America Road Trip before Heading Back To Singapore

A month has passed since I returned to Singapore. It has been 6 years since I left Singapore. To assimilate to Singapore’s lifestyle after being away for such a long time was not an easy feat. The overcrowded public transport, the heat and the long working hours made it difficult for me to spend quality time with my husband. It is during moments like these that I yearn for a vacation to take us away from the mundane routine.

I am glad that we took a 6 week long America road trip before making our way back to Singapore! Whenever we feel worn out and exhausted, we would look at the pictures we have taken. As we browse the photo albums, we reminisce the wonderful moments we spent together. The memories are priceless and unique to us.

Mt Washburn, Yellowstone National Park, USA

I would urge family members and friends to take a short getaway vacation before major lifestyle changes occur. These major lifestyle changes include first job, career change, marriage and the arrival of a new born baby. Before each major milestone in life, we should take the opportunity to spend quality time with our friends and / or family members. The time we spend together form an everlasting memory that will bond us together.

Arches National Park, USA

 

Big Horn Sheep, USA

My husband and I love food, cultural experience and the great outdoors. In view of our interests, I drew up an itinerary that took us to French speaking Canadian cities (Montreal and Quebec), the Canadian capital city Ottawa and countless National Parks in USA. Whilst enjoying the sights as we drove towards our destinations, we also came up with random conversation topics. These random topics enable us to understand each other better. Moreover, it helped us shaped our new goals and expectations. A vacation does wonder, and it is therapeutic. Additionally, we marveled at the numerous natural wonders that no words can quite adeptly describe.

Mules, Grand Canyon National Park, USA

Bryce Canyon National Park, USA

On a final note, while I was picking photos to complement this post, I saw many photos that we have taken. As I looked at them, my heart felt warm and a smile was on my face. Happy memories are precious. Quality time spent with a loved one is meaningful.

Your Travel Beacon,
Joanne

Travelling with Elderly Parents

Last month, our parents made a visit to USA. My husband and I planned a self-drive USA / Canada trip for them. In this vacation, we took them to the east coast of the America continent. The destinations include Niagara Falls, New York City and Quebec City. We had also made a trip to the national parks of America West. The national parks include Yellowstone National Park, Mt Rushmore National Monument and Grand Canyon National Park.

In our original plan, my husband and I had intentions to savour the French influenced cuisine in Quebec City. We had also intended to explore each national park in great detail. To fully appreciate the beauty of the national parks, the best way is to hike the numerous scenic trails.

Yellowstone National Park

However, when we embarked on our great vacation, things did not go as planned. We had to make special arrangements to accommodate to the needs of our elderly parents. Our ideal plan to savour all the authentic local dishes went out of the window. Our elderly parents have a limited palate for western cuisine. Our French influenced cuisine in Quebec City turned into Chinese stir fry in an unknown restaurant picked up by our GPS. The quest for New York styled cuisine turned into a trip to a Malaysian restaurant in Chinatown.

Laksa, Chinatown New York City

Nasi Lemak, Chinatown New York City

But the food was great, and everyone enjoyed the dining experience very much. While searching for Asian cuisine we unexpectedly found Singapore/Malaysian food in various cities. This satisfied our craving for home food, especially since we have not had Singapore food in a while.

Our dream to hike the scenic national park trails for a complete experience became impossible too. Our elderly parents do not have the stamina to go on these trails. The sulphuric stench in Yellowstone National Park is too strong. The heat in Grand Canyon National Park made it very exhausting from them. It was near impossible for the whole group to go on a long trail. Once again, we made special arrangements to accommodate to their physical condition. We chose easier trails that gave us the best national parks experience. It was not an easy feat to accommodate to everyone's wishes, however it is important to try to understand everyone's abilities and needs. For a family vacation involving elderly parents, it is crucial to make special considerations for them. An altered itinerary can be made equally enjoyable and adds a touch of spontaneity. They have enjoyed the vacation and have had as much fun as we did!

Your Travel Beacon,
Joanne

Eating around the world

One of the best things about travelling is that you get to try different food. I grew up in city where food is well-loved and eating is the nation’s pastime.

Think Boston, and you think of Boston’s lobsters. As the oldest restaurant in Boston and the oldest restaurant in continuous service in the U.S. , the Union Oyster House serves a scrumptious meal of lobsters and oysters.

Lobster meal at The Union Oyster House

 Lobster bisque at Fisherman Wharf in San Francisco. This warm bowl of soup was especially delicious after spending almost the entire day walking around a chilly San Francisco.

Yummy Lobster Bisque at Fisherman's Wharf

These 3 cups of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream may look ordinary. But these were bought fresh from the Ben and Jerry’s ice cream factory in Vermont, making them extra tasty!

Ben & Jerry's at Waterbury, Vermont

Ben & Jerry's Factory Tour

 Famous Sally's Apizza at New Haven, Connecticut. This pizzeria was ranked amongst the top 10 on Travel channel’s American Top 100 Food. Just a few stores down the same street, there was Pepe's Pizzeria – a rival Pizzeria. Of course, we had to try pizzas from both pizzeria on the same night!

Sally's Apizza at New Haven, Connecticut

In Chicago, you have to try its famous deep-dish pizza. Different from its New York’s thin crust pizza, Chicago-style pizza has a buttery crust up to three inches tall at the edge, slightly higher than the large amounts of cheese and chunky tomato sauce, acting as a large bowl.

Giordano's deep dish in Chicago

In Philadelphia, the famous Philly Cheesesteak is a must! A sandwich made from thinly sliced pieces of steak and melted cheese in a long roll – the Philly Cheesesteak is simply delicious. Pat's and Geno's Steaks are some of the best you can find in Philadephia.

Philly Cheesesteak in Philly

 This is what people flying first-class on US Airways eat. I was upgraded to fly first-class after my original fight was cancelled because of a snow storm. While the rest of the people on the flight only had water to drink, we were served real food on real plates!

US Airways First Class Meal

Your Travel Beacon,
Cindy

The Last Frontier - Alaska Part II: Juneau and Glacial Bay National Park

…continued from the previous post

After leaving Denali National Park, the next stop on my itinerary was Juneau and Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve.

Juneau, the capital city of Alaska, springs to life during summer. Many Alaskan cruises dock at Juneau and tourists trawl the streets of Juneau.

The most popular attraction in Juneau is the mighty, magnificent Mendenhall Glacier. Everything about the Mendenhall is massive: its face is 100 feet tall and 1.5 miles wide; its length is over 12 miles. Large as it is, the Mendenhall is just a tiny part of the Juneau Icefield, an expanse of interconnected glaciers that sits atop the mountains behind Juneau. The Icefield covers 1,500 square miles.

Mendenhall Glacier

The Mendenhall Glacier and Visitor Center has great exhibits to learn about the Glacial Phenomenal and to appreciate the enormous size of the Juneau Icefield. It is also the starting point of many hiking trail around the Glacier.

Glacial Ice that has been calved off

As I watched glacial ice drifting in the Mendenhall Glacier lake, I once again thought to myself that nature was truly amazing. I picked up a piece of glacial ice that found its way to shore. The journey this piece of ice took was nothing short of fascinating – taking 250 years to form, calving off the bluish Mendenhall and making its way into my hand. A piece of history without words. Old ice in a new age.

250 year old Glacial Ice

Ride the Mt Robert tramway for one of the most expansive views in SouthEast Alaska. There is the Chilkkat Mountains to the north, the Gastineau Channel to the south, Douglas Island to the west and the Silver Bowl Basin to the East. At the top, you will find hiking trails, an observatory, nature center etc.

View from the top

                  Mount Robert Tramway

Other things you can do is to visit the Douglas Island Pink & Chum Salmon Hatchery to learn about the salmon spawning process and to take the opportunity to taste a variety of salmon samples such as: king salmon dip, salmon caviar, salmon jerky and canned salmon. The Alaskan Brew Company also makes for an interesting visit to learn about brewing and bottling operations while sipping on their gold-rush recipe, Alaskan Amber, and other tasty brews.

Alaskan Brewery

Leaving Juneau, I made my way to the Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve lies west of Juneau and can only be reached by plane or boat. The only road connects it to the small town of Gustavus and its airfield to park headquarters at Bartlett Cove. I reached the town of Gustavus by taking a short 30min ride on a Piper Cherokee Six.

Gustavus Airfield

Glacier Bay was originally discovered by John Muir in 1879 and was proclaimed a U.S. national monument in 1925. The world’s largest protected marine sanctuary, Glacier Bay National Park Preserve has attracted not only tourists wishing to catch a calving glacier up close and personal, but geologists and scientists interested in studying what are thought to be the fastest moving glaciers in the world.

Bartlett Cove

Glacier Bay National Park is one of the most serene places I have visited. I arrived at Bartlett Cove just in time to witness the amber sun set over the Fairweather Mountains. Standing on a boardwalk at the water’s edge, I felt miniscule amidst the vast and tranquil backdrop. I remembered with great regret that I had only scheduled two nights in this idyllic setting.

Sunset at Bartlett Cove

The various travel guidebooks that I had read in preparation for the trip had not prepared me for how breathtaking Glacier Bay truly is.The wonders of Glacier Bay is best described through an unhurried, personal encounter; taking a snapshot with your senses.

I went on a day cruise around Glacier Bay. The Park Ranger onboard my cruise was extremely knowledge. She told us about its history, explained the natural phenomena ongoing in Glacial Bay and pointed out humpback whales, stellar sea lions, different varieties of seabirds, bears etc along the way.

Sea Lions at Marble Island in Glacier Bay

Glacier Bay National Park was the last stop of my Alaskan Adventure. In the future, I would love to return to Alaska and continue to explore the other parts of this beautiful place.

"To the lover of pure wildness Alaska is one of the most wonderful countries in the world." ..."it seems as if surely we must at length reach the very paradise of the poets, the abode of the blessed."-- John Muir

Your Travel Beacon,
Cindy

The Last Frontier - Alaska

One of the nicest places to visit in summer is Alaska. To date, Alaska remains one of the most beautiful places I have been to.

Alaska is different from every other destination in the world. It is a land of superlatives – its vast land size makes it the largest of all U.S. State. In fact, it is larger than all but 18 countries of the world!

The size of Alaska in comparison to the other US states!

I flew into the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport and started my Alaskan adventure in Anchorage. The National Heritage center in Anchorage provides a good understanding of the Alaskan culture and its history. You can also enjoy a good meal of succulent Alaskan crab legs at a relatively reasonable price.

Succulent Alaskan Crab Legs

What I didn’t expect to see was a wild moose sashaying its way down mainstreet downtown Anchorage. It was a wildly unexpected moment for me but a common sight for the locals. Many simply shrugged and laughed. 

Next, I boarded the Alaska Rail to Denali. The best way to see Alaska is on railroad – This is Alaska RailRoad Corporation’s slogan and I wholeheartedly agree.

The Alaskan Railroad Corporation

I am a frequent train traveler but this was the only time I wished my 6 hours journey would never end. The seats were comfortable, the service was great but most importantly, the view was breathtaking. Staring out through the train’s huge glass windows at the spectacular mountain vistas, the tundra landscape and Alaska’s wildlife, I remembered thinking to myself that everyone should visit Alaska and ride the Alaskan Rail at least once in their lifetime. The guides onboard the train were knowledgeable and quick to point out interesting facts and wildlife as we passed them by.

View along the way - you can see the reflection of the train's windows

Ravines along the way

I spent the next few days in Denali National Park. Denali Park is home to North America's highest mountain, Mt. McKinley, towering over 20,300 feet tall.

First peek at Mt. McKinley

The 6 million acre National Park is one of the best opportunities to appreciate the Alaskan wildlife. During my few days at the Denali National Park, I saw black bears, moose, wolves, dall sheep, caribous, otters, bald eagles, golden eagle, beavers and many more. It was an extremely education experience for me.

Roads into Denali Park have restricted access and private vehicles are only allowed on the first fourteen miles. You will almost certainly want to travel further into the Park on a narrated bus tour or Park Service shuttle. I went on the full day Kantishna Wilderness Trails bus tour bringing me deep into Denali Park. The shuttle rides are so popular that reservations are made as far as one year in advance. There are ranger led programs everyday to help you further appreciate Denali.

I also took the time to visit Iditarod Champion’s Jeff King Husky Homestead.

The Iditarod is known as the last great race on earth. It is a race of over 1150 miles of the roughest, most beautiful terrain Mother Nature has to offer. From Anchorage, in south central Alaska, to Nome on the western Bering Sea coast, each team of 12 to 16 dogs and their musher cover over 1150 miles in 10 to 17 days. Add to that temperatures far below zero, winds that can cause a complete loss of visibility, the hazards of overflow, long hours of darkness and treacherous climbs and side hills, and you have the Iditarod.

At Jeff’s Husky Homestead, I met with champion sled dogs, saw the dogs summer training in action, took a one hour narrated kennel tour and even got to cuddle some puppies. Since I doubt that I would plan to visit Alaska to witness the Iditarod race first hand, this was my Iditarod’s experience for me.

Alaskan Husky Puppy asleep in our arms!

Next stop on my itinerary – Juneau and Glacial Bay National Park…to be continued in the next post.

Your Travel Beacon,
Cindy

Disney World - a world for everyone

My 2011 new year’s eve was spent in Walt Disney World, Florida. The park was packed with families, children and adults. About 1 hour before the clock struck midnight, people were making a beeline towards the Cinderella Castle in Magic Kingdom. Everyone wanted to secure a best spot for the countdown and the fireworks display. So did I.

Despite the huge crowd and the numerous Disney parades, there was very little chaos. I am very impressed with Disney World’s crowd control measures. Most importantly, the staff was polite and cheerful!

My personal favourite Disney theme parks will be Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. I love Disney World for its size and convenience. Walt Disney World is also one of the world’s largest recreational resorts. It comprises of 4 parks – Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Epcot and Animal Kingdom.

Penny Press Collection

When you are in the vicinity of Disney World, you will find yourself teleported into a magical world. The outside world no longer exists. All you will see are street signs that point to the Disney World’s attractions and Disney World’s buses. The free Disney buses take visitors to the attractions scattered around this massive resort. There is no need to look out for directions and to find a parking space. You can put your mind at ease and enjoy Disney World.

Disney World’s tagline is 4 worlds 1 park. Each of the 4 worlds are carefully planned to bring out the best in your Disney’s experience. Magic Kingdom is the most popular park for first timers, young children and people who love the iconic Disney’s castle. In this park, you will find the Cinderella Castle and Mickey’s Toontown. These classic Disney’s characters will certainly delight the children. Grown-ups are not left out either. There are exciting rides waiting for them – Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Splash Mountain.

Hollywood Studios offers visitors glimpses of Disney’s Hollywood history and live action shows that bring to life the scenes you have seen in Hollywood action movies. A must see live action show is the Lights, Actions Extreme Stunt show. Younger visitors will enjoy a session of The Magic of Disney Animation.

Stunt show at Disney's Hollywood Studios

Epcot stands for Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. There are 2 major themes in Epcot – The World and Future World. The World showcases architecture and cuisine of 11 representative countries on Earth. Future World allows your imagination to go wild and offers you a look into Earth’s future.

Finally, there is the Animal Kingdom. It is an animal themed park. Without a trip to Africa, you are offered a taste of the safari and adventures in Africa. Do not write off this park as a zoo trip. The thrill ride Expedition Everest makes Animal Kingdom one of the most exciting parks in Disney World.

After a good day of fun, you will probably be dazed when you exit the park. Ushers are prominently placed across the parks and at the exits. They will direct you to the bus terminals that will take you back to the Disney Resorts for a good night of rest.

Disney World is not just for families and children. In fact, it is a worthwhile visit for adults. To be able to immense in this fun and relaxing atmosphere allows me to re-live my childhood and feel young at heart.

Your Travel Beacon,
Joanne

Honeymoon Capital of The World – Niagara Falls

The world is anxiously awaiting the telecast for the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. Like most couples, a honeymoon is almost as important as the wedding itself. This newly married royal couple’s honeymoon destination will certainly ignite a trend for others to follow.

Niagara Falls was dubbed the Honeymoon Capital of The World. This trend was started in 1801 by Joseph Alston and Theodosia Burr. Theodosia was the daughter of US Vice President, Aaron Burr. 3 years later, Napoleon’s brother – Jerome Bonaparte and his wife picked Niagara Falls for their honeymoon. Ever since then, Niagara Falls became a popular honeymoon destination for American, French and many others.

The best time to visit Niagara Falls is from May through October where many major attractions are opened. A classic must do is The Maid of the Mist boat ride. This historical boat ride takes the passengers close to the bottom of the Canadian Horseshoe Falls. Every passenger is given an iconic blue poncho. This protects them from the spraying mist as the huge volume of water falls into the basin.

Canadian Horseshoe Falls

Another not to be missed popular Niagara Falls attraction is Journey Behind The Falls. At Journey Behind The Falls, you will go beneath and behind the waterfalls. Through the viewing portals, you will see veils of white foamy water cascading down. Over at the observation decks, you can see and hear the roars of the waterfall as thousands of gallons of water rush down and tumble down the basin. Standing at the observation deck, you will see the Rainbow Bridge in a distance. This bridge is aptly named. Every so often, you will see beautiful rainbows arch across the bridge.

The many rainbows seen at Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls is equally captivating at night. The falls are illuminated nightly, making it an extremely romantic location to take a stroll. On weekends, there is also a spectacular firework display.

Niagara Falls is massive and spectacular. Niagara Falls continues to captivate people for generations. When you visit Niagara Falls, you will marvel at this magnificent work of nature.

Your Travel Beacon,
Joanne

Hiring a car overseas - What to look out for

I am planning a trip to Mt Rushmore National Memorial to pay tribute to the massive sculpture comprising of the heads of the four former United States presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln, carved into the granite surface of Mt Rushmore. While I was doing my preparatory research on the region, many travel books and resources that I have come across state that the best way to explore the area is by car. I own a car in the US and that helps!

However, regardless of whether you own a car or hire a car, there are a few things that you need to prepare when going on a self drive vacation. For owners of car, you have to perform several checks to ensure that the car is road worthy, however since many of us will be travelling from Singapore to overseas for a short term vacation, most of us will be more concern about what we do need to look out for when hiring a car. 

1. Reputation of the hiring company
Although small local car hiring companies generally offer very attractive prices, you have to read the terms and conditions carefully. There could be additional charges for taking the vehicle out of a certain region, or you can only return the vehicle at very limited locations. You might also want to find out the pick-up location of the vehicle – is it close to where you are, and if not, do they provide complimentary customer pick-ups? You would also want to find out about the availability of after-hours services and roadside assistance while you are on self drive vacation. 

2. After-hours customer services
With a hired car, it can be possible that there are a lot of features that you are not familiar with. Some of the newer cars may require you to push a certain button in order to activate the engine. Or you may need assistance to find the switch for the boot or headlamps. Or there could be something that is totally unexpected and it happens while you have left the hiring company. Is there a number that you can call for assistance? Are they available 24/7? Having a number to call 24/7 may not be necessary for the above mentioned trivial matters, however a 24/7 number is very essential for roadside assistance!

3. Roadside assistance
Knock on wood. Most of us will prefer our self drive vacation to be trouble and hassle free. However, unexpected things may happen. For instance, my car was broken into in Missouri, USA and I lost a GPS and suffered a broken passenger window! In some parts of USA, it is common for cars to hit a deer, and in Australia, it is common to run into a kangaroo. When something like the above happens, you will like to receive support and help from the car hiring company. Of course, the first thing to do when you are involved in a theft or accident is to call the police. The next thing to do is to call the call hiring company. You will like to have a company that will come up to your location, pick up the damaged vehicle and most importantly provide you with a new vehicle so that you can continue with your journey with minimal disruptions! Before you hire a car, price should not be the only factor. Consider the availability of roadside assistance and after-hours customer services to be of equal importance.

4. Insurance and Liability Protection
In the US, the prices quoted for hired cars are generally without insurance and liability protection. Insurance and liability protection can be optional. However, I will strongly recommend purchasing them in the event of an unexpected incident. It could be possible that different companies offer slightly different insurance and liability protection, it is advisable to read your car rental contract carefully. Based on my personal experience with car rental, there is Damage Waiver, Supplemental Liability Protection and Personal Accident Insurance. In brief, I will attempt to describe what they are. However, they are not to be taken as a matter of fact! You should always read your car rental contract carefully especially the fine prints. Damage waiver contractually waives the renter’s damage responsibility for all of the cost of damage to vehicle. Supplemental liability protection provides renter with minimum financial responsibility limits. Personal accident insurance provides renter and renter’s passengers with accidental death, accidental medical expenses and ambulance expense benefits.

My damaged passenger window - Driving to get it fixed

5. Personal travel insurance
Regardless of whether you purchase the insurance and liability protection mentioned above, you should try not to travel out of Singapore without personal travel insurance. If you intend to have a self drive vacation, it may be advisable to look into travel insurance that provides optimal protection for yourself, your travel companions and third parties.

Finally, be safe and stay safe. Enjoy that self drive vacation!

Your Travel Beacon,
Joanne

Should I check in luggage?

My brother recently booked a 4D3N to Hong Kong on a budget airline and asked me “Jie, should I pay $15 to check in my luggage?” My answer was a definite no-no. $15 is a tiny sum, but the inconvenience of losing your luggage is way more costly.

I had my luggage waylaid and delayed so many times, I almost feel that my luggage has more frequent flyer miles than I do! These days, I try my best not to check in any luggage when I travel.

It’s just way too troublesome dealing with airline staff. I usually lose my luggage when flying into the US because I am unable to make my connecting flight. When landing in the US, you are required to clear immigration at your first port of entry before catching your connection flight to your destination city.

However, clearing the US immigration is a nightmare. The line for non-residents is snaking and slow. US immigration officers usually give priority to processing their own citizens before attending to non-residents. In addition, increased security measures have made clearing immigration a much draggy process. What this means is that my connecting flight would have departed while I was still waiting to clear immigration. The airline will schedule you to depart on the next available flight but this is where your luggage goes missing - because you are now travelling on a different flight, your luggage tags may not be properly updated and they get lost in the realm of air travel.

As this is such a common incident, the airline staff do not share the same sense of urgency as you do when you report your missing luggage. Airline staff will also not commit to the expected arrival or whereabouts of your luggage. Reuniting with your luggage can be a tiresome and frustrating experience.

Where is my luggage??

Most budget airlines do not have a proper system to deal with delayed luggage and compensation. Recently, while helping a friend deal with lost luggage compensation , I was appalled to read on their website that the only means of communication was through snail-mail or fax. There was no telephone number or email address and I was to expect a response in “21 days”.

Granted you may have purchased travel insurance that will compensate you monetarily, travel insurance will not compensate you for the inconvenience and emotional stress that you may endure. You should be enjoying every moment of your holiday and not be worrying about your luggage.

Pack light AND optimally – you’ll be amazed at how much you can actually fit into a modest carry-on bag. Last December, I did a 2 week South America trip. I was staying at each city for a few nights before moving on to the next. My itinerary also consisted of domestic flights and train rides. Imagine if my luggage went missing at some point - I would have had a hard time arranging a delivery location with the airline staff as I was constantly on the move!

My trusty carry-on bags

Of course, it is not always feasible to avoid checking in any luggage. Long haul trips usually require a bigger bag that will not fit in the overhead cabin compartment. TSA’s restriction on the amount of liquids allowed in your carry-on bag forces one to check in luggage. My advice: Always hand-carry a change of clothes and essentials. Of course, travel insurance is a must.

Your Travel Beacon,
Cindy

Jambalaya and Crawfish Pie and Fillet Gumbo – New Orleans

The lyrics and melody from Carpenters’ international hit “Jambalaya (On the Bayou)” was constantly ringing in my head during my recent trip to New Orleans, Louisiana. Undoubtedly, New Orleans is world famous for its unique southern cuisine that is strongly influenced by New Orleans’ colourful past. Historically, New Orleans saw the inhabitation of French, Spanish, Native Americans and Africans. The cultural and culinary interactions between these groups of early settlers in New Orleans saw the birth of a culinary style that belongs to the people of New Orleans. Gumbo is a soup from New Orleans whose main ingredients include seafood, okra, onions, bell peppers and celery. Each of these key ingredients in Gumbo is introduced to New Orleans by the early settlers. Just like the dish Gumbo, New Orleans mix of cultures that co-existed for many centuries forms a Gumbo, a cultural style and way of living that can only be found in New Orleans.

Voodoo Gift Shop, Bourbon Street

A visit to New Orleans begins with a stroll along the many famous streets in the French Quarter lined with southern cuisine restaurants, jazz bars and novelty stores. Whilst in French Quarter admiring the French influenced architecture, a trip to the novelty stores allows you to pick up interesting t-shirts and souvenirs with loud provoking messages and a taste of the voodoo culture in this part of the country. A culinary experience is not to be missed for visitors of New Orleans. Many restaurants in the French Quarter serve deliciously tasty southern cuisine such as the Gumbo, Jambalaya, Crawfish Etouffee and Po-Boys. If you get tired and need a place to rest, Café Du Monde is a perfect place to stop, sip a cup of coffee and savour some Beignets – the official state doughnut of Louisiana.

Shrimp Po-Boys

Beignets

While you are in the French Quarter, pay a visit to Jackson Square. In Jackson Square, you will find the awe inspiring equestrian statue of the seventh President of the United States – Andrew Jackson, with the Saint Louis Cathedral set in the background. The cathedral is a minor basilica designated by Pope Paul VI in 1964.

Jackson Square, French Quarter

As night falls, the jazz bars in Bourbon Street start to come alive. Many bars open their doors and windows. As you walk along Bourbon Street, you can take a peek at the crowd in the bars and the jazz bands. The jazz music cannot be missed with the doors and windows wide open. Also along the street, you can find wannabe jazz musicians buskering. It is all very lively and vibrant.

For jazz fans, do not miss the Preservation Hall. It is an old dark building situated in the French Quarter that you need to keep an eye out for it in the day. At night, you will not miss this seemingly unattractive building because there is a long line forming outside the gates of the hall, with many jazz fans waiting eagerly to get a ticket to watch a live jazz performance.

Your Travel Beacon,
Joanne

Spring in D.C. - U.S. Greatest Springtime Celebration

As spring arrives, a nice place to visit at this time of the year in the U.S. will be Washington D.C. Simply known as D.C., the capital of the United States is not part of any U.S. State, but a special district created to serve as the nation’s permanent capital and directly overseen by the federal government.

Each year, the National Cherry Blossom Festival celebrates spring in Washington, DC, the gift of the cherry blossom trees and the enduring friendship between the people of the United States and Japan. Lining the Tidal Basins, the Cherry Blossom makes D.C a very pretty sight at this time of the year.

Cherry Blossom

Most people visit D.C. as part of a stopover point on a U.S East Coast trip and spend not more than 2 days in the capital. However, it is simply impossible to fully appreciate D.C. in 2 short days. Visiting its many monuments and exploring its countless museums will take at least a week!

The 13 Smithsonian Museums at the National Mall region will take at least 3-5 days to explore. Of course, depending on your interest, you might decide to spend more time at a certain museum and skip another museum totally. All the Smithsonian Museums are free to visit so it is certainly a good idea to allocate enough time to visit them.

Sights not to be missed are the White House, Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial to name a few. There are various tours, which require prior reservations that will bring you around the sights. Personally, I found the guides very knowledgeable and that helped me understand U.S. history and better appreciate the many monuments.

US Capitol

 An activity for young kids will be to purchase a U.S. National Park Passport and to get them stamped at the various monuments. The stamps are similar in nature to passport stamps stamped in a traveler's national passport and serve as a record of the visit. Collecting these stamps can be a very fun and educational activity for the little ones.

U.S. National Park Passport Stamps

Your Travel Beacon,
Cindy