We opted to fly to Alaska rather than pulling our camper. It is so far away—we just couldn’t envision being on the road so long. The bonus with this strategy was that we could take the train from Anchorage to Denali. It turned several months travel on the road to just over two weeks. I had to share the photo below of Alaska from the plane. It was stunning!
I am happy to say that all our flights to and from Alaska went smoothly. We flew American Airlines to Anchorage and Alaska Air returning home. Alaska Air was my favorite because the planes were nicer and it offered better service on the plane.
Alaska from the plane
We were very happy when our plane landed at the Anchorage airport as our flight from Dallas was almost seven hours. There was a definite “Alaska” feel to the terminal.
We very quickly saw a moose!
Anchorage
Our trip began and ended in Anchorage, Alaska’s largest city. In fact, close to half of all Alaska residents live in Anchorage. It had the feel of many small cities in the lower forty-eight, except for the amazing mountains as a backdrop.
Typical Anchorage View
We had a little time in Anchorage before camping and before and after the train. We loved it because of excellent meals and friendly people. Our first night was at the Holiday Inn near the airport. The shuttle was reliable and the manager was excellent. He told us about a Korean restaurant nearby, which we tried and loved.
Dinner at Jinmi Korean restaurant
Our last two nights (before and after the train) in Anchorage was at Crown Plaza. Hotels were fully booked long before we checked in, so I recommend booking early if going in the summer. They also had a shuttle to the airport and gave us an amazing upgrade our last night.
We had great luck with meals in Anchorage, including Moose’s Tooth Pub and Pizzeria and El Jefe Taco Joint.
Alaska Aviation Museum
Our one excursion in Anchorage was to the Aviation Museum. My husband loves anything related to aviation, so he was happy with our choice.
Wayco Byplane
In Alaska, one in five people have pilot’s licenses because so much of the state is not accessible by roads. I found it interesting that Juneau, the capital, is not even fully accessible by road. Consequently, airplanes are an important part of Alaska’s history and life today.
The museum is on Lake Hood and we watched several float planes take off while at the museum.
Float planes were taking off near the museum
Alaska Railroad
We rode Alaska Railroad’s Denali Star and chose the Goldstar Service to Denali and the Wilderness Express car returning to Anchorage. Wilderness Express is a private company that has two cars that are on the back of the train. The Goldstar Service includes dome seating, meals and a couple of drinks and Wilderness Express costs a bit less, but includes no food or drinks.
The Denali Star
The food was better on the Goldstar service and was actually cheaper because you are on the train for approximately seven hours and food and drinks are expensive.
Burger on the train Goldstar Service
However, the Wilderness Express car had an excellent host/narrator who pointed out viewing opportunities, including Denali mountain. Sarah was upbeat, charming and fun! The car also had more comfortable seats and you could charge your devices at your seat, unlike the dome service.
Wilderness Express CarWilderness Express Dome Car
Views From the Train
The trip from Anchorage to Denali takes about seven hours and covers 234 miles. It travels pretty slowly, so one can take in the sights and snap photos without everything passing quickly.
Rivers and mountains everywhere
Mountains and rivers were often what we saw on the trip. There were very few people and buildings along the way. Alaska truly is wide open country.
Water was a common sight
The train went slowly on the 918 feet long bridge over Hurricane Gulch. It is also 296 feet high making it the highest and longest bridge in the Alaska Railroad. The photo below was taken from the back of the rail car.
Hurricane Gulch
There is a story about the house below. Many decades ago, the owners wanted to paint it a green that would blend in with the background. This particular shade, however, stood out brightly. It got so much positive attention though, that the owners kept it that color. It became a gathering place for the community.
A few private homes along the way
I love the colors in the mountains and trees for this area.
The mountains were unprecedented
One area, as you neared Anchorage, had vivid lime green ground cover for miles and miles.
Alaska was very green
Special Sightings
We were on a bear sighting hunt for all of our two-week trip, but we only saw them as the train was departing the station in Anchorage. It appears that mamma and baby were separated by a fence.
Bears near the Anchorage Station
Denali Mountain is the highest mountain peak in North America at 20,310 feet above sea level and is also the third highest peak on Earth. It is so often covered by clouds that it is estimated that you only have a 30 percent chance of seeing it. While spending two days in Denali, we tried unsuccessfully many times to view it. So we were delighted to finally see it on our way back to Anchorage. It was a sight to behold!
Denali, the High one, viewed from the train
The photo below was taken from the back of the train after crossing Hurricane Gulch.
Just past Hurricane Gulch
Conclusion
The train was not the least expensive way to get to Denali, but it certainly was a pleasurable trip. To be able to comfortably enjoy such beautiful scenery was a privilege. As we are not likely to get to Alaska again, I am so glad we got to experience the train and the dome views of Alaska.
We also spent ten days camping on the Kenai Peninsula. If you would like to check it out, it’s at Alaska Camping in a Rental RV.
We have wanted to go to Alaska for a long time. When camping became our major retirement hobby and we set a goal of camping in all fifty states, it was clear that any trip to Alaska must include camping. We considered pulling our trailer there, but it is such a long trip to just get there and back and it was longer than we like to be away from home. Also, the train to Denali has always seemed so cool and we didn’t want to miss it. Therefore, it was a rental camper for this trip.
The Rental Camper
Great Alaskan Holidays was our choice for a rental company because they had the best reviews. We rented a 22 foot, 2022 Forest River Forrester from them and everything went very smoothly. We have never camped in a Class C, so it was an opportunity to try something new. It had a slide out and an on-board generator, both also new to us.
Our first day in the Forrester
I am very happy to say that all went well with the RV. Riding in the cab was not as comfortable as our Ram truck pulling the trailer and the gas mileage was only about 9. 5 miles per gallon compared to about 13 for our trailer. However, it had a more comfortable bed and a fabulous stove, refrigerator, and microwave/ convection oven. I also liked that I could see what was going on in the back and could also get back there if necessary.
Loved the access between the front and back
There was plenty of room in the RV and it was equipped with basic linens, blankets, dishes and cookware. We stocked up with food in Anchorage at the local Walmart.
My big guy fits in this!
Alaska Camping on the Kenai Peninsula
The Kenai Peninsula is where many Alaska residents go for vacation because it includes some highly prized towns to visit. I narrowed our trip down to four stops and ten nights. We could have done everything we wanted in eight or nine nights, but didn’t want us to be rushed.
Our Alaskan Camping Map
Hope Alaska
Our first campground was Porcupine Campground in Hope. Hope is an old mining town and a popular weekend destination for Anchorage residents with live music. However, we were there on a weekday and absolutely nothing was going on. It would have been nice to see what a weekend would be like.
Porcupine is dry camping in the Chugach National Forest. Our site was nice and our first time operating a slide and using the generator went great. The batteries held well and we only needed minimal generator use. Overnight temperatures were in the mid-forties, but we were very comfortable.
Site # 33
A few sites are on water on Turnagain Arm. It was beautiful and phenomenal to have such a view right in the campground.
View of Turnagain Arm
We attempted a short hike, but mosquitoes were quite aggressive. We were not adequately prepared, so we gave up this idea.
A trail in the campground
We we were only in Hope for one night, but our next stop was close, so we spent awhile to explore the town. It was picturesque and rustic.
Downtown Hope
Hope has a museum dedicated to its mining history. It opened at noon, but we wanted to get on the road before then. We spoke briefly to the museum’s director and she told us to feel free to look around outside. There was quite a bit outside that we checked out.
Hope Museum
Kenai Alaska
Diamond M Ranch Resort in Kenai was our next Alaska camping stop. The campground had full hookups, but no beautiful view. There were also very aggressive flies in the campground. Any opening of doors or windows allowed them in by the dozen.
Full hookups at Diamond M Ranch
We were in Kenai for two nights and our major sight to see was the Kenai National Wildlife refuge. On the way, we encountered a moose. So exciting!
Moose sighting on side of the road—too slow getting camera
We spent several hours at the refuge. The employees were very nice and informative. They recommended a hike by the lake and a loop. We had bug spray, but it didn’t contain deet. The had complementary bug spray with deet and we used it.
The Kenai National Wildlife RefugeVisitor Center
We also visited the City of Kenai. It is a small and quaint town with a wonderful restaurant in Old Town called Veronica’s. The desserts were so good, we stopped there twice. Old Town has several very old buildings, such as the Russian Orthodox Church built in 1841 below.
Holy Assumption Russian Orthodox Church 1841 to present
Homer
Homer was our favorite stop on this trip because it had our favorite campground and extraordinary views. Ocean Shores had full hookups, a nice laundry, and very well-maintained facilities. We were there for three days.
Ocean Shores Site #19
Our campground had a beautiful view of the mountains, the bay, and the beach below. We walked down to the beach and discovered dark sand and rocks with shapes and colors like I have never seen. Very other worldly. An interesting fact about Homer is that its tides create a variation in water levels by as much as thirty feet within a single day. Boats can become stranded because of this.
View of Kachemak Bay
The Spit
A big attraction for Homer is The Spit. It is a narrow 4.5 mile jutting out of land into the bay. The harbor, tours, restaurants, and several campgrounds are on it. It is a cool place to visit, but extremely windy.
Homer is known as the Halibut Fishing Capital of the World. We didn’t do any fishing, but we did try the halibut and it was delicious!
Fresh Halibut at Boardwalk Fish and Chips on the Spit
The harbor was a very busy place. We took the Kachemack Bay Wildlife Tour with Seabird Ventures and it was excellent. Davey and his wife, Lindsey, have a small boat and they took us to Gull Island, a rookery where over 15,000 seabirds nest.
The Harbor
While near Gull Island, we saw eagles, common murres, and puffins. We also saw sea otters in the water.
Gull Island
When we returned to The Spit, my husband spied an eagle perched on a pole. He was able to get fairly close. We saw several eagles there.
Eagle surveying the Spit
Homer also has tours by plane or air that will take you to a place where you are likely to see brown bears from a close range. We considered it, but the tours were quite expensive. I think if we had it to do again, we would take the tour despite the cost because we are not likely to have another opportunity to do something like that.
Seward
Seward was the last stop of our Alaska camping adventure and it was an amazing place. We were at Waterfront Campground right on Resurrection Bay. The campground had electricity and water, but few amenities beyond that. However, the view more than made up for it.
Site #554 Waterfront Park Campground
Resurrection Bay is actually a deep fjord that was carved by ancient glaciers, much like those that can be found in Norway. It is almost a thousand feet deep and is a stop for cruise ships.
Resurrection Bay
The Alaska Sealife Center is an aquarium and a marine rehabilitation facility in Homer. It provides care for sick and injured marine animals and returns them to their natural habitat. We spent an afternoon there and saw many aquatic birds, seals, and sea lions.
Alaska Sealife CenterSea Lion
Nearby Kenai Fjords National Park is only accessible by plane or car with the exception of Exit Glacier. We took a six-hour cruise and saw stunning rock formations and mountains. On two separate occasions, we saw orcas from a distance, but sadly they did not rise highly from the water.
Part of Kenai Fjord TourCruising Kenai Fjords National Park
We also saw a group of sea lions resting on a cliff from a fairly close perspective.
Sea Lions on a Cliff
Glaciers
The highlight of the cruise was Aialik Glacier located in Aialik Bay. It was enormous and pieces of it was falling off into the water. It was so majestic!
Aialik Glacier
The next day, we visited Exit Glacier, a few miles north of Seward. It is part of Kenai Fjord National Park and the glacier can be viewed by taking a mile hike. We took a ranger tour, which made it more interesting. The glacier has been receding since the 1800s and it appears much smaller than Aialik.
Exit Glacier
Alaska Camping Conclusion
Our Alaska camping adventure was everything we expected and more. We have now camped in thirty-nine states. If interested in reading about our adventures in other states, check out our page, States Visited, a Campsite Resource.
In retirement, we have tried to take a short trip during January. Last year, we visited Los Angeles, Escape from the Cold to Los Angeles. This year, to get away from the cold and dreary that seems to go on forever, we spent a few days in Phoenix. It was our first time to stay in the city, though we have visited nearby Tucson.
The weather was beautiful—clear blue skies with daytime highs in the mid sixties. Above all, it was 10 to 15 degrees higher in the daytime than at home in Alabama. The sunsets were incredible from the rooftop bar at our hotel and the bartender makes an incredible Old Fashioned, our new favorite drink!
Sunset view from the hotel rooftop
A Downtown Hotel
We chose the Downtown Hilton Garden Inn because of its location and great reviews. There are many nice restaurants nearby and the Phoenix light rail is just a few blocks away.
Hilton Garden Inn Downtown
The hotel is a newly remodeled historic landmark building, the 1931 Professional Building. Though the building is historic, its interior is modern and comfortable. Also, the Art Deco building was in the opening scene for the movie, “Psycho”, and there are references to the movie on several hotel walls. A lighted revolving sign, once atop the building, was said to be the country’s largest revolving sign.
Psycho Movie References
Phoenix Attractions
We wanted to see all the highlights of the Phoenix area. Most of our travel is in an 18-foot camper, but we only pass through large cities. It was nice to be in the heart of downtown.
Desert Botanical Garden
The garden is one of the most popular attractions in Phoenix and it was truly beautiful. It is located in Papago Park. There were two other attractions in Papago we did not visit, the Zoo and Hole in the Rock. For younger, more active visitors, they would be something to consider.
Desert Botanical GardenCrackle ArtCamelback Mountain View from Desert Botanical Garden
Arizona Capital Museum
This free museum devoted to the history of Arizona was worth the time. It is in the 1901 State Capitol Building. It has information on the history of the Arizona Constitution, an enormous model train, some touching artifacts from the USS Arizona, and some really cool petrified wood.
Arizona Capital MuseumPetrified Wood
Phoenix Art Museum
The museum is one of the largest in the Southwest. A bonus for my husband, there was a temporary exhibit devoted to race cars, Legends of Speed. I was happy there was something he really liked.
Legends of Speed1929 Bentley
Taliesin West
Taliesin West was the winter home of Frank Lloyd Wright, certainly the most famous architect ever in North America. Our tour guide, Jane, was very entertaining and shared lots of personal details about the architectural legend. It was quite a distance from downtown Phoenix, but I would have regretted not seeing it while in the area. Today, the building houses an accredited master’s degree program in architecture.
Taliesin West
Scottsdale
We took the light rail to Scottsdale, a nearby city that is east of Phoenix. It is known for spa resorts and golf courses. While we did neither, we enjoyed walking around Old Town, which has an abundance of restaurants and shopping. We had a delicious lunch at Barrio Queen, rode the trolley around the area, and checked out some of the shops.
Hanging Out in Scottsdale
Fantastic Food
We had several outstanding meals while in Phoenix. The absolute best meal as at Harumi Sushi, which was just a few blocks from our hotel. It was also the best sushi ever for both of us.
“Oh My God” Sushi at Harumi Sushi
We also visited MacAlpine’s Diner and Soda Fountain, which is like stepping back in time. A 1928 pharmacy and soda fountain was sold to Fred MacAlpine in 1938 and it has continued in the same location ever since. It has wooden booths with juke box selections, 50s-style food and drinks, and vintage decor. Additionally, there is an antique store in the building and it spills into the restaurant. The food was good, but the ambiance was excellent.
MacAlpine’s Diner and Soda Fountain
We also had excellent breakfasts at Breakfast Club (delicious Herve Rancheros) and Centrico, located in the historic San Carlos Hotel.
Getting Around
Uber was our primary mode of transportation and we loved using it because all our drivers were amiable and helpful. However, I wish we had utilized the light rail earlier in our trip. The stops were just a few blocks from our hotel. One can ride all day for $4 ($2 for seniors). We took the light rail to Tempe on our last full day and got off at Mill Avenue and Third. This stop is at the main shopping and restaurant area in Tempe.
Conclusion
Phoenix was a nice break from winter in Alabama because it offers warm temperatures, great food, and plenty of interesting things to do! Everything about our trip was positive except for the impact the dry climate had on our sinuses. We both had sinus issues during our stay. If visiting, I strongly advise the frequent use of a saline nasal spray.
While on the way to Wales, we rode by coach along the northeastern border of England through the beautiful Lakes District.
The Lakes District
The Lakes District is a very mountainous region that is very popular with hikers and campers. It was so nice to travel through that lovely part of England. It was very overcast as you can see in the photo below. The purple flower is heather and it was abundant in Scotland and northern England.
The Lakes District
While in the Lakes District, we stopped for lunch at Grasmere. It is a village where the poet, Wordsworth, lived. He called it, “the loveliest spot that man hath ever found.” Grasmere is also known for its gingerbread, which is made using a hundred and fifty year-old recipe that is kept in a bank vault. It was quite different, but delicious.
Grasmere Gingerbread
Wales
Wales is a mountainous country in Great Britain with probably the most beautiful countryside of our trip. It has a distinctive Welsh language and a strong Celtic culture.
Welch countryside
Ruthin Castle
We had one night in Wales at Ruthin Castle , a medieval fortress that was built in the thirteenth century. If those walls could talk! We have visited many ancient castles, but this was our first opportunity to sleep in one. Ruthin Castle is reputed to be haunted by the Grey Lady, who presumably murdered her husband’s lover with an axe and consequently, was sentenced to death. Ghost or not, it was an amazing castle.
Ruthin Castle
Our room in the castle had modern conveniences and a great view. The bathroom was totally modern. We had a mysterious incident with a luggage lock that freaked me out just a bit, but we slept like babies.
Room 201Ruthin Castle
The grounds at Ruthin were beautiful and there were multiple peacocks roaming around.
Grounds at Ruthin Castle
Dinner was in the castle with the entire group. Afterwards, a charming Welsh lady told us stories about the castle and the area. She sang to the men in our group in Gaelic, hugging each one. It was amusing to watch their reactions. The next morning we headed to Stratford-upon-Avon.
Stratford-upon-Avon
Stratford was the home of William Shakespeare, considered the greatest writer of the English language. He is also the best-selling fiction author of all time. Consequently, Stratford plays homage to him in many ways. There is a large Shakespearean theatre, a monument, his birthplace, and his daughter’s home. Lastly, he is buried there at Trinity Church.
We had two nights in Stratford at the Doubletree. It was just a short walk from the City Centre. The tour devoted one day to sightseeing in Stratford. We toured Shakespeare’s birthplace in the morning and took a cruise on the Avon in the afternoon.
Writers from all over the world have etched their names in a window in the birthplace home because it has been a pilgrimage for many.
Window in Shakespeare’s BirthplaceTrinity ChurchSite of Shakespeare’s Home
Our cruise on the Avon was so relaxing. As an added bonus, we went through a lock. This was a first for us. It was manually operated.
Lock on the Avon River
The next morning, we headed to Stonehenge.
Stonehenge
Stonehenge is considered the world’s most famous prehistoric monument because parts of it are estimated to have been built approximately 5,000 years ago. The stone circle is thought to have been erected in about 2500 BC. Some think it was built to study the movements of the sun and moon. Others think it was a place of healing.
Stonehenge
The Cotswolds
After Stonehenge, we drove to the Cotswolds. The government has designed the Cotswolds an Area of Outstanding Beauty because of its honey-colored towns built on rolling hills.
Cotswold countryside
Lunch was in Burton-on-Water in Gloucestershire. I had Welsh Rarebit and it was quite good. We both had hot tea as we loved to do on the tour. While lunch was delicious, it did not leave much time for exploring.
Cotswold Stone building
Back to Stratford-on-Avon
We returned to the Doubletree in Stratford for the last night of the tour. There was a farewell dinner at Hall’s Croft, the home of Shakespeare’s daughter and her physician husband. The house dates back to the early 1600s and consequently, has extensive artifacts from the time.
Hall’s Croft
While dining, two Shakespearean actors performed scenes from several plays. It was so wonderful!
The next morning, most of our group rode in the coach for the two-hour drive to the airport. Lastly, we said goodbye to our new friends and our fabulous Collette guide, April, and our excellent driver, Skippy. We highly recommend Collette Tours!
Edinburgh is just across the English border in Scotland, which was the second leg of our Collette British Landscapes Tour. This post picks up after my first post, London and York, United Kingdom Summer Tour.
A large rock rock marks the border with England written on one side and Scotland on the other. We stopped and took some photos. It was very windy and cooler than our time in England had been. The countryside looked different too, with purple heather blooming everywhere and cows and sheep always in sight.
We stopped for lunch in Jedburgh, a small town just past the border. There was a big shopping facility with a restaurant. I bought a pair of earrings made from heather. We had a delicious and inexpensive lunch that was described as “Tea for Two”. It was wonderful. Small sandwiches of our choice, scones with clotted cream and jam, tea, and cupcakes for dessert beautifully presented.
Tea for Two
It rained while we were inside, but cleared before we departed . We were very fortunate this way regarding the weather for our entire trip—it rained while we were inside or on the coach most of the time.
Edinburgh
Our hotel was the Apex Grassmarket, a modern hotel right in the center of Old Town. We had two nights there. During our stay, the world’s largest annual international arts festival, The Fringe, was taking place. It coincided with the Royal Military Tattoo, which was included on our tour. Consequently, Edinburgh was very, very crowded.
Edinburgh
Dinner that night was with the group. We rode by coach to New Town, which began in the 1760s. It was where the rich moved to to get away from the overcrowding of Old Town.
We ate at Stac Polly, which was not our favorite. The food was average, but the room was very hot and stuffy and there was no air conditioning. The staff was not overly pleasant either. I wouldn’t want to return to that restaurant.
City Tour
A city tour was provided by Sandra, a local guide. We toured by coach through town and then stopped at the Palace of Holyrood, the official house of the British monarch in Scotland. It has been home to the King and Queen of Scots since the 16th century. The Palace is attached to the ruins of an abbey founded in 1128.
The Palace of Holyrood
Sandra gave us an overview of the history of the castle and of the life of Mary, Queen of Scots, a major historical figure at the palace and the castle. We were able to tour the palace at our own pace with headsets to inform about each area. It was very interesting, particularly the history regarding Mary. One modern item was also there. Meghan Markle’s wedding dress was on display and it was simply beautiful.
Photos were only allowed outside the palace, so we took some shots of the gardens. The grounds were absolutely stunning.
Holyroodhouse gardenHolyroodhouse grounds
Finally, the castle was on our tour. Our coach driver, Skippy, dropped us off a couple of blocks away. We walked up the hill to access the castle, which stands on volcanic rock. Archeologists have established that humans were present going back to the 2nd century and its history goes back 1100 years. Consequently, it was under seize 26 times. The castle is also the site of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
Edinburgh Castle
The castle overlooks the city, so you can see all the way to the North Sea. The view is breathtaking!
View from the top
We had afternoon tea at the Castle’s Tea Rooms. The tea was exotic to us, a lemon and elderberry. It was very good.
National Museum of Scotland
The afternoon was free time, so we walked to the National Museum of Scotland. It is a very eclectic museum, with modes of travel (old car, locomotive, and airplane), wildlife and natural history, Dolly the cloned sheep, and clothing throughout many periods. I particularly enjoyed looking at some of the clothing, can’t say why.
National Museum of Scotland18th Century Court Mantula
Dinner was on our own and we had the best fish and chips ever for both of us at a little restaurant near our hotel, Uncles Fish and Chips Cafe. They were also very helpful in identifying a Scotch Whiskey for me. It was Deanston Single Malt and I really enjoyed it. I believe it was also the best meal of our trip.
The Edinburgh Royal Military Tattoo
This was the 69th annual Military Tatoo. Each one is different and the performance also occurs outside—rain or shine. Military bands come from all over the world. The performances are very creative. It exceeded all my expectations! They hold the Tattoo just outside Edinburgh Castle and it is certainly a spectacle. The music and precision marching of the bands was beautiful to watch. Fires were burning at the castle and lights were projected on it during the show.
Waiting for the TattooThe Edinburgh Royal Military Tattoo
Furthermore, they played four songs that I love. They were: “Amazing Grace”, Queen’s “The Show Must Go On”, and The Greatest Showman’s “The Greatest Show”, and “This is Me”. That sealed it for me; my favorite part of the entire tour was the Tattoo! So I really want to see it again sometime.
We left early the next morning in the coach and enjoyed the beautiful Scottish countryside.
Scottish countryside
Gretna Green
Gretna Green was such a delightful surprise! April, our tour guide, told us we would be stopping at a popular place for weddings related to a younger age requirement. However, I was unprepared for how wonderful it would be.
Gretna Green
It became a place for weddings in 1754, when the Marriage Act in England required several rules for marriage including an age of twenty-one to avoid parental permission. Gretna Green, just over the Scottish border, did not have the age requirement, so it became a marriage destination. Since that time, it is known for romance and runaway lovers.
Gretna Green was a blacksmith’s shop so its priests were known as ‘anvil priests’. Thousands of couples from all over the world are married there each year.
At the blacksmith’s anvilGretna Green Statue, The Big Dance
We loved everything about our time in Scotland, but especially the Tattoo. Next, we headed to Wales and then Stratford-upon-Avon, which are in my last post for the tour. Stratford-upon-Avon and Wales, UK Summer Tour
London and York were a part of a United Kingdom tour that we booked. It was Collette’s British Landscapes Tour through Alabama Public Television. Since we were traveling in August, the high season, it meant longer days, better weather, but unfortunately larger crowds. As a Downton Abbey fan, I was excited that Highclere Castle, the location of the show, was part of the tour. Our tour group of 38 people had nine nights in the UK, but we really saw a lot in those few days.
British Landscapes Tour
London
During our visit, London was extremely crowded. However, there is history and beautiful ancient architecture in abundance to make it worth the challenges. Our hotel, the Leonardo Royal Hotel, was a few blocks from the London Tower. It was very nice and just a couple of blocks from the London Tube.
Unfortunately, London was hosting a bike race the weekend of our visit, which greatly hindered our tours ability to get around and caused significant delays. Still, we saw quite a bit.
London Tower
We had a few free hours, so we walked to the Tower and purchased tickets. The Tower has an interesting history dating back to the 1070s. Currently, it houses the Crown Jewels and the infamous Tower Ravens. However, in the past it imprisoned and tortured many famous people. Unfortunately, we were so jet-lagged that we were pretty much walking zombies.
London Tower
The famous Tower Bridge was a sight to see. We walked to the north side of the river and sat on a bench, but were soon nodding off. Not feeling safe to sleep on a bench, we headed back to the hotel.
The Tower Bridge
Dinner was with the group at The Inn of Court. I had a meat pie and minted green peas that I liked, but my husband did not like most of his meal. It was our first real opportunity to get to know some of our traveling companions.
Highclere Castle
Highclere Castle is in Hampshire, a couple of hours away from London. It is the home of the 8th Earl of Carnarvon, but is more widely known as the filming location for Downton Abbey. Our coach transported us there from London on our first full day. I was thrilled to be seeing it in person.
Highclere Castle
The castle was even more than I expected. The rooms were incredible—so opulent, but still familiar. One would almost expect to see a cast member from the show appear.
A King Tut exhibit is on the lower level of the castle. The 5th Earl of Carnarvon and a colleague discovered the tomb in 1923. Consequently, the castle houses an extensive collection of artifacts, including the mummified remains. I had no idea it was there, so it was an added bonus.
We had tea and scones with clotted cream and jam at a cafe behind the castle. Next, we had cocktails made with a special gin that had botanicals from the estate. Flavored gin is a pretty big thing in England right now.
Tea and scones at the castle
Photos were allowed outside and in the garden, but not inside. The gardens were lovely and so peaceful.
Highclere Garden
Highclere was everything I hoped it would be. So we arrived back in London with a few hours free. The bike race still had roads blocked so we just walked the areas near the hotel and had dinner at a nearby pub, The Minories. The fish and chips was quite good.
Tour of London
First, a local guide took us on a tour of London in the Collette coach. We saw many rather famous landmarks including Westminster Abbey, Saint Paul’s Cathedral, and Buckingham Palace. Unfortunately, Big Ben was behind scaffolding while undergoing renovations.
London from The Tower BridgeWestminster Abbey
We saw the end of the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace. I could not believe the number of people in the area. The changing of the guard was exciting to see—the prancing of the horses, the precision of the marching, and the music. So we loved it!
Victoria Memorial at Buckingham PalaceChanging of the Guard
London’s Fab Food Tour
Finally, we went on walking tour of London’s food with Eric, a local guide. It began in Spitalfields, a local market for food, fashion, and arts. There has been a market at that location for over 350 years. I would love to go back and spend more time there.
We had wine and cheese at Bedales, a small serving of fish and chips at Poppies, a full curry meal at Aladdin on Brick Lane, ales at The Pride of Spitalfields, and bread pudding at The English Restaurant. The fish and bread pudding were favorites of our group. Eric also gave us an overview of the history in the area. So, well-fed and educated on the area, we took the Tube, London’s subway, back to our hotel. Our second day in London was over and we were to head for York with a stop in Cambridge the next morning.
The English Restaurant
Cambridge
We stopped at Cambridge for a couple of hours on our way to York. Cambridge University has 31 colleges, with some dating back to the 12th century. It is a beautiful city with ancient architecture everywhere one might look. However, with limited time, we focused on King’s College, founded by Henry VI in 1441.
King’s CollegeKing’s College Chapel
While there, we has crepes at a local restaurant. However, it took awhile for them to be served, which really cut into our time.
York
York was founded in 71 AD by the Romans, but it is famous for the Magnificent York Minster and its city walls. We spent one night just outside the city walls at the Doubletree.
City Walls
The city walls were interesting because they encircle the City Centre. At 3.4 kilometers long, hence they are the longest medieval town walls in England. While walking them, you can view sections of ancient Roman walls.
Entrance to York’s City CentreYork’s City WallAncient Roman Wall
The Minster
The York Minster is perhaps the main attraction in York. Its official name is the Cathedral and Metropolitical Church of Saint Peter in York. It is the second-largest Gothic Cathedral in Northern Europe. Construction was from 1230 to 1472. It is still an active church and a service was occurring while we were there.
The York Minster
The Shambles
The Shambles is a medieval shopping street which has overhanging timber-framed buildings, some dating to the fourteenth century. It has mistakenly been attributed to Diagon Alley in Harry Potter films. It certainly has the look.
The Shambles
The Flavors of Yorkshire was an option we took on our tour. It included an ale tasting and a three-course dinner at the Chopping Block at Walmgate Ale House. The restaurant is in a 17th century building that is reputed to be haunted. The roast beef with Yorkshire pudding was quite good and I have become a big fan of sticky toffee pudding, which was served at most of the restaurants.
York was such fun! We would have liked more time in York, but that was true of all our stops. The next morning we departed early for Edinburgh. However, we stopped at Hadrian’s Wall on the way.
Hadrian’s Wall
The Roman Emperor, Hadrian, built a 73-mile wall between England and Scotland in A.D. 122. It was constructed using nearby materials. In some places it was almost ten feet wide and over sixteen feet tall. It’s purpose was to keep out the Scottish people. Today, it is a National Trail. The section we visited was right next to some beautiful horses.
Why did we go to Miami Beach? It is difficult for us to stay at home all winter since we have retired. While working, we were busy and had limited vacation time, but retirement has changed all that. In the winter, it is easy for me to become bored and lazy. We took a trip to Los Angeles last year, Escape from the Cold to Los Angeles .
A warm climate in a place not previously visited was the goal and Miami Beach fit the bill for us. It is also one of the big cities we have not visited and it has great weather in the winter. We left Alabama, which had daytime temperatures in the 40s, for Miami’s mostly sunny days in the low 80s. Such a pleasure!
Miami Dream Hotel
The Dream is located in Miami Beach, just a couple of blocks from the famous Versace mansion. It is on Collins Avenue, one block over from Ocean Drive and a couple of blocks from the beach. The hotel has excellent reviews, a perfect location, and a very reasonable price for the area. However, the rooms are quite small. The Dream is actually a combination of two Art Deco buildings and still has the sign for the Tudor Hotel. The hotel was built in the 1930s and has the original exterior, but is ultra modern inside. So, if we return to Miami Beach, the Dream will be our first choice for a hotel!
Miami Dream Hotel
The hotel has a fantastic restaurant, The Naked Taco, and we had several excellent meals there. The restaurant also provides light food and drinks to the hotel’s rooftop pool area, which we also enjoyed.
Miam Dream Rooftop Pool
Getting Around in Miami and Miami Beach
We flew into Miami and did not rent a car because parking is very expensive. But, we really did not need one because it is so easy to get around. Miami Beach has a free trolley system that is easy to maneuver and we used it frequently. There is also a separate trolley system for the city of Miami. However, I never discovered a way to get from Miami Beach to Miami using the trolley.
We took an Uber to and from the airport as we had a good bit of luggage. It was only $22. There is also a bus that goes from the airport to Miami Beach.
Because we wanted to orient ourselves to the city, we took a hop on and off bus tour. It was only $49 each for two days, which gave us information about the area and provided transportation between Miami and Miami Beach.
Big Bus City Tour
We also took an Everglades tour with Miami Tour Company . They picked us up at our hotel and provided transportation to the Everglades. It was much easier than renting a car.
We also walked quite a bit during our stay and I am very happy to say that my husband’s new knee did quite well. This was our first exposure to significant walking since his surgery six months earlier. We got about 14,000 steps on our first day, which involved lots of airport walking.
Miami Attractions
There was so much to see and do in Miami! Our six days there enabled us to pretty much do everything we wanted.
Wynwood Area
Wynwood Walls is accessible via a city bus tour. The Wynwood warehouse district elevates the work of graffiti artists. Wynwood Walls brings the work of the world’s greatest graffiti artists to a concentrated area. It is difficult to believe that this art is created with only spray paint. It is a walkable outdoor museum. Art lover that I am, this might just be my favorite Miami attraction.
Wynwood Walls
The mural below was created by drilling into concrete. It is impressive from afar and even more up close.
Concrete art in Wynwood Walls
All around the Wynwood area, there is art on the buildings. The photo below was snapped while on the tour bus and is not a high-quality pic, but I had to include it in this post because it is so amazing. The woman’s eyes appear to follow you. Mesmerizing and beautiful!
The eyes follow you in this painting
Vizcaya Museum and Gardens
Vizcaya was on my list and easily accessible as another stop on the tour bus. It was the summer home of James Deering. The exterior of the Italian Renaissance villa has appeared in several films. The home, located on Biscayne Bay, was completed in 1922 for a cost of $15 million.
Vizcaya Mansion
The grandeur of this mansion is not something easily found in the United States as the photo below of one of the interior rooms indicates.
Elegant decor
This home made me think of Downton Abbey and was of a similar time. The home is grand and during its heyday, it sported a staff of thirty. The kitchen below looks similar to Downton Abbey’s as well.
The kitchen
Miami Beach and Ocean Drive
The beach was beautiful and the water was a gorgeous turquoise color. Our hotel provided chairs and towels, so we were quite comfortable enjoying the warmth and sunshine.
The Beach at South Beach
I tested the water and it was much too cold for me to get in, but quite a few people did not seem to mind.
Crystal clear water
South Miami Beach is known for its Art Deco Architecture. The buildings along Ocean Avenue and Collins, where we were staying, cannot be changed from the outside. Consequently, it has one of the largest known concentrations of 1920-1930s resort-style architecture.
Art Deco hotels along Ocean Avenue
Ocean Drive is also famous for Casa Casuarina, aka the Versace Mansion. The house was built in 1930 and fashion designer, Gianni Versace, purchased it in 1992. He lived there until he was shot in front of it in 1997 by a serial killer. The mansion is now a very expensive hotel. We contemplated having lunch there to see the inside, but we did not find the time.
Versace mansion on Ocean
The Holocaust Memorial in Miami Beach
The Holocaust Memorial was a sobering place to visit, but it is important to remember this tragic time and the lives lost. The memorial is dedicated to the six million Jewish lives lost to the Holocaust. We learned that Miami Beach has one of the largest populations of holocaust survivors in the world. Going through the memorial brought tears to both of us.
Holocaust Memorial
Little Havana
Little Havana is the definitive Cuban neighborhood in Miami. It is popular for shopping, restaurants, and bars.
Little Havana sign
Little Havana is the place for authentic Cuban cuisine. We made a special effort to visit Versailles Restaurant while there. The restaurant claims to be “ the world’s most famous Cuban restaurant.” Even at mid-afternoon, we had to wait to be seated. Below is one of the specials, but I can’t identify everything. I liked most of it and the price was very reasonable. My big guy had a hamburger.
Lunch at Versailles Restaurant
In a shop in Little Havana, we were pleasantly surprised to see, Fidel, a friend from a tour we took to Italy eight years ago. He owns Havana Collection, a group of clothing shops in Little Havana. Fidel recognized my husband as soon as he walked in. He sold my husband some shirts at highly discounted prices. It was so nice to see him again.
The Everglades
While so close, we took a Miami City bus tour to the Everglades. We learned that the Everglades is a slow-moving, shallow river that moves at a rate of about a mile a day. The airboat ride through it was exhilarating.
Airboat ride in the Everglades
While on the airboat, we saw several alligators.
Alligator in the wild
Wolfsonian Museum, Miami Beach
The Wolfsonion is an affiliate of Florida International University and houses an extensive collection of Art Deco artifacts. It was a good place to spend a few hours.
Wolfsonion Art Deco MuseumWolfsonion Art
A Short Haircut
The humility and open air rides made my hair impossible to deal with during our stay. I have been wanting to go short and finally mustered the courage while there. Summer is coming and this cut should be easy to manage. What do you think of the cut in the photo below ?
Conclusion
We loved Miami and Miami Beach! It was so relaxing to spend a few warm and sunny days away from winter weather. Incidentally, we returned home to 28 degrees! Brrr!
Miami Beach is beautiful and its people were so warm and accommodating. I highly recommend it!
We love visiting big cities! There is always so much to see. Also, each city has its own personality. A visit to Chicago has been on my bucket list for a long time and this summer seemed a good time. As we live in the hot and humid south, traveling north also offered a hope of cooler weather.
While most of our travels occur in our teardrop camper, our big city traveling methods are quite different. We don’t like to drive in big cities and parking rates are exorbitant, so we always fly to our destination. Also, we like to stay at a hotel close to most of the places we want to visit and in a safe neighborhood.
Our Chicago Digs
We chose the Ambassador Hotel in the Gold Coast neighborhood for our five-night stay in Chicago because the area is very nice and close to public transportation. The recently remodeled hotel was built in 1926 and was visited by many celebrities over the years. While no longer considered a luxury hotel, it still features luxury linens and a very comfortable bed.
Ambassador HotelRoom 306
We did a good bit of walking in the area to catch the bus or train and really enjoyed the scenery. The Gold Coast neighborhood was incredible, with gorgeous mansions and lovely landscaping on almost every street. The Original Playboy Mansion was just a few blocks away and we had to check it out. Many celebrities have visited, including Warren Beatty and the Rolling Stones. In the 1970’s, Hefner leased the building to the Art Institute of Chicago at a rate of $10 a year. Currently, condominiums are in the building and the last one was on the market at $3.4 million.
Original Playboy Mansion
Getting Around in Chicago
The Chicago Transit Authority is an exceptional public transit system that is inexpensive, yet easy to maneuver. From our hotel, it was a three block walk to the 151 bus that goes through the Magnificent Mile all the way to the Art Institute. We also used the trains. The Red Line at Clark/Division was about four blocks from the hotel. One can get a single day pass for unlimited use for busses and trains for only ten dollars a day. There is also a three-day pass for twenty dollars.
Our stop near the hotel
We took the Blue Line from the airport to downtown, which was inexpensive and efficient. However, on our return to the airport, we took a Lyft to ensure prompt arrival for our return flight.
Architectural River Cruise
Most noteworthy, Chicago is a city of skyscrapers. So, one of our favorite attractions was the River Cruise on Chicago’s First Lady. Several companies provide cruises, but we took the one by the Chicago Architecture Foundation led by volunteer docents. Jane, our docent, was very knowledgeable! She gave us a lot of background details of the city. Also, she had tons of information about the architecture of the Chicago skyscrapers along the path of the river. I must admit that quite a bit was unfamiliar to me. I love architecture, but am not very knowledgeable. Nonetheless, the tour was amazing. Our tour was in the late afternoon and the weather was perfect.
Below is the Wrigley Building built in 1924.
Wrigley Building, European-Renaissance-inspired, modeled after a building in Spain
The tallest building in Chicago is the 110-story, 1,450-foot Willis (formerly Sears) Tower is below. It is the second tallest building in the United States. Immediately in front of it is the Post Modern, 65-story 311 South Wacker Building, measuring 961 feet.
Willis Tower (bundled tube construction) and 311 South Wacker (post modern)Enjoying tour along the Chicago River
Millennium Park and Cloud Gate
The 24.5 acre public park is dedicated to celebrating the third millennium. It includes Cloud Gate, which is a large sculpture, plus a video display, and an outdoor theater.
Cloud Gate, aka the “Bean”, is a 12-foot, 110-ton highly reflective sculpture made of polished stainless steel. Most noteworthy, it is a major tourist attraction and a primo place for selfies. In the photo below, my big guy is in front of the Bean on the right. If you zoom in on the red circle, you can also see me snapping the shot. The bean is such an interesting sculpture!
My big guy and the beanOur reflection on the Bean
The Art Institute of Chicago
The art museum was my most anticipated attraction in Chicago. Yet, it still exceeded expectations. The museum, founded in 1879, is one of the oldest and largest art museums in the United States. We spent most of a day there and I took tons of pictures, which I will enjoy far into the future.
Art Institute of Chicago
I was thrilled to see Seurat’s famous Post-Impressionist painting below that utilizes the pointillism technique. The painting is quite large. It was one of the most memorable work from my Art Appreciation class many years ago.
Seurat’s A Sunday on La Grande Jatte-1884
The museum has works by all the greats. I read that it has more Impressionist paintings than anywhere except the Louvre. I loved it! My big guy likes it, but not like I. When he had seen enough, he sat patiently and interacted on social media while I roamed the museum.
Navy Pier
The pier is a popular tourist destination. It is 3,300 feet long and offers beautiful views of the city. Tours by land, water, or air are available. An enormous building houses tons of restaurants, an IMAX theater, a Children’s Museum, a Shakespeare theater, and multiple shops. Outside, there is the large Centinnial Wheel and smaller rides for children.
Navy Pier
We rode the wheel and it offered incredible views in a very comfortable, climate-controlled environment.
View from Centennial Wheel
Lastly, there was a piece of public art made of reflective material similar to the Bean, except it makes you look skinny. Loved it!
We “seem” to have lost a few pounds
Lincoln Park
We spent most of a day at Lincoln Park. We visited the zoo, the Conservatory, and the Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool. All were amazing and totally free! Parking is very expensive, but the bus stops right where you need it.
The Zoo
The zoo, founded in 1868, is one of the oldest zoos in North America. It was a hot day and we did not want to do a lot of walking, so we did not spend a lot of time in the zoo. Not having to pay an admission price, a rarity for zoos these days, made it easy to do this. Surprisingly, I had an amazing time, up close and personal, with the polar bears. The habitat features a pool with a clear partition between the bears and visitors. One bear really put on a show!
Polar Bear
I was standing next to the glass and it was exhilarating to see the bear swim by so close. He did this multiple times and the crowd loved it! What an experience!
Polar bear up close
The Conservatory
In addition to being free, docents are on site at the conservatory on weekends. They provide lots of great information about the tropical plants housed in the Victorian Era glass house, built in the late 1880s. Norman, the docent for our tour, was great. He explained how the different plants are propagated. Some are manually manipulated at great effort by Conservatory staff. It appears that a lot of work is required to sustain this beautiful Conservatory.
Lincoln Park ConservatoryEnglish Garden
The Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool
The Lily Pool was also free with a docent available for tours on the weekend. Jean was our docent and she added so much to our appreciation of the Lily Pool. It is an example of Prarie School landscape architecture. Originally built in 1889, it was restored in 1997. It was so beautiful and peaceful!
Lily Pool
Chicago Water Tower
The Water Tower was built in 1869 and is one of the few buildings to survive the fire of 1871.
I first saw the tower in a Thomas Kincaid impressionistic painting. I loved the painting but did not buy it initially. About lusting over it for about a year, I was ready to buy, but it was sold out. Kincaid later did another version of the Water Tower. I did not like it as much, but purchased it anyway. I was so happy to be able to see the real thing in Chicago. My painting is below, followed by the actual building.
Thomas Kincaid’s Chicago Water Tower
Chicago Water Tower
John Hancock Signature Room
We had cocktails in the Signature Room on the 95th floor of the John Hancock Building. The drinks were especially good and the views incredible.
Rose Picante at the Signature Room
A Free Concert
We attended an amazing performance by Lynne Jordan and the Shivers in the Summer Concert Series at the Plaza. They were outstanding and the concert was free!
Lynn Jordan and the Shivers
Other Stops
Buckingham Fountain is one of the largest fountains in the world. Beginning at 8pm, a show begins with music and fountain activity. We were there for this show. However, it was not yet dark and the lights were not on. We wanted to see the 9 pm show with the lights, but were exhausted.
Buckingham Fountain
I dipped my toes into Lake Michigan, the first Great Lake I have ever witnessed in person. This was at the Oak Street Beach and the water was pretty cold.
Checking out Lake Michigan
We also visited the iconic Palmer House Lobby. It was Chicago’s first hotel with operating elevators and electric lightbulbs and telephones in the guest rooms. It was impressive.
Palmer House Lobby
Lastly, we visited the Three Arts Club building, a historic landmark near our hotel. It was built in 1914 to provide a safe and supportive residence for young women studying the arts. The Byzantine style entrance contains mosaics representing music, drama, and painting . Currently, RH Modern, a furniture chain, is in the enormous building. We loved looking at the room displays. An upscale restaurant, Three Arts, is also in the atrium inside.
Three Arts Club
Chicago Food
Deep dish pizza was high on our list and two chains are highly-rated, Lou Malnati’s and Giordano’s. We tried and liked both, but preferred Lou’s.
Chicago style hot dogs were also high on my husband’s list. His favorite was the traditional, but with Italian sausage. It is traditionally served on a poppy seed bun with mustard, kosher pickle spear, chopped onion, pickle relish, Roma tomatoes, celery salt, and sports peppers. However, no catsup! He tried it at Downtown Dogs and loved it. I had the same except with a beef frank.
We had macaroons and cookies at Sugar Bliss, which is inside the Palmer House Hotel. It had many macaroon flavors just like you would see in Paris. One flavor, Rose, tasted like a rose smells, but in a good way. Just thinking about them is giving me cravings.
Garrett’s Popcorn is a Chicago staple, so we tried the Garrett mix. It is a delicious blend of very cheesy and caramel popcorn. It sounds awful, but is surprisingly delicious.
The Weather
We hoped to escape the sweltering weather of the south and were graced with three perfect days. It was the kind of weather where it is so glorious to be outside. But, our last two days were unseasonably hot and humid—even hotter than Alabama. Therefore, we visited Lincoln Park and the art museum on those days and it made our days a little easier.
Chicago Wrap-Up
We loved our time in Chicago. It is a very dynamic, friendly city with so such to see and do. Seeing the Seurat painting and the Water Tower was very special to me. Though we did not do everything on my list, we hit the high points.
If you like visiting big cities too, this link is to a post about our trip to Los Angeles earlier this year.
We were not camping in January. Instead, we sought a place to get away from winter for a few days. Los Angeles was a warm refuge for the cold month of January. We found it to be a vibrant city with lots of entertainment opportunities and excellent food.
Seeking the Sun
We chose a Los Angeles vacation to start our year primarily because January has always been a month to dread. The holidays are over and nothing but short, dreary days await. It is a month of colds, flu, and being trapped indoors. However, now that we are retired, we have the option of going in search of a warmer place to break up the monotony. This is a tradition I hope to maintain as long as our health allows.
More About Us
Teardrop camping is our usual mode of travel, but we like more conventional travel for large cities. If you would like to read more about us , a link follows.
Last year, we went on a cruise, but we wanted something different this year. We have never visited Los Angeles and this seemed a good opportunity. Los Angeles was projected to be approximately twenty-five degrees higher than our home in Alabama for the dates of our trip. We would at least have a few days of warm weather in January.
Los Angeles
The weather in Los Angeles did not disappoint. We were there for five days at the Hilton Doubletree in the Tokyo district. It was often cloudy but only rained one day. Highs were in the lower 70s and lows in the upper 50s. The location was not bad, but Los Angeles is so spread out that we spent a good bit of Uber time. It is the second largest city in America and offers a large diversity of activities, but they are in a wide geographic area. We had great experiences with Uber. It was very efficient and the drivers were great. For us, it was the way to go.
Day 1:
Warner Brother’s Studio Tour
Los Angeles is the birthplace of so many of the movies and television shows we have loved over the years and a tour of a studio seemed a logical way to begin. The tour began on the backlots that have appeared in countless scenes in movies and television. Our guide, Tim, explained how “street dressing” changes the look based on the needs of the current process. For example, the street below has appeared in “The Road to Perdition” and in a current movie, “The Showman”.
Warner Brothers New York StreetBig Bang apartment exterior
We visited Stage 16, but internal photos were not allowed. It is one of the the tallest soundstages in the worlds and the tallest in North America. It is approximately 98’ tall inside and has been used in many disaster movies.
The tour also included costumes and props from past films. An entire warehouse was devoted to the actual vehicles from the Batman movies. There were models of superheroes such as Batman and the latest Wonder Woman. There was also a replica of the Central Perk Cafe from “Friends”.
Coffee, “Friends” style
At the Forced Perspective Table, I was able to look like more of a giant than my big guy husband. All just a cool optical illusion.
iPhone photo at the Forced perspective table
We really enjoyed the Warner Brother’s tour, located in Burbank. It is relatively close to the Walk of Fame (WOF), so we visited it next.
The Walk of Fame
It was a wild and crazy place with many in costumes. Larger than I had imagined, covering approximately 1.5 miles, it had stars on both sides of the street. It was very touristy and not at all grand. It is my understanding that there are literally thousands of stars on the walk. Many gift shops and restaurants line the walk. We had lunch at Subway, which was very good, except it did not have a restroom.
Bruce Lee on the Walk of Fame
We spent just a little more time at the Walk of Fame and then returned to our hotel. I wanted to check out the Mexican neighborhood of El Pueblo, which was just under a mile from our hotel. We walked there and looked around a bit. They had what looked to be good restaurants, but we were not hungry. There was a park with a gazebo around which was music and dancing.
We were ready for an adult beverage and an appetizer by the time we made it back to the hotel though. At the Justice Tavern, it was happy hour and we relaxed there for an hour or so. As we were a bit jet-lagged, we turned in early.
Day 2:
Getty Center
The Getty Center, located in the Brentwood neighborhood, is an amazing place and totally free to the public. The Getty is managed by the Getty Trust and stems from the efforts of the famous J. Paul Getty. Land and buildings were estimated in 2013 at $3.9 billion (not including the art). Visitors must pay for parking and then ride a tram to the buildings. The concrete and steal architecture is complex and modern and features a beautiful garden that is a work of art.
Getty Center
The garden covers 134 thousand square feet and is the work of artist Robert Irwin with water as a focal point.
The Getty Central Garden
As beautiful as the buildings and gardens are, they are no more amazing than the art that is displayed in the museum buildings. There is more high-quality art at the Getty than is typically seen in museums of many large cities. For example, van Gogh’s “Irises”, which had a price tag of $53.9 million in 1987 is there. Works by Pissarro, Cezanne, Degas, Sisley, and Monet are displayed in the museum. Sculptures, drawings, and ancient artifacts are also there, but I am always blown away by impressionist art. Below is one of my favorites from the museum.
The Seine near Rouen by Claude Monet
We had lunch at the museum restaurant. The view was beautiful and the ambience of the restaurant was elegant. This was our most expensive meal while in Los Angeles. The presentation was lovely, but it did not include very much food.
Santa Monica Pier
Our next destination was the Santa Monica Pier. It is at the end of the once vital Route 66. The day was relatively warm, but overcast. The boardwalk has several restaurants, food stands, artists, and souvenir stands. Pacific Park is located there with a dozen rides, including a 130 ft. Ferris Wheel. The pier was awash with people, despite the weather.
Santa Monica Pier
Live music was occurring several places along the pier. One group called Lilac performed 80’s rock music. They are a family of brothers and sisters, some of them children. Different music, but it made me think of the Partridge Family. One young lady, Clara Steegs, who performed on the pier as well, had an Alanis Morissette vibe. I liked her so much, we bought her CD. Lastly, a young man danced very robotically. His flexibility and synchronized movements were amazing. We felt very energized being in this area that was so teaming with creative people.
Family band, LilacSteeg
At the end of the pier, fishermen toss their lines. The fish were not biting that day, but there was one very friendly seal that swam by us several times.
Seal near the pier
We shared a famous Japadog Kurabota Terimayo—kurobota pork, onions, Teriyaki sauce, Japanese mayo, and seaweed. It was good, except we did not especially like the seaweed on top. However, the rest of the hot dog was heavenly.
Japadog
We saw the beach and the Pacific, but not at its most beautiful because of the weather. I would love to go back to the pier. I have the feeling it would be a different experience with each visit based on who is performing.
Santa Monica Pier
We were craving coffee and were a little hungry upon leaving the pier. We had a light dinner at Blue Plate Taco, that is very near the pier. It was very good.
Day 3:
Griffith Observatory
I cannot say enough good things about the observatory. For fans of the movie, La La Land, it is well-represented in it and other movies are as well. It is a good place to get a shot of the Hollywood Sign and beautiful views of the surrounding area. We saw a live show in the Planetarium and another live show with real life Big Bang types who demonstrated how to make a comet. Very entertaining!
Griffith Observatory
Chinatown
We ended our day in Chinatown. Unfortunately, it was almost dark when we arrived. We had a delicious dinner at Yang Chow, famous for Slippery Shrimp. They served the best fried rice I have ever had. After dinner, we went in search of a Bruce Lee statue. We found it, but it was quite dark by then. The streets were rather confusing, so it was a scavenger hunt of sorts.
Bruce Lee Statue
Day 4:
Tour of Los Angeles
It was raining on our last full day in the city. To protect us from the elements, we booked a tour with Guideline Tours, which offers a private group tour in a comfortable Mercedes van. The tour covered some of the places we had already been-Downtown, Griffith Park, and The Walk of Fame, but it also included a few movie stars homes, Beverly Hills, and Rodeo Drive, plus a stop at The Farmer’s Market for lunch.
Walt Disney Concert Hall
Our guide, Carlos, was very knowledgeable and well-versed in details and current events of the city. The first stop was back at the Observatory. It was Monday and the observatory was closed, which gave us an opportunity for photos without the crowds.
Griffith Observatory
The stop at the Walk of Fame gave us an opportunity to pick up souvenirs for grandchildren. The tour had a stop at the really cool souvenir shop, La La Land.
Souvenirs and aliens
The tours of the homes was okay, but the homes we saw were from stars years ago who have passed away. We saw the entrances of some big stars homes, but you were really just seeing a gate. I can understand though, they deserve their privacy. We traveled briefly through Rodeo Drive. It was pretty elegant.
Rodeo Drive
Sadly, we were not aware of seeing anyone remotely famous.
Our tour ended with my favorite part, The Original Farmer’s Market. It began as an oil field, but is now a trendy place with shops and wonderful restaurants. We had Brazilian food at Pampas Grill and it was fabulous! You pay a standard price per pound based on the meat that is chosen and you choose sides from a buffet. Inexpensive and delicious!
It was quite rainy and cold after our tour, so we stayed at the hotel the rest of the day, relaxing and getting ready to travel home the next day.
Returning Home
We visited The Original Pantry for breakfast before our fight home. The pancakes taste just like my homemade and I make great pancakes. They give you an unbelievable amount of food for a very reasonable price. It is a Los Angeles landmark with 24 hour operations since 1924. The service was great and we loved the restaurant. Original Pantry link.
This trip was a wonderful break from the cold weather at home. I felt that we had seen most of what we wanted in L.A. so I was not too sad to leave, but I would like to return someday.
