Category: Tours

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Conde Nast Traveler Awards

Best of the Best type lists have always interested me. I compare my opinion to what’s on the list or see if there are new places I want to try. Condé Nast Traveler recently put out their list of “2020 Readers Choice Awards”. Condé Nast Traveler is recognized as a luxury and lifestyle travel magazine with a motto of “Truth in Travel”. They have articles on a wide range of the travel topics, world wide,  including destinations, hotels, food and beverage, airlines, trains, etc. 

One list on the Readers Choice Awards was the top ten islands in the United States. Of course, Hawaii had three listed – Maui was  #2, Oahu was #6 and Lanai was #10. Florida had three – Marco Island #3 (near Naples on the Paradise Coast), Longboat Key #8 (on the west coast) and Amelia Island #9 (on the northeast coast). St Simons and Little St Simons in Georgia was #4. South Carolina also had three – Isle of Palms #7, Kiawah Island #5 and the NUMBER 1 island in the US was Hilton Head Island! 

I know most of you would have some questions about their top beaches list. Although Coligny Beach at Hilton Head is on the list as well as the beach at Kiawah, there was no mention of Edisto or Folly, a serious omission. But I guess no list is perfect.

Other topics on their list include best  hotels, best cities, best  resorts, best spa resorts, best countries, best islands, best trains, top hotels in many cities all over the world, and travel choices for Europe, US, Asia, Mexico, Canada, Caribbean and Atlantic, Central and South America, Australia and the Pacific, Africa and the Middle East. They also list readers choices for cruise lines and islands, airlines, airports and trains. They publish a magazine and have an internet presence for interesting and pertinent information about lots of travel options.

In the future I will focus on some of the other lists and make comments about the places we have been.

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Civil War Sites

Civil War Sites

History buffs have a lot of historic sites to visit in South Carolina. From Fort Sumter to Parris Island, South Carolina is absolutely brimming with Civil War and American history. 

We have the site of the first shot of the Civil War in Charleston at Fort Sumter National Monument. The National Monument also includes the Visitor Center on Patriots Point and Fort Moultrie on Sullivan’s Island. The Fort Sumter National Memorial is a fascinating look into the beginning of that war. There are preserved elements at Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie with still standing artillery and other historic items. A visit to the Charleston Museum will give you a better understanding of the importance of these sites. It has an exhibit called “City Under Siege” which gives interesting details about what lead to the secession and the battle at Fort Sumter. While you are in Charleston, the Secessionville Historic District on James Island is a collection of sites and structures relevant to the Civil War.

No Civil War history would be complete without a visit to River Bridge State Historic Site. It is on a 400 acre site about seven miles from Ehrhardt. You can do a walking tour which lets you view the mostly intact Civil War fortifications and the cemetery.

Even our State House in Columbia has Civil War significance. It narrowly avoided complete destruction during Sherman’s march in 1865. The building has six bronze stars marking where artillery batteries hit the building.

The SC State Museum in Columbia features a Confederate Relic room, a Military Museum, as well as an impressive Civil War collection. There is a replica of the H.L. Hundley submarine (you can see the original in Charleston), several copies of the original Ordnance of Secession as well as plenty of authentic artifacts.

 At the Parris Island Museum at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot near Beaufort, you can get an in-depth look into several Civil War conflicts taking place around the Port Royal Sound area. There are several Confederate Museums in SC. The Confederate Museum in Charleston houses a collection of Civil War goods and items. Greenville is home to the South Carolina Confederate Museum. Myrtle Beach is home to the South Carolina Civil War Museum which features authentic firearms, uniforms, and other artifacts.

There is lots of history in our state offering in depth looks into the era and you can have fun learning.

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Destinations to Explore

Alaska is an amazing state. You can cruise between May and September, perfect for school vacations! Alaska has breathtaking scenery, amazing wildlife, and spectacular glaciers. You can see whales, go dog sledding, visit frontier towns, go on amazing helicopter tours, and see glaciers calving. It is a fabulous experience! You can cruise on the major cruise lines or some of the smaller lines for more adventurous cruising.

Hawaii is an exotic place with several islands to explore. The good part of traveling to Hawaii is you don’t need a passport. After all, it is part of the United States. You can whale watch from November to early May and visit sea turtle sanctuaries. There are extinct and active volcanos to visit; beautiful beaches from pink sand to black sand; stunning cleaved, green-clad volcanic cliffs dripping down to the sea, cascading waterfalls and many more awesome sights to see. And where else can you go to an authentic traditional luau?

How about the Fjords of Norway, Sweden, or Iceland? Fjords are beautiful, long, narrow inlets with steep sides or cliffs, created by glacial erosion and offer beautiful vistas. Speaking of Iceland, you can go for the Northern Lights, several national and state parks, rainbow colored mountains, the Blue Lagoon where you can swim in the healing waters, black sand beaches, geothermal pools, and urban cities as well as stunning scenery.

Imagine, visiting Antarctica and seeing penguin colonies, soaring glacier cliffs, calving icebergs, whale seals, albatross. There are icebreaker ships and expedition ships which have experts and naturalists for learning about wildlife, geology, oceanography, glaciology and history. Visit the Galapagos Island and see giant tortoise, sea lions, birds, iguanas beautiful white sand beaches, hiking, diving and snorkeling. 

Australia offers the iconic landmarks in Sydney, beautiful beaches with lots of surfing, and of course, The Great Barrier Reef. You can visit a number of World Heritage Sites including the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, the Blue Mountains and the Rainforestation National Park, ride a camel along the shore, or learn the secrets to pearl farming,  New Zealand has black sand beaches and the world’s yacht racing capital, Auckland. Inside Auckland’s Waitomo Grotto, you will see the glittering glowworms, or enjoy an exclusive kiij at Maori and Polynesian exhibits. Along Akaroa’s Southern Alps you can see the white-flippered blue penguins and fur seals. New Zealand is home to Maori legends and steaming volcanic lakes.

Mediterranean cruise vacations are packed with history and culture. You can have sun and sand or just enjoy the natural beauty of the area and become immersed in the number of diverse cultures in the countries on the Mediterranean. Some of the countries include Italy, Spain, the Greek Islands, Malta, Croatia, Turkey, Portugal and Egypt. Or you can cruise the Italian or French Riviera. The Baltic Sea cruises visit Scandinavian cities such as Copenhagen, Helsinki, Stockholm, plus St. Petersburg in Russia.

Or try a non-sea cruise. River cruising is on small ships typically less than 200 passengers. Rivers don’t have high waves either for those of you who are prone to seasickness. River cruising is more intimate and you usually dock right in the city center so sights are often walkable. River cruising is as varied as ocean cruising. You can cruise on the Amazon, Danube, Nile, Rhine, Dnieper, Douro Portugal, Elbel Germany, Main, or Seine. Cruise the Volga or Svir in Russia, Dnieper Ukraine, or Dutch Waterways. In the US you can cruise the Upper or Lower Mississippi, the Ohio or Tennessee, or the Columbia or Snake Rivers. In the Far East you can cruise the Yangtze in China, Mekong in Cambodia and Vietnam, or the Irrawaddy in Myanmar. There are also Barge Cruises on European canals. Barges typically hold 8 passengers and the cruise is easily customizable so you can see whe you want to see.

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Ireland, the Emerald Isle





Ireland is called the Emerald Isle because of the vibrant green colors of the rolling hills and vales. Ireland is a fascinating place with something for everyone. Beautiful scenery, famous landmarks, ancient castles, pubs, Celtic ruins and natural wonders, it is rich in culture and friendly people.

Probably the most famous places is the Cliffs of Moher, one of the most visited natural attractions in Ireland. The cliffs stand around 700 feet above the coast and are five miles long – with an awe inspiring vista.

If national parks are a favorite of yours, Killarney National Park is for you with walking trails, wildlife, ancient forests and the beautiful lakes of Killarney. You can also visit the 19th century Muckross House and Gardens while there. 

The Rock of Cashel, also called St. Patrick’s Rock, is the most visited heritage site in Ireland. It was the fortress of the Munster kings in the Early Middle Ages and has 12th, 13th and 15th century additions. It is a spectacular  archaeological site. It is noted to be the most remarkable collection of Celtic art and medieval architecture to be found anywhere in Europe.

Of course you have to visit Dublin while in Ireland. There is so much to do and see. From the colossal St Patrick’s Cathedral, to the Dublin Writers Museum, to the Guinness Storehouse, Grafton Street with it’s flower sellers and performance artists, Trinity College built in 1592, St. Stephen’s Green with it’s beautiful gardens, and picturesque bridge and playground, to the General Post Office with the 1916 bullet holes of the Irish Rebellion, there is a wealth of things to do and see. 

Blarney Castle is high on the must see list. It was started back in the1200’s and is not far from Cork. The Blarney Stone was set into a tower of the castle in 1446. According to legend, if you kiss the stone it will enable you to have the gift of gab but getting to the stone requires hanging over a sheer drop off. You can also visit the extensive gardens at the Castle.

This is just a small sampling of the wonders in Ireland. Cork is a great place with many attractions, also the Aran Islands, the Ring of Kerry, Wicklow, Bunratty Castle, Sean’s Bar – the oldest pub in the world and lots of other great places to see and things to do!