From Merry Old England with Love
CLASSIFIED:
Living the life of a secret agent and international man of mystery is rarely easy in merry old England. I was inside my Godmanchester home, enjoying a nice peaceful day of rest, when an urgent coded message arrived by carrier pigeon at my garden window.
Agent 008: The panther has been spotted sipping wine at the Old Bridge Hotel. Make contact with her, establish trust, find out what dastardly schemes she has up her sleeve, and detain her for further questioning before she can carry out her plot. Exercise extreme caution as she is considered armed and dangerous.
My home for a year in Godmanchester, Cambridgeshire, England
The Panther was an infamous jewel thief and highly trained assassin. She would not fall easily. I would have to outsmart her with my wit, charm, and ruggedly handsome good looks in order to prevent from compromising the mission. I splashed on my most irresistible secret agent aftershave, jumped into my ever-faithful Rover 45, and raced to the Old Bridge Hotel in record time.
(more…)Posted in Adventurous Places, Europe, Great Dining, Tall Tales and Big Fish Stories and tagged Godmanchester, London, merry old england, York by Big John with 3 comments.
Fantastic Family Getaways for all Fifty States
Are you considering an All-American family vacation this year, weary of Disney, but not yet certain where you really want to go? If this sounds like you, Big John has compiled a star-spangled list of fun-filled family getaways for all fifty states. Not impressed? You should be. It can be quite difficult finding that perfect place for respite and leisure in remote places such as North Dakota.
Still, Big John’s Adventures in Travel believes some of life’s greatest adventures can be found in the most unlikely of places. So without further ado, let’s go explore these fantastic family getaways in the land of the free and the home of the brave. When we’re all through, perhaps Big John will have inspired you to plan that perfect family vacation of your own.
Alabama
The Beach Club, Gulf Shores, AL
Nothing says fun in the sun while in the Yellowhammer State like the Beach Club in Gulf Shores. Their sugar-sand beaches make this resort a true tropical paradise. The site has five outdoor pools, savory dining options, a full-service spa, and numerous other resort amenities. There’s truly something special about the Beach Club! Phone:(866)348-9112 (more…)
Posted in Adventurous Places, North America, Travel Tips and tagged family getaways, vacation by Big John with 7 comments.
Zipping Through the Gorge
My heart races in exhilaration. The dark forest floor lying hundreds of feet below passes beneath me in a blur. I am zipping throughThe Gorge, the fastest and highest zipline in all of North America.
For my forty-first birthday, Rebecca surprised me by taking me to the Gorge Zipline Canopy Tour in Saluda, North Carolina. For all you adventure seekers and adrenaline junkies out there, this is one place you can’t afford to miss. The zip lines are amazing, the views are spectacular, and the friendly professional staff couldn’t get any better! After completing your 3.5 hours of zipping through the breathtaking Green River Gorge, chill out on the lofty deck on the back of their barn-shaped building. While there, wind down and enjoy a cold craft beer in the open mountain air. Before leaving, stop by the Gorge’s gift shop for some really awesome gear and apparel. If you haven’t ever been ziplining, or if it’s been awhile, you might as well do it right by traveling to the Gorge in scenic Saluda, NC. This is Big John’s experience posted below.
The entire zip lining crew from left to right: Newlyweds Nathan and Brittany, Newlyweds Daria and Daniel, and the engaged Rebecca with Big John. (more…)
Posted in Adventurous Places, North America and tagged North Carolina, Saluda, the gorge by Big John with no comments yet.
Finding Romance in Bath, England
If you’re looking for that special romantic getaway for Valentine’s Day, you could fly to Florence, Paris, or Vienna and really dazzle that someone special in your life … or you can pull out all the stops and set your sights on the Romanesque city of Bath, England. There is romance in Bath, England. There are actually so many wonderful things about Bath I really don’t know where to begin. I can start by explaining that this historic Roman spa city, located 100 miles west of London, is listed as a World Heritage Site.
Back in the glory days of the Roman Empire, sometime around 50 AD, the Romans erected temples around natural hot springs to honor their Goddess Minerva. These bath complexes, in the ancient Roman province of Brittania, were known by their inhabitants as Aquae Sulis. Today this romantic city is simply known as Bath. To really win her heart, you should start by taking her straight into the heart of this city. Take her directly to the site that really makes this city tick – the Roman Baths.
The Roman baths in Bath, England are the only mineral hot springs in the entire United Kingdom. These 2,000 year old feats of awe-inspiring archeology are superbly maintained for the modern world to see. (more…)
Posted in Adventurous Places, Europe and tagged bath england by Big John with 2 comments.
Footsteps of Liberators on a Path through Normandy
Much has happened since Eisenhower first drafted that triumphant call to arms some seventy years ago. The world is very much a changed place. There are no more air-raid sirens blaring over the streets of London; no more war planes soaring over the skies of Dover; no more anti-aircraft batteries booming off the beaches of France. But to go back there, to see the place where 160,000 allied troops made their landing on June 6, 1944, was for a me a walk in the footsteps of liberators.
“You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you. In company with our brave Allies and brothers-in-arms on other Fronts, you will bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world.”
Posted in Adventurous Places, Europe, Historical Journeys and tagged D-Day, France, normandy, Omaha Beach, world war 2 timeline by Big John with no comments yet.