Dubai is a Desert Oasis in a Digital Age
Out of all the Emirates in the United Arab Emirates, Dubai is the most famous. This free-trade, technological city literally sprang up out of the desert in just a few short decades. Dubai is a desert oasis in a digital age. Now the sprawling metropolis is a world-class travel destination and it was my home away from home for the majority of 2011. This is a photographic journal I created during my time spent in this futuristic city.
Standing in front of the Burj Al Arab (world’s most luxurious hotel).
While Dubai is certainly an oil-rich emirate, tourism has become an important part of the city government’s strategy to maintain the flow of foreign cash pouring into the emirate. Dubai’s lure for tourists is based mainly on shopping, making it the “shopping capital of the Middle East”. Visitors no doubt als travel to this United Arab Emirate to experience the countless number of other ancient and modern attractions. As of 2018, Dubai is the fourth most-visited city in the world based on the number of international visitors. (more…)
Posted in Adventurous Places, Asia and tagged desert oasis, Dubai.
Snowboarding Carnage and Mayhem at Cataloochee Ski
First things first: While I pride myself at being a pretty good skier, I am possibly the world’s worst snowboarder to ever grace the slopes. I am not kidding. Last weekend, Rebecca and I decided to embark on a ninety minute drive to Cataloochee Ski Area in Maggie Valley, NC. For those of you not familiar with Maggie Valley, it is a charming little town in the Smoky Mountains between Asheville, NC and the Cherokee Indian Reservation.
Maggie Mountaineer Craft Store, near Cataloochee Ski resort in Maggie Valley, NC
To shed some light on the town’s more shadier past, there are a couple of infamous characters who at one time called Maggie Valley their home. The first was local boogeyman and mass murderer, Peter Lundin. The second was local hero and renown moonshiner, Marvin “Popcorn” Sutton. Both are gone now. The first is serving a life sentence in a Denmark prison and the second tragically took his own life to avoid being locked away. (more…)
Posted in Adventurous Places, North America, Tall Tales and Big Fish Stories and tagged cataloochee ski, North Carolina.
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.
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.
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.