Travel Paths - www.e-vlad.net » Travel Guide

Visit Ely England and step back into medieval times

vlad — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 08:39:32 +0000

The English country side is beautiful. Driving away from a major city like Cambridge will give a great surprise when driving through the countryside and stoping in a much smaller town like Ely. Ely has amazing history and it's small enough that it can easily be visited in a day. We enjoyed Ely very much ourselves. Read on to see what's worth seeing and doing in Ely, England.

Visit Houghton, Cambridgeshire and get your English village cuteness fix

vlad — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 13:17:01 +0000

The small village of Houghton in Cambridgeshire, England is a typical small old English village full of personality and charm. Boasting a few old thatched roof cottages and an old village pub, Houghton will make you feel very British all of a sudden as you walk through the village. In addition, Houghton boasts a few very pleasant tourist attractions that might surprise you. Read on to find out.

La Purisima Mission in Lompoc, California takes you back in time

vlad — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 13:27:22 +0000

La Purisima Mission is one of the 27 California missions that line up the California coast from south to north. Located in Lompoc, La Purisima is actually a state park and it has been extensively reconstructed to better capture the feel of the Mission times. With lots of things to offer for the entire family, La Purisima Mission Park is a great tourist stop for the California traveler. Read on to find out what is worth seeing at La Purisima.

Buellton is a relaxing stop for the California traveler

vlad — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 16:20:22 +0000

Buellton is a small town north of Santa Barbara, California. It is right next to the 101 freeway and it provides very easy access to the California central coast area. However, there is not much to see and do in Buellton itself, but the area around Buellton is full of natural beauty and tourist attractions. We really enjoyed Buellton as a stop on our drive from Pismo Beach back to Southern California. Read more to find out about Buellton, California.

Pismo Beach is a California favorite beach town.

vlad — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 13:35:52 +0000

There are many beach towns in California, but Pismo Beach has the perfect location to make it one of the best beach towns in California. With clean and quiet beaches and lots of things to see and do, Pismo Beach is probably one of my favorite beach destinations. Read along to find out more about my experience at Pismo Beach.

Dramatic California coast on display at Shell Beach

vlad — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 18:13:31 +0000

California Coast has many beautiful beaches. It does however have a very rugged and dramatic face as well in some places. Shell Beach is one of these places where the dramatic and rugged nature of the California coast is being displayed on a large scale. In addition, Shell Beach is somewhat special because in the middle of this rugged coastline, you have access to a few small and secluded beaches surrounded by large and impressive rocks. Shell Beach makes for a special beach experience. Read on and find out how to see all this dramatic beauty.

A beautiful and peaceful drive around Edna Valley, California

vlad — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 17:31:20 +0000

If you want to get a taste of traditional California countryside, then Edna Valley is the right place for you. Located just a short drive up the hill from the ocean, Edna Valley is a peaceful and beautiful region in the California Central Coast area. While not boasting any famous California tourist attractions or landmarks, Edna Valley is home to several famous California wineries as well as several typical California horse ranches.

Port San Luis Harbor is post card perfect

vlad — Mon, 09 May 2011 14:47:08 +0000

If you snooze, you lose...goes the saying! Indeed, if you're driving on the 101 freeway around the Pismo Beach area and you miss the Avila Beach Drive exit, then you lose a hidden jewel on the California Central Coast. But if you're willing to get off the beaten path and get off the freeway you will be rewarded greatly with stunning views of the ocean and a relaxed atmosphere in one of the little known California spots. Port San Luis, California is the perfect hidden jewel of the Central California Coast. It's small, clean and simply beautiful!

Avila Beach, California is the perfect beach town

vlad — Mon, 09 May 2011 10:39:45 +0000

The mountains around San Luis Obispo Bay area hide Avila Beach very well. But if you're willing to get off the beaten path and get off the freeway you will be rewarded greatly with stunning views of the ocean and a relaxed atmosphere in one of the little known California beach towns. Avila Beach, California is the perfect beach town. It's small, clean and simply beautiful!

Oso Flaco Lake is a surprising place among sand dunes

vlad — Tue, 03 May 2011 10:01:22 +0000

The sand dunes around Pismo Beach are barren and suitable only for ATVs and "four wheelin". However, there is one natural gem, hidden right between sand dunes. This gem is a fresh water lake called Oso Flaco Lake. Oso Flaco means Skinny Bear in Spanish. Oso Flaco Lake was discovered by Spanish conquistadors way back in the 19th century while they were scouting the California coast. Today, Oso Falco Lake has been turned into a well preserved and well cared for park which is very surprising to the visitor.

Explore Lake Tahoe’s hidden beaches at Sand Harbor

vlad — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 20:39:53 +0000

After relaxing on the beach and having lunch at Kings Beach, we drove back down through Nevada on the eastern shore of Lake Tahoe. Sand Harbor looked like a really nice place to spend the afternoon. So we did stop and we continued our relaxation into the afternoon and evening. According to the Nevada park service, Sand Harbor is the most popular, with sandy beaches, a boat launch, picnicking and group use facilities. Yep, the sandy beaches is definitely true...and much more.

Enjoy the sun at Lake Tahoe’s Kings Beach

vlad — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 03:49:59 +0000

Lake Tahoe has some great beaches. Kings Beach is one of them. We found Kings beach a great place for a family beach day. Fine sand, shallow water and crystal clear water. There are also lots of great places to eat which adds to the fun. I'm not sure if Kings Beach is a Lake Tahoe popular spot or not, but we found it to be almost empty. There were just a few people enjoying the sun in the middle of September. It's true that we visited Kings Beach on a Tuesday and most weekend tourists were probably gone by then. Nevertheless, we liked the place. What's it not to like at Lake Tahoe anyway?

Vikingsholm is the castle with the best view of Lake Tahoe

vlad — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 10:55:47 +0000

If you come close to Emerald Bay then you should take the trail down to Emerald Bay from the Vikingsholm parking lot up above. You get many benefits from hiking down. You not only get great exercise, but you get to experience beautiful views of Emerald Bay and Fannette Island. And yes, you will get a chance to visit the beautiful Vikingsholm castle.

Emerald Bay is the jewel of Lake Tahoe

vlad — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 09:43:30 +0000

Driving in for the very first time to Lake Tahoe is quite an experience. The road is winding through the mountains and suddenly after many bends in the road, we got to see the Lake Tahoe basin...it is huge. We heard that the lake is very large, but when you see it from the road in one of the many vista points, the lake is indeed huge. Once at Lake Tahoe, everyone told us to drive to Emerald Bay. We did drive to Emerald Bay and hiked down to the lake. This is a splendid place. Read on to find out the details.

See the best of Yosemite on the Mist and John Muir trails

vlad — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:04:27 +0000

Yosemite National Park has many many options for the hiker. You can do a short or long hike, you can do an easy, intermediate or difficult hike. You choose and Yosemite delivers. My most favorite intermediate hike is taking the Mist Trail and going up Vernal and Nevada Falls and coming back on the John Muir Trail. This is where I take friends who come for the first time to Yosemite National Park. It is a beautiful trail.

Best Yosemite tourist attractions recommended by local expert

vlad — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 09:46:15 +0000

People who visit Yosemite National Park for the first time are usually overwhelmed by the amount of information that's available about Yosemite. After all the reading many first time visitors to Yosemite still ask the basic questions: So what are the main tourist attractions in Yosemite National Park? What are the must-see places? Wouldn't it be cool to talk to someone local to Yosemite and just ask him? That's what I did! I had the privilege to ask Douglas Shaw this very questions: what are the main tourist attractions in Yosemite National Park? And he was very gracious to answer quite a few more questions. Read on to find out the best places to visit in Yosemite National Park.

Hike the Yosemite Falls trail

vlad — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 10:28:41 +0000

Yosemite National Park is my favorite California Park. I go there every time I get a chance. Most of the times I visit Yosemite National Park in the early summer or spring. This is usually the best time to see the waterfalls at full capacity. But how about the winter? I got a chance to visit Yosemite National Park in mid-November and while there was not much water in the waterfalls, I enjoyed the different colors of the trees due to changing seasons. One of my favorite trails in Yosemite National Park is the Yosemite Falls trail. Read on to find out about my experience hiking this trail and to see some great pictures.

The tournament of Roses post parade can be the perfect day trip for the new year.

vlad — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 15:25:22 +0000

Every year the Rose Parade in Pasadena, California puts on the best show. Entitled the Tournament of Roses, this amazing parade is all about flowers and in particular about roses. We always wanted to go to the Rose Parade, but with two small children coming out in the very early hours of the morning just to get a somewhat decent seat, is out of the question. So, we opted to come see the floats in what is called the Post Parade event where you come admire the floats that have been parked on a couple of wide streets. Is it really worth it? Well, read on to find out.

Old Sacramento takes you back in time

vlad — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 12:15:42 +0000

While visiting the State Capitol and asking around what else to see around the State Capitol we were told to go see Old Sacramento. We listened and figured out quickly where we had to go and we didn't regret it. It was definitely not as exciting as the State Capitol but we loved strolling by the river and looking at old Wild West type of buildings. Should you visit Old Sacramento? Read on to find out.

Visiting the California State Capitol in Sacramento

vlad — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 04:38:52 +0000

I think everyone must visit their state capitol at least once in their lifetime. I believe it is important to see where laws affecting your state are being created, debated and approved. This is the place that is mostly affected by our votes. Granted, you might not like politicians and politics but usually state capitols are places full of history. This is also the case at the California State Capitol in Sacramento.

Beautiful flowers at the Sacramento Capitol Park

vlad — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:48:16 +0000

We visited the Sacramento Capitol park when we visited the actual State Capitol building. We didn't rush to get inside the building but took our time to see the flowers and trees that are everywhere in the park. It was very hot outside in Sacramento that day but the abundant vegetation in park kept us a little cooler and we enjoyed our visit a lot more because of that.

Visit Reims, France and delight yourself with history and champagne

vlad — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 20:24:10 +0000

Reims, France is filled with history and it is pretty close to Paris. This is why Reims makes for a great daytrip from Paris. In addition to old churches you can see old Roman ruins and you can also visit one or more of the major champagne houses that make the Champagne region famous worldwide. Once in Reims you can easily walk around to the main tourist destinations.

Fill your lungs and eyes with Mont Blanc at Chamonix, France.

vlad — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 22:56:03 +0000

Chamonix, France is a very famous winter resort but it's not popular only in the winter. We visited Chamonix at the beginning of October on a bright and sunny day. This great weather gave us awesome views of the Alps and made our one hour drive a breeze. We couldn't resist stopping at one of the rest stops just to admire the mountains. It proved to be the perfect day trip from Geneva, Switzerland.

Visit Sighisoara, Romania and lose yourself in time and mistery.

vlad — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 00:09:18 +0000

We came to Sighisoara from Brasov on a sunny day in September. We got off the train in a small train station that was just too quiet. We thought that Sighisoara was a very popular tourist attraction in Romania and we assumed that it would be pretty busy at this time of year, but we were wrong and we didn't mind it. It was actually very pleasant to walk around a small old city and not be surrounded by lots of people.

Day trip to the beach at Point Mugu, California

vlad — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 04:27:56 +0000

We wanted to go to the beach one weekend and we decided to go to Point Mugu since we haven't been there in a long time. Since I have forgotten to take cash with me, I couldn't park at the state beach and ended up parking right next to the Mugu Rock and then went down to a small rock beach nearby. We ended up having a great time and saw a sea lion and lots of pelicans. My daughter loved the trip.

A daytrip to UCLA is educational for the whole family.

vlad — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:29:34 +0000

We have visited UCLA in the winter on a sunny December day. Even though the day was short, we had a great time. I always like visiting the UCLA campus, regardless if it's summer or winter, school day or weekend...I just love it. Maybe it's because I graduated from UCLA myself...yeah it's because of that. However, I believe anyone can enjoy visiting the campus for a day, including your children.

See the best Southern Califonia tourist attractions in one day

vlad — Thu, 07 May 2009 21:47:00 +0000

This is an article that I wanted to write for a long time. It is a bit long, maybe that's why I took such a long time to write. However, this is our favorite Southern California tour. When we have friends and family visiting from outside of California we always take them on this tour because they get to see some of the best tourist sites in SoCal. Yeah, it's true, this tour doesn't include Disneyland, Universal Studios or Sea World, but those are attractions that anyone would know about. Our tour hits the best things to see in SoCal apart from amusement parks. The best thing about this tour is that it can be done in one day...a full day that is.

Day trip in the middle of nature at Silverwood Lake and Wrightwood California

vlad — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 09:39:30 +0000

We have recently taken a day trip to Silverwood Lake and Wrightwood here in Southern California. While these destinations are practically unknown to tourists, they are popular for the local people. They are perfect travel destinations for a day trip on a sunny day (which are plenty in Southern California). Water, nature and maybe...snow will make a great weekend Southern California trip.

Santa Barbara Zoo is the perfect family day trip

vlad — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 09:57:09 +0000

If there is one place that children always like to visit it is the zoo. No matter how small or large, any zoo is a cool place for children. Animals are just very interesting for children. However, if on top of that you add the ocean and a wonderful sunny climate then you get the greatest place for children to visit. Well, there is such a place and it's called the Santa Barbara, Zoo. This is arguably my favorite family destination of all the Southern California day trip destinations.

Is the Grand Canyon overrated ?

vlad — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 05:50:05 +0000

When we planned to visit the Grand Canyon this past spring, one question kept coming up: Is the Grand Canyon overrated? Everyone wants to visit it, but what if it's just one big hype and nothing more? Sure, the pictures looked nice, some reviews were great, but what is there to see anyway...just some rocks? Well, I was about to find out why The Grand Canyon National Park is so grand!

The best Las Vegas travel destinations

vlad — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 07:38:17 +0000

I have wondered for a long time if someone can visit Las Vegas and have fun without gambling or taking part in the wild Las Vegas night life. I have heard that Las Vegas has changed much and that they are trying to cater more to families with children. So, are they really? Can your family have fun in Las Vegas without doing the "dirty" Las Vegas things? Can Las Vegas be called a family destination ? Well, read on to find out.

Impressive landscape in King’s Canyon National Park.

vlad — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 07:21:39 +0000

When I mention King's Canyon National Park, quite a few people ask where that is. This is very different than when talking about Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks..everyone knows about these two places. Even though King's Canyon is a lot less popular, it is a great place to visit and just like Sequoia, it is a backpacker and hiker's paradise. There is not much to see if just want to drive there, but if you want to hike, then this is a great place.

It’s not just about big trees in Sequoia National Park, California.

vlad — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 03:12:24 +0000

Whenever people talk about Sequoia National Park they mention the Sequoia trees that made the park famous. But Sequoia National Park is home to many other natural attractions. Yes it's true that the big trees are the main attraction and they will produce awe in everyone looking at them, but when you combine these amazing trees with the spectacular views and incredible hiking trails you get...an amazingly spectacular and incredible place ! That's Sequoia National Park.

Yosemite National Park is breathtaking year round.

vlad — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 12:07:23 +0000

Yosemite National Park is a great travel destination both for the backpacker and the entire family. Weather you love to backpack for days or you just enjoy day hikes with your family, Yosemite National Park has something for everyone. I have visited Yosemite many times and each time I have done something completely different and fun. However, if you're visiting for the first time there are some things you must see.

Day trip to Hearst Castle – a castle with an ocean view.

vlad — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 01:38:31 +0000

Hearst Castle is one of the few buildings in America that bears the name "Castle". We just don't have castles here like they have in Europe. Castles are a thing of the past and especially in California we don't have old buildings except for the few old missions that are scattered along the coast. I know I am exaggerating a little but not too much. So, just the name Hearst Castle becomes interesting almost immediately to the tourist.

Day trip to California Adventure Park – a true amusement park.

vlad — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 11:31:06 +0000

We took advantage of the 2Fer ticket for Southern California residents when we visited Disneyland on Easter weekend. So, two weeks after visiting Disneyland during Spring Break, we came back to visit California Adventure for FREE ! This was a great deal indeed. The simple fact that we came after Spring Break made our experience a lot better than what we went through when visiting Disneyland.

A Day trip to Disneyland, California is a dream come true.

vlad — Fri, 16 May 2008 13:57:07 +0000

Disneyland is called the "happiest place on earth"...at least that's how the Disney company calls it. A place of magic and wonder where Mickey Mouse is the king. I usually visit Disneyland only when relatives or friends out of town come and visit California. Disneyland is a must see attraction for Southern California, so we've got to take our friends when they come to visit. This time however, was very special because I took my wife and my daughter to visit and it was their first time visiting Disneyland. I think it's pretty cool to take people to Disneyland especially if they've never been there before. I wouldn't say that this place was very happy...especially because of the crowds...but it was very nice and entertaining for sure.

Mysterious California – Alcatraz Island

vlad — Thu, 15 May 2008 07:26:38 +0000

As I think of mysterious places in California, Alcatraz Island comes to mind right away. The scene of many movies and known as "The Rock", Alcatraz Island is a mysterious place. It is so close to shore and yet far enough. It's interesting to read about the escape attempts that have made Alcatraz Island famous...history has not recorded any successful escape attempts. All those that have at least made it into the water have drowned on their way to the San Francisco coast. Enveloped in mystery and many times in fog, Alcatraz Island attracts the visitor.

Alabama Hills is a mix of California mystery and Hollywood.

vlad — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 06:49:21 +0000

When people think about Romania, they immediately think of mystery! Not so when they hear California. California brings different thoughts: sun, ocean, surfing, Hollywood but nobody is immediately thinking of mystery when they hear the word California. This does not mean that there is nothing mysterious about California. Alabama Hills is one place where mystery and Hollywood converge.

Mysterious Romania – Corbii din Piatra

vlad — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 01:39:41 +0000

What comes to your mind when you hear about Romania? Most probably: Dracula and vampires and...mystery. While Dracula is associated with the region called Transilvania, there are other areas of Romania that are quite mysterious. One of these mysterious places is called Corbii din Piatra, or Stone Ravens in English. What is so mysterious about it?

A day trip to Solvang, California gives you a taste of Europe in the heart of California.

vlad — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 13:33:50 +0000

Solvang is a quiet little town, with an European reputation even though it is located in the heart of California. There are many small towns scattered all over California, but Solvang is much different than all other small towns. Danish and Dutch early settlers in California were determined to maintain their heritage in everything they did and most of all in everything they built. From shops and restaurants to office building have all been built in Danish style.

Geneva – a classy city

vlad — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 19:25:23 +0000

I visited Geneva on three different occasions and every single time so it happened that I was coming to Geneva from France. What an interesting feeling that was every time I arrived in Geneva. It definitely felt like I was in a completely different country, even though everyone was speaking French in Geneva, Switzerland never felt like France. From the way people wait at the street lights to cross the street to the way people are driving, Geneva feels completely different that any city I visited in France. Traffic, even though very heavy in Geneva, is a lot more ordered, streets are cleaner and even cars are spotless in Geneva.

Day trip to Santa Barbara, California – waves, sun and shopping, what else do you need?

vlad — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 08:22:29 +0000

Santa Barbara, California is the setting for many movies and soap operas. Beautiful beaches, rich people, movie stars and lots and lots of shopping. No wonder, Santa Barbara has become a real tourist attraction especially during the weekends. It is very rare for American cities to cater to the weekend traveler and the tourist, but Santa Barbara has made tourism a priority.

Bruxelles is not very exciting.

vlad — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 03:08:28 +0000

What can I say about Bruxelles? We visited Bruxelles after visiting Paris and there is simply no comparison. But that's to be expected right? I don't know of many cities that can be compared with Paris in terms of tourist attractions. Well, Bruxelles is on the other side of the spectrum when compared to Paris...it lacks tourist attractions. It's true that you have what to see in a couple of days but if you're trying to stay more than two days in Bruxelles as a tourist you'll probably be very bored.

Bruges is a delightful travel destination in Belgium.

vlad — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 23:33:32 +0000

Bruges was a great travel experience for us, especially after coming from busy Bruxelles. Bruges old town was very quiet despite tons of tourists. We had so many things to see in Bruges that we could hardly cover the city's main tourist attractions in only one day. Even though we were tired at the end of the day, visiting Bruges was a delight for our eyes, ears and feet.

Paris – the greatest place to start the New Year

vlad — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 01:43:05 +0000

I love Paris ! I think most everyone who visits this city will just love it! I'm not really sure about people living in Paris though, but I still think most people living there love the city. Being a large city, Paris offers everything to everyone in terms of entertainment, food and tourist attractions. It is hard to pick the best tourist attractions, but if you're only spending a few days in Paris you're better off sticking with the well known tourist attractions. These Paris tourist attractions are what makes Paris famous, so they are worth seeing them.

Scenic beauty everywhere in Monterey, California.

vlad — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 05:25:54 +0000

Yesterday I wrote about Big Sur and I couldn't resist writing immediately about Monterey. For one thing if you have driven all the way to the small town of Big Sur you can might as well drive to Carmel and then a little further to Monterey. If you have the time to do this drive, you will be rewarded by gorgeous scenery on the 17 mile drive and the Monterey Bay Aquarium. In addition you will get to experience an old town feeling when walking on the Old Canery Road.

Just amazing landscape in Big Sur, California.

vlad — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 02:33:25 +0000

Big Sur is an area on the coast of California, roughly in between San Simeon to the south and the little town of Big Sur to the north. It is not clearly defined and many people refer to different places when talking about Big Sur. Some talk about the Point Sur light house while some talk about the Julia Pfeiffer Burns park. Regardless of the proper definition of Big Sur, this area of the California Coast boasts some breathtaking views of the Pacific coast.

Yvoire, France is a 700 years old medieval town

vlad — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 18:24:30 +0000

We loved this little town. This is a great spot for a day trip from Geneva. We would've loved to take the boat from Geneva but we didn't have enough time. The boat ride takes about two hours because it has to stop in a few places before reaching Yvoire. The boat ride looks very appealing especially on a clear day and I am sure that the views from the boat are just amazing. However, because we didn't have enough time, we decided to drive instead and it took us about 30 minutes from Geneva.

Camarillo Christmas Parade

vlad — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 04:53:48 +0000

I call this the "Pajama Parade" because parade participants come dressed in their everyday clothes even their pajamas sometimes. Even though it has improved over the years, this is not the "Rose Parade" with fancy floats and carefully selected marching bands. The Camarillo Christmas Parade is a parade for the community; it's a great feeling to see people you know walking in the parade.