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Is A Trip To Alcatraz Really Worth It?

I have always had a fascination with Alcatraz. From watching Clint Eastwood’s “Escape From Alcatraz”. To the Nicolas Cage and Sean Connery movie “The Rock”. The whole ongoing mystery did they survive or not. Are they soaking up the sun somewhere in Mexico?

So when we decided to take a trip to San Francisco, the number one excursion on my list was to see Alcatraz. And it did not disappoint. So if you can nab some tickets, definitely go!

Just make sure to start looking early. Three months before our trip I checked online and they were all sold old. After looking every few days for tickets, a date that would work for us opened up. If you can’t find tickets online, the other option is to get to Pier 33 early in the morning and line up for last minute tickets. Every day they release a certain amount.

The only way to get to Alcatraz is by taking the ferry over from Alcatraz Cruises. Just head to Pier 33 located near Fisherman’s Wharf on Embarcadero Street. There will be a sign with your ferry departure time on it to start lining up behind.

You are required to arrive 30 minutes before your departure time. The earlier, the better your chances of getting a seat on the upper deck of the ferry. This is also the best place to get some great pictures of the San Francisco skyline as you pull away.

The ferry ride over only takes about 15 minutes. Then your group will meet in an area for a quick briefing from a Ranger.

After you’ll walk up a hill and have the option of watching a short video on Alcatraz or you can just start your tour.

When you get to the top of the hill, you’ll enter the main prison door. Here they’ll hand you an audio player for your self guided tour.

After picking up your audio headset, you’ll notice the prisoner shower area.

Then you’ll walk through an area where the prisoners received their prison uniforms.

The best time to get to the island is early in the morning before it gets too crowded. Give yourself a couple hours on Alcatraz to have time to listen to the whole commentary and extra time to wander around after.

We found the audio commentary to be very well done. You can stop and pause it at any time. Then restart again when your ready to carry on.

The day we were there, the former prisoner William Baker was doing a book signing for his Alcatraz #1259 book.

Then when you are ready to leave, just make your way back down to the ferry dock. There is a schedule posted letting you know the daily departure times.

The tour might be a little pricey, but definitely worth it. Another one to check off the bucket list!

Discover the Beauty of Bath UK Today

While we only had a short 3 days in London, we decided to take a trip to Bath UK. Also I’d heard so much about this town and was looking forward to seeing it in person.

The National Express bus is about your most affordable option. I’ve seen tickets for less than $3 round trip. Just make sure to book as far in advance as you can. Each way will take around 3 hours. On the way, you’ll notice Windsor Castle to the left.

I fell in love with Bath as soon as we arrived! All of the buildings in town are a beautiful honey colour. Each built in the Georgian architectural style. Any new buildings built must follow their strict guidelines to keep with Bath’s style.

The Circus was built in 1754. A perfect example of Georgian architecture. You could sit in the centre of it and just imagine what living here would have been like in the 1700’s.

The Bath Abbey with seating for 1200, is still used for religious services and concerts to this day.

The Pulteney Bridge crosses over the Avon River. Walking along the bridge you’ll see elegant shops on each side. From the outside, you’d never even know the shops existed.

The Roman Bath’s are probably the main reason most people visit this town. They give you headphones to wear, so you can listen to the commentator in any language. You’ll learn about the history of when the Roman’s occupied Bath.

I was surprised to learn, you can even rent out the Roman Bath’s for parties and weddings.

Something you need to try in Bath is a Sally Lunn bun. It is a large bun served hot right out of the oven with butter. The history of making them goes all the way back to 1780.

Bath has an open top, hop on hop off bus tour that will take you to all the main sites. The whole tour takes about an hour and cost $20. Since the town is easy to get around, I’d recommend taking one of the free walking tours.

The mayor of Bath will take you on a 2 hour free tour of the town. You just show up at the Abbey Church Yard at 10:30 & 14:00 any day of the year.

If you love to shop, you won’t be disappointed in Bath. There are plenty of specialty shops and high end stores to suit everyone.

Make sure to wander down the side streets. Some of the best hidden gems are tucked away waiting to be discovered.

We loved our short stay in Bath. You won’t be disappointed if you ever get the chance to go!

How to Spend 24 Hours in Glenwood Springs Colorado

Situated about 41 miles from Aspen Colorado is a town called Glenwood Springs. We chose to make this a stop for the night to break up our train journey from Illinois to California. There is so much to see and do in this small town that we’d recommend staying longer if you have the time.

As soon as you get off the train you’ll notice how clean and quaint the town is. Glenwood Springs is located in a valley along the Colorado River. Look in the distance and you’ll see these dramatic reddish coloured cliffs.

The whole town is very walkable and has some really cute boutique stores. We saw a few sweet shops selling treats like chocolate, fudge, candy and ice cream. Book stores, a candle shop, galleries featuring local artists, and several restaurants and pubs.

Our favourite restaurant was The Lost Cajun. From the moment you walk in the door, the staff make you feel like family. They will prepare you the freshest Louisiana style food around. With items like seafood gumbo, crawfish étouffée, and fried catfish. Delicious!

We had our very first beignets (fried pastry donut topped with powdered sugar) here. After we asked the waitress what it was, not being from the south.

This small town of close to 10 000, has been known for their hot springs for over 100 years. Glenwood Hot Springs is the largest hot springs in town. A stay in this lodge includes a hot breakfast and unlimited access to their hot springs.

We went to the newer hot springs called Iron Mountain Hot Springs . This one includes several smaller pools at varying temperatures. The best choice if your looking for a quieter more intimate atmosphere.

In the winter Glenwood Springs becomes a popular ski resort for families. But in the summer, the town really comes alive with an abundance of outdoor activities.

There are several outfitters available to help visitors plan their day. Mountain biking, paragliding, whitewater rafting, kayaking, ATV tours, fishing, rock climbing, horseback riding, and caving are all possible in the surrounding area.

And if your still looking for something to do, you can check out the Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park. A tram will take you to the top of the mountain. There you’ll find several rollercoasters, and other thrill rides. All with an amazing view of the Rocky Mountains and Colorado River in the distance.

While we were waiting for our train to arrive, we met a retired man at the station. He told us how Glenwood Springs has become a popular location for retirees. Because of it’s proximity to Aspen, and how they offer free bus transportation for seniors age 65 and up. Plus with all the therapeutic hot springs in town, who can blame them!

Riding the Rails on the California Zephyr Amtrak Train

There seems to be something nostalgic about riding the rails. I remember in grade 5 listening to my teacher tell stories about hopping on trains and riding for free. And all the fascinating places he described that he’d visited. As a 10 year old, that seemed like the perfect life. Just wandering from place to place like a hobo with your knapsack.

Gone are the days when that is even legal. But surprisingly you can still find some very economical deals.

A few months back, I came across an article about the Amtrak trains in the United States. I found if you travel coach and not in the high season, you can find some decent prices.

I hadn’t been on a train since high school. On a grade 12 French exchange trip, the class road the Via Rail train from Ontario to Quebec for a 12 hour journey. The time seemed to fly by. Jerry hadn’t been on a train since high school either.

So after checking out our options, we decided on the California Zephyr. This trip is considered to be one of the most scenic rides in the U.S. In 51 hours it will take you from Chicago, Illinois to Emeryville, California. You will go from Illinois through Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, and on to California. Then Amtrak will shuttle you by bus to downtown San Francisco in about 40 minutes. While your waiting on the train at Union Station, we recommend that you check out the Legacy Club Lounge.

We went in early May which is still considered the off season. So the cost per person came to $136 U.S. for coach seats. Unless you choose to hop off at different stops for the night. Then the cost increases slightly. Or if you decided to splurge on a Roomette, the cost would jump to $706. But the Roomette’s also include all meals and a private bathroom complete with a shower.

We chose to go coach and get off in Glenwood Springs , Colorado for the night just to break up the trip. It was a nice switch up after trying to sleep on the train. And after 24 hours we appreciated the shower at the hotel.

Once we boarded the train, we were impressed with the amount of legroom and space we had. We loved how the seats came with a footrest to stretch out on. And an outlet at every pair of seats to keep your laptop charged.

There is a viewing car near the centre of the train. The first half of the journey from Chicago to Denver, there was always a seat available. But once we got into the more scenic Rocky Mountains and Sierra Nevadas, people seemed to “camp out” there all day. We found our own personal seat just as good for taking pictures and watching the beautiful scenery go by.

There are 5 bathrooms per car situated in the lower area. These are shared with both the upper and lower level. The first half of our ride, we found them to be fairly clean. Although they could use a renovation, they were definitely passable. The second half (a 27 hour ride), you didn’t venture in near the end of the trip unless you had to.

Some of the Amtrak trains will allow you to bring a bike on board. This requires a reservation and costs anywhere from $5 to $20.

Something fairly new is being able to take your small cat or dog on board for $25. The pets can’t weigh more than 20 pounds or the trip be longer than 7 hours. Be sure to reserve ahead. They have a maximum of 5 pets per train.

The food available on board is fairly expensive. There is a dining car for breakfast, lunch and supper. And also a cafe car where you can pick up quick snacks and drinks like coffee, soda, muffins, chips, hot dogs and breakfast sandwich’s.

We brought our own nuts, chips, granola bars and cookies for a snack. And opted to buy breakfast on board each day. It’s nice to sit in the dining car at least once on the train. They will seat you with other passengers. So you get a chance to meet your fellow train travellers. We met a nice couple from Wisconsin, and another couple from England who were on a train journey circling the U.S. Before we boarded each day, we purchased a pizza to eat for dinner. We saw people bringing coolers on board full of food.

Overall we have mixed reviews on our train journey. We were lucky the trains both times were only half full. So at night we could have two seats to ourselves and stretch out. Definitely a lot easier to sleep than on a plane. But the wining and crying two year old twins a couple seats back from us kind of ruined the peacefulness of the ride. Be sure to bring earplugs. They will also come in handy if your seat mates snore.

Our saving grace was our iPads. We pre loaded them with a few Netflix series. Then binge watched them to pass the time. Or downloading some audio books ahead of time would work. I saw some people with a deck of cards, crossword puzzles, knitting and even one guy with his checkers waiting for anyone to join him in a game.

We brought some comfortable sweat pants to change into at night. I wouldn’t recommend pyjamas, although you will see some that do wear them. I was glad to have a blanket and pillow with me too. It can get kind of chilly on board. Especially at night.

Travelling by train isn’t exactly a quick way to get somewhere. But compared to a plane, you have a lot more freedom to walk around. And a decent baggage allowance. You get to see scenery you otherwise wouldn’t. The environment is very safe. And best of all you’ll meet some interesting characters!

Our Tour Of Facebook Headquarters May 11, 2017 May 25, 2017 Destinations Kimberley Leave a Comment on Our Tour Of Facebook Headquarters If you drive about 45 minutes south of San Francisco you’ll find a small city called Menlo Park. Situated in Menlo Park is the main Headquarters for Facebook. With an address named what else but 1 Hacker Way.

The only way to receive a tour of Facebook is by knowing someone who works there. Luckily for us, our nephew Adam is an employee.

Our first impression of the place was of how huge it was. So big that we actually went to the wrong building to meet Adam. Right now there are two main buildings. While construction is on going for a third to be built.

The building we first arrived at was the original one. This building covers the size of two football fields. Definitely a place you could get lost in.

After we checked into the visitor centre, we had a comfy lounge to wait in. Complete with a help yourself to any drinks fridge.

Once Adam arrived by bike (since he works in the second building), we were off on our tour.

Walking around on the grounds is like touring a small village. Complete with trees, benches and walkways. And a massive amount of people heading in all directions.

Since it was lunch time when we arrived, our nephew asked us what kind of food we’d like to eat. We were blown away by all the options. We chose pasta and had a delicious selection at the buffet. And once again a fridge full of sodas, organic juices, specialty teas and waters. Outside not far away was a smoker cooking meat for the barbecued foods section.

After lunch we stopped by the Facebook clothing store. I picked out a T-shirt souvenir, then we continued on our tour.

Of course we couldn’t leave out dessert! So we headed over to the ice cream parlour. There you have your choice of several flavours. Complete with a help yourself toppings bar. And if ice cream isn’t your thing, there are many other squares and treats to satisfy your sweet tooth. The most amazing part was that it’s all on the house for any employees and visitors.

Then it was time to head over to see the building Adam works in. For staff, they have the option of jumping on a bike to go between buildings. Visitors can take the shuttle or walk.

What surprised me with the interiors was how quiet it seemed. Even though you can talk all you want. The sound didn’t seem to carry.

The ceilings are very high inside with all open duct work creating an airy feel. No tiny cubicle’s for anyone. Just wide open area’s to create the next big idea!

This second building comes complete with an outdoor garden oasis on the roof. We walked around admiring all the beautiful flowers and trees.

There are different gazebos and benches to sit at all over the roof. Such a great idea for the employees. Just bring your laptop outside and enjoy the warm sun, while not getting behind on your work.

Over in this building we also found a smoothie bar. Plus different areas that have baskets full of things like granola bars, chocolate bars, and various other snacks to get you through the day.

If you ever get the chance to visit, jump on it. We thoroughly enjoyed our tour here. Definitely one of the highlights of our trip to California.

A Weekend Guide To Frankenmuth Michigan

Frankenmuth is a quaint village situated in central Michigan. Settled in 1845 by a group of German immigrants, the town has retained its heritage and culture. With beautiful storybook like shops and restaurants lining the streets, it’s no wonder it has been nicknamed “Michigans Little Bavaria”. There is always something to see and do for couples or families alike. 48 hours here will give you a nice length of time to experience the sites and check out some of the delicious bakeries, cafes and restaurants.

Every year Frankenmuth celebrates Oktoberfest in September. Complete with authentic entertainment, dancing and of course German beer! So if you can’t make it to Germany, Michigan is always another option.

Summer is the perfect time for a romantic weekend getaway. You can take a wine and chocolate tasting river tour on a electric powered boat. A 1 hour narrated tour on the Bavarian Belle Paddlewheel Riverboat.

Stroll around the various fudge, chocolate, and taffy stores. Go to Frankenmuth Brewery for a tour and check out their award winning beers. Or take a scenic horse-drawn carriage ride back in time.

A trip to Frankenmuth wouldn’t be complete without trying their world famous chicken dinners. We highly recommend the Bavarian Inn. The servers wear authentic attire and you will not go away hungry with this all-you-can-eat meal. We love that they include some vegetarian options on their menu.

While your there, have a look at the Glockenspiel Tower that was imported from Germany. Every day at 12, 3, 6, and 9pm, you can hear it ring.

Just across from the Tower is a 239 foot covered bridge. This bridge was built similar to the Black Forest style. How cute is this!

Families will love the indoor waterparks at the Bavarian Inn Lodge, or Zehnder’s Splash Village. The mirror maze at the River Place Shops. Zip lining at the Adventure Park. Or visiting Rau’s Country Store for their huge selection of nostalgic candy and gifts. This will definitely take you back to your childhood remembering all the penny candies.

Not to be missed when you first arrive in town, is the Bronner’s Christmas Store. They are the world’s largest Christmas store. Situated on 27 acres, complete with over 50000 decorations and strands of lights illuminating the outdoors every night of the year.

Inside you’ll find everything Christmas imaginable displayed in over one and half football field size rooms. Complete with your favourite Christmas music that will stick in your head for hours.

Frankenmuth Bavarian Inn -Bavarian style with an indoor waterpark and world famous dinners

Marv Herzog Hotel -Bavarian style setting with breakfast and a riverside beer garden

Drury Inn and Suites Frankenmuth -comes with breakfast and evening socials

Pasty Haus – delicious savoury and sweet pasties. Ours came with a scoop of ice cream for dessert.

La Crepe du Jour- small cafe with warm, fresh crepes

Frankenmuth Bavarian Inn – all-you-can-eat chicken dinners

Zehnder’s of Frankenmuth -famous chicken dinners with a costume character named “fritz”

8 Travel Tips For Visiting Ireland

1. Be Brave And Rent A Car

If you’re coming from North America like us, you can’t imagine how narrow the roads really are. We affectionately referred to them as the bike paths. Our first mistake though, was letting our car rental company upgrade us to a larger car. Bad idea!

Even this car was too large for certain roads

Also for some reason, Ireland has a ton of roundabouts. Knowing this ahead of time, we watched a few YouTube video’s about other driver’s mishaps. This helped us a bit for driving roundabouts on the opposite side of the road.

In the end, we still wouldn’t have traded our experience and freedom we had doing it any other way.

2. Stay At A Few Airbnb’s

This was one of the highlights of our trip! There is no better way to get a feel for the country than staying with one of the locals in their own home. We had a private cottage at one. And even a castle at another. It’s completely true what they say about the Irish. Their hospitality and sense of humour can’t be beat. Also a great way to get caught up on your laundry if you’ve been travelling for a while. We made sure to look for accommodations that included a washer and dryer. Some of our favourites were Peter’s Castle in Galway, and Riona’s cottage near Killarney. Click here to get $50 off your first stay with Airbnb.

A circular driving route along some of the most spectacular scenery in Southwest Ireland. 179 km long all together.

This is where you’ll find Killarney National Park, Ross Castle and Molls Gap. We took a side trip around Skellig Ring. You won’t find any tour buses on this road. And for good reason! At some points I wondered how our car would make it through the narrow openings. But it’s all worth it for the panoramic views.

We only had time for a day in the area. But if you have longer, there are places to stay on the Skellig Ring. And a delicious seafood restaurant called The Moorings.

4. Cliffs Of Moher And The Burren

The Burren in Western Ireland will make you feel like you’ve landed on the moon.

You can take a day tour from Dublin if you’re short on time. This will be approximately a 3 hour bus ride each way.

After viewing the Cliffs, we went underground to see Doolin Cave, home of a 23 foot stalactite.

Ireland is known for their abundance of castles. Over 1000 spread out on the island. One of our favourites was the Kilkenny Castle.

In southern Ireland you’ll find the Bantry House and Gardens. It’s an 18th century mansion with incredible architecture. You can stay there for the night, or take one of their day tours. We had amazing 20 degree weather when we were there. Perfect for strolling the grounds after.

Also one of our favourites was the Powercourt Estate and Gardens. Just the gardens alone are worth a visit. It’s about an hour drive south from Dublin. Another idea for a great day trip!

Your trip to Ireland wouldn’t be complete without experiencing dinner in a traditional pub. On most weekends you can hear the traditional Irish music playing. This is where we would often hear Irish Gaelic being spoken. And we noticed all their road signs include English and Irish Gaelic on them.

Londonderry (also called Derry) is a walled city built in the 1600’s. The Tower Museum is well worth visiting. They tell the story of the city from its origin to present day. The tour was much more than we expected. Very fascinating!

In northern Ireland there are thousands of unusual hexagonal-shaped pillars. They are located at a World Heritage Site called Giants Causeway. A guide takes your group out to the rock formations. Then you can return at your own leisure. Also if you’re feeling up to the climb, there are 4 hiking trails. We could have spent the day here. The views are unbelievable!

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