and how true those words are. Our first trip to Kiawah, May 1980, came about because of a friend’s recommendation. “What a funny name,” I said. He explained, “It’s named for the Indian tribe that lived there during the 1600s. In 1699, a so-called pirate named George Raynor was granted the land and after that, the island was handed down through two different families for the next 250 years. It was purchased again in 1951 then, sold to a real estate developer. You won’t believe how beautiful it is,” he promised.

The Balearic Islands that lie to the east of mainland Spain often receive a bad press but, in many respects, it’s hard to know why.

Maybe it’s because of Ibiza’s infamy for being the late night party capital of Europe, or because areas of Menorca and Majorca (or more locally Mallorca) have sold their soul to high-rise package holiday firms catering for the ‘cheap and cheerful’ all-inclusive brigade.

But look deeper and, on the island of Majorca in particular, you will unearth many stunningly beautiful regions with graceful Moorish towns, marvellous beaches and sporting facilities that rival many of the world’s most exclusive resorts.

Avoiding all-night raves like the plague, I travelled to Palma, the historic capital city of Majorca which is the largest of the five Balearic Islands. A beautiful ancient fortified town, I arrived to play golf, try the tapas and taste some wonderful, locally produced red wines. I left, just longing for more.

When I’m looking for a summer retreat for rest and relaxation, I head for the Wax Marina in Wax, Kentucky on Nolin Lake. The Wax Marina provides a beautiful view of a 100-foot limestone cliff and safe haven for boaters and fishermen. It is home sweet home for our pontoon boat “Buttercup”. 

Welcome to the original Jersey Shore! The Caribbean Motel first opened in 1957 in the Wildwoods area of New Jersey which was home to Doo Wop motels and plastic palm trees. If you couldn't get to Florida, this is where it was happening. Plastic palm trees were better than none!

Susie wanted to share her experience crossing her first international border into Canada. Not only was she entering Canada, but crossing the border into French speaking Quebec where she is now known as Mademoiselle Suzette and  Mademoiselle Suzi.