Blog Travel

When traveling to Scotland, it is a must to include Edinburgh on the itinerary.  However, we wanted to explore more of Scotland, especially the beautiful Highlands, rather than spending our entire vacation in the city.  Luckily, even though there are many things to do in Edinburgh, Scotland’s Old Town is compact so travelers can easily see much of Edinburgh in three days or less.  Tour a Medieval Castle The Old Town of Edinburgh stretches along approximately one mile; to be specific, the Royal Mile.  At the west end of the Royal Mile is Edinburgh Castle.  A ticket includes the option of joining a 30-minute guided tour of Edinburgh Castle, which we found was the best way to learn about the castle’s history.  After the tour, we were free to explore the various rooms and sights at the castle. Robert the Bruce captured Edinburgh Castle in 1314 when 30 Scots overpowered the castle guard in the middle of the night.  Since he wouldn’...

When we were driving to our hike in Pine Creek Crags, I spotted a scraggly, leafless tree on the side of Pine Creek Road that I thought would be the perfect foreground for astrophotography.  The Sierra Nevada mountain range was close by, which would allow us to start a little earlier as the mountain range from this position would block the bright light of the moon.  This spot is just west of Round Valley. Another great photography spot we found was at the sharp curve in the road where North Round Valley Road turns into South Round Valley Road.  I wanted to get a shot with one of Bishop’s great old silos in the foreground.   The vast open field to the south with the Sierra Nevada Mountains far in the background provided a beautiful night vista as well. I had visions of a shot of the road leading straight into the snowy mountains.  We found that shot by heading out of town west along West Line Street towards the mountains.  When y...

There’s something romantic about Puerto Rico.  The cobblestone streets bordered by brightly colored buildings.  The architecture that makes you feel like you might be in Europe.  The prickly heat that can quickly turn into buckets of water falling from the sky, but only for long enough for the two of you to duck into a bar to dry off and share a sangria and a laugh.  The sandy beaches and warm water that beckon you in for a swim.  Puerto Rico is most definitely a romantic destination for couples. If you plan on staying in Old San Juan, the most romantic hotel is Hotel El Convento , across Plaza de las Monjas (Nun’s Square) from the Catedral de San Juan Bautista.  The Hotel El Convento first opened in 1651 as a Carmelite convent.  The convent fell into disrepair in the early 1900s, serving as a store, a dance hall, and then a flophouse, but was restored and opened as a hotel in 1962.  This beautiful Puerto Rico hotel is decorated in the Spani...

On our quest for weekend getaway destinations, we discovered a pretty little place that may not be on your radar if you don’t live in the Virginia area.  Prince William County is a great Virginia weekend getaway destination.  Coming from the west coast, we devoted a four-day weekend to this pretty little piece of Northern Virginia.  Prince William County works either as a Virginia weekend vacation or as a side trip from Washington, D.C.  Prince William County has small town charm, Civil War history, and gorgeous landscapes.  Its relaxed pace and open spaces make it easy to forget the most powerful city in America is just a short drive away. Discover Two Important Civil War Battlefields A big draw for travelers from across the country is the east coast’s Civil War Battlefields.  Prince William County offers travelers a two-for-one special with Manassas National Battlefield Park .  Two important Civil War battles were fought here, both of which were vi...