Date	Location	Susan's Synopsis Simon's Summary
Aug 13-20, 2006	Eastern Caribbean Cruise   Carnival Cruise Line	Caribbean cruises are well-known to most of us in Florida but Carnival Cruises have a new offering out of Miami, visiting the private Bahamian island of Half Moon Cay (normally reserved for Holland America Line passengers) and the innovative Carnival-inspired cruise terminal at Grand Turk in the Turks & Caicos Islands, as well as San Juan and St Thomas. In 2006 it was featured by their 1800-passenger ship Elation, but in 2007 it will be the preserve of the 2,754-passenger Carnival Triumph. Grand Turk features a wonderful walk-on beach right from the purpose-built dock, plus the newest Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville in the Caribbean, with its own free-form swimming pool, swim-up bar and lively reggae atmosphere. And, if you've ever wondered how a large family copy in one cruise ship cabin, with did it with 5 of us (!) - and had a truly excellent experience. Tight quarters and a tight budget are no hindrance to a great cruise experience. Traveling with family does not mean privacy has to be thrown out of the porthole. With a little creativity and a lot of patience, even a family of 5 with only one small bathroom at their disposal can spend a week at sea and come away eager for more. I have been a cruise fan since the age of 9, and this latest experience only served to underline the fun and great value of a maritime vacation. Carnival revolutionised the cruise business back in the 1970s and are still among the leaders for innovation and great family style.
Aug 1-6, 2006	Virginia -Luray Caverns -Shenandoah Valley -Natural Bridge	Majestic views are expected throughout the Blue Ridge Mountains, but nestled in their midst is a lovely gem, easily overlooked amid the scenery. The brand new $20million Museum of the Shenandoah Valley tells the valley’s story (from the 1700s through the early 20th century) through extensive hands-on exhibits, art, film and walking tours of the gardens and the magnificent Glen Burnie Historic House (circa 1794). Luray Caverns, also in the Shenandoah Valley, take visitors underground into the largest and most extensive caverns in the eastern USA, where massive columns reach 10 stories high, shimmering dripstones flow down to the well-lit pathways and Pepper’s Ghost is never far away. Above ground, Natural Bridge towers 215 feet over the winding river that created it, meandering past a recreated Monacan village, brought to life by costumed interpreters. Natural Bridge was once owned by Thomas Jefferson, whose good friend George Washington carved his initials into the Bridge’s rocky arches, near a startling rock formation that can only be described as a naturally-created Buddha! This was brand new territory for me, and distinctly eye-opening and enjoyable it was, too. It is such pretty countryside, framed by the mountains and dotted with charming towns and natural attractions (as Susan describes above), visitors can't fail to be enchanted by the almost timeless historic appeal of the Valley and especially such lovingly-created attractions like the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley.
Aug 2006	Virginia   -Colonial Williamsburg	No longer the dry history lesson you remember from childhood, Colonial Williamsburg presents 18th Century America’s struggle toward a brand new country in full, captivating detail. Having debuted in 2006, Revolutionary City sweeps visitors up for two hour intervals over the course of two days, making them part of the bustling street scene, along with historical actors, telling the story of America’s independence, from the demise of English rule to Washington’s march toward triumph at Yorktown. Nearby Yorktown Victory Center and Jamestown Settlement continue the adventure in hands-on, living history format even 21st Century video-game jaded youngsters find fascinating. Our summer tour of Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia turned up many captivating history lessons, but none better than Colonial Williamsburg, a living, breathing homage to the 18th Century. This beautifully recreated and rebuilt colonial city - the original capital of Virginia and one of America's earliest major settlements - surrounds you with the life, style and feel of the 1700s, building to the momentous events of 1776. Even the (rather expensive) shopping is fully imbued with the 300-year-old spirit of this unique development, and the great number and variety of live performances and costumed characters give it a genuinely alluring persona. If only it didn't all seem to close down at 5 O'clock each afternoon!  When combined with the nearby 'Historic Triangle' sites of Jamestown and Yorktown (notably the new Jamestown Settlement recreation, with its new museum centre and exhibits), it makes for an absolutely essential and riveting slice of tourist fare, with some truly fascinating insights into the creation of this amazing country.
Aug 2006	Virginia   -Busch Gardens Williamsburg	While we know Busch Gardens Tampa (or 'Africa' as they insist on calling it to the obvious confusion of the non-cognoscenti) extremely well, this visit to the sister park (Busch Gardens 'Europe') was another step into the relative unknown. And, while the weather conspired to make us feel like we were melting (the heat index hit 115F several times during the week), it was a hugely enjoyable day out. The European theming is quite charming in a brain-out-of-gear kind of way (if a bit kitschy, in much the same way that Epcot's UK pavilion is cute but utterly unrepresentative of British life), and the quality of rides and attractions is absolutely first class. The hilly lay-out makes it hard work to get around at times but, given a full day and a more leisurely approach than we adopted (yomping from major ride to major ride commando-style before stopping to take in some of the shows and smaller attractions), this represents superb family fun - and also goes to illustrate how many worthy theme parks there are in the US that don't have Disney or Universal in their name.
July 30-31, 2006	Pennsylvania   -Gettysburg	With a $40.4 million rebuild of Gettysburg Visitor Center due for completion in 2008, new interpretive programs, updated films and, most importantly, a massive reconstruction of the battlefield designed to return it to its 1863 condition, Civil War history isn’t being rewritten, it’s being revived. Tour the downtown area with John Horner and you will not only see where makeshift hospitals were set up to tend the wounded and ease the dying, you will also hear about his great uncles who were doctors during the war and a great uncle who guarded President Lincoln before his historical Gettysburg Address speech, in story after story passed down through the Horner family. Evening ghost tours tell tales from the ‘other side’ and if you are lucky, Civil War soldier George might just brush his phantom hand through your hair. From wineries to B&B’s, bullet-riddled walls to haunted dining spots and, of course, the famous battlefield, Gettysburg is gearing up to tell the familiar story of one of this country’s most pivotal battles as a complete and fully immersive experience. History just doesn't come more 'alive' and riveting than a visit to 21st century Gettysburg. The place still resonates with the huge significance of this massive and tragic confrontation 143 years ago, and the vast ebb and flow of this pivotal battle is still easy to follow and beautifully presented by the mix of guides, exhibits and existing buildings. I would rate Gettysburg among the Top 10 of 'must see' sights in the US, and it is only going to get better in years to come.
July 29, 2006	Pennsylvania   -Hershey Hotel -Hershey Park	What's not to love about a hotel where they hand you a chocolate bar the  moment you check in, have chocolate-scented soap in the shower and still, in the midst of all that sweetness, offer the elegance and grace of an Old World resort, romantic enough for newlyweds while remaining exciting enough for families? When the sugar rush begins to wears off, head across the street to Hersheypark for a serious adrenaline rush compliments of no fewer than 10 coasters, 15 Family rides, a heaping helping of out-and-out Kiddie rides and, when you're ready to cool it all down, a super-soaking via 8 water rides, including the ultimate in retaliation, Roller-Soaker. Spectators beware! After a steady recent diet of Disney and Universal parks, this came as a really pleasant surprise. The whole Hershey scene is fresh, inviting and extremely family-friendly. From the beautiful hotel (and the bonus of early entry to the park) to the dynamic rides, this is an experience all theme park fans should sample at least once. I especially enjoyed the pleasant bus ride to the park, the impressive array of genuine thrill rides and the chance to learn about the unique chocolate-tinged history of Hershey and its visionary founder Milton S Hershey, plus chilling out by the hotel pool at the end of the day!
July 25, 2006	Ohio   -Cedar Point	Whoa! That's a big coaster! There is no confusing Cedar Point with any other kind of park - this is for coaster addicts, pure and simple. Sure, there are plenty of kiddie rides, shows and places to eat, but they all pale into insignificance alongside the magnificent array of adrenaline-fueled steel beasts which inhabit this high-energy wonderland. Just the look of the place is enough to make the hair on the back of your neck stand up, and that's before you have ridden such out-and-out demons as Top Thrill Dragster, Millennium Force and the recent addition Skyhawk. It is high-speed excitement with a capital X and it is without doubt the most awesome and outrageous park I have had the privilege to visit. They call it America's Roller Coast but it is more than that - it is Coaster Nirvana and Adrenaline Central all rolled into one. Try it out - I dare you!
June 30-July 2, 2006	Michigan -Mackinac Island -Grand Hotel	Visitors from Michigan and Wisconsin know it well, but Mackinac Island is one of northern Michigan’s ‘hidden secrets’ to the rest of the country. Tucked between Lakes Huron and Michigan, the Island is a step back into the Victorian era, when horse-drawn carriages, bicycles and a sturdy pair of walking shoes were the main means of travel, just as they are today. There are no cars, just the gentle clip-clop of the hooves of 500 or so horses which set a slower pace as you disembark after a short boat ride over to the Island. Once the domain of the well-to-do in post Civil War times, the Island's main ‘attraction’ is Colonial Fort Mackinac, fought over by the British, French, Indians and Americans throughout the 18th century. Fudge is the primary ‘export’ and the genteel style of the eye-catching icon of the Grand Hotel (one of America’s prime listed buildings) sets Mackinac Island apart as a true original in the travel world. How this beautiful little island is not on the main tourist map of the world is a complete mystery to me. Spend any time at all here and you slip back into a bygone age where the constant noise pollution and stress of the modern day simply melt away. Great food (and beer!) are easy to find, eye-catching B&B's abound and the magnificent Grand Hotel provides a lofty overview for those privileged enough to walk through the doors as temporary residents of this genuine American icon.
August 2006	Florida -Clearwater Marine Aquarium - St Pete Beach	Clearwater Marine Aquarium looks modest and unassuming, but in fact, it houses a real-life miracle. Winter, a young bottlenose dolphin, was rescued in December 2005 after a tragic accident, the result of which caused her to lose her tail. This little trooper defied all odds, not only surviving the injury, but also learning to swim without the benefit of her backside. Winter is due to be fitted for a prosthetic tail, which will allow her to swim as dolphins are intended to swim rather than in the shark-like fashion she has been forced to adopt. She is a highlight of any day at CMA, where backstage tours, Trainer for a Day and Day with a Dolphin experiences, animal encounters and the hands-on Sea Life Safari out in the Intracoastal Waterway round out the offerings and make a trip to Clearwater a full day adventure.  We totally fell in love with the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, but it was only part of a short stay on this beautiful stretch of Florida coastline. Arriving in mid-August, we were amazed by the lack of crowds and the huge amount of open beach around our resort (the impressive Tradewinds Island Grand) and elsewhere, and it ensured our visit was relaxed yet still adventure-packed. St Pete Beach, St Pete's itself, and the inviting coastline all the way up to Clearwater are full of worthwhile diversions and curiosities, and it is hard to beat the family-friendly nature of everything on offer.
October 4 & 5 2006	Florida -Mount Dora	Just a short drive from Orlando but many light years from the theme park hurley-burley is this truly charming town in Lake County. Set on the shores of Lake Dora and with beautiful sunset vistas each evening, Mount Dora boasts genuine Florida hospitality and a range of quaint shops and restaurants that range from the kitsch to the captivating. It is also home to a fun Trolley Tour, a local winery, a small-scale vintage car museum, an iconic vintage hotel (suitably called the Lakeside Inn), many lovely B&Bs and an excellent lake tour that includes the beautiful Dora Canal and its plentiful wildlife. Additionally, Mount Dora hosts a whole range of annual festivals, many of which draw big crowds and make for a reason to visit in their own right. A day or short break here makes a wonderful change of pace from the usual tourist pursuits and can even include a dinner train journey to nearby Tavares and Eustis, where you can also find the Tailwheel Flying School, who can take you up in their vintage Stearman biplane. Terrific fun! Oh, and don't miss the lovely Pisces Rising restaurant, with one of the most picturesque settings in the whole of Florida.
December 5 & 6, 2006	Florida - Tarpon Springs	From a fleeting visit many years ago, I had picked up a hint of the unique Greek spirit and style of this fishing 'village' on Florida's Gulf Coast, about 100 miles west of Orlando and some 30 miles north of the city of Tampa. So, with the help of the excellent St Pete's/Clearwater CVB, we arranged for a proper return trip to find out the full story behind this unusual community. Happily, we met up with the local 'patriarch' (in the non-religious sense!), 79-year-old George Biliris, who very graciously gave us the full history of Tarpon Springs, which dates back to the 19th century and was built on the sponge-fishing know-how of several generations of Greek immigrants. George's family arrived in the early 20th century and he has been at the heart of this innovative business ever since. The fishing and tourist business have been inextricably linked since the 1920s and the main upshot is this is THE place to come for the best Greek food outside the eastern Mediterranean, with a range of tavernas, restaurants and bakeries which specialise in the authentic cuisine and atmosphere of the islands (but none of the plumbing problems!). They also offer sponge-fishing boat tours, a small museum, aquarium and huge array of gift shops, plus several small markets where you are quite likely to get stopped for an impromptu wine-tasting experience and some fabulous 19th century mansions. A real Florida original, and somewhere we are keen to highlight for visitors old and new.
Jan 27 to Feb 5 2007	Florida - Miami and Super Bowl XLI	Having not visited Florida's original tourist destination for a few years, we managed to combine my annual outing to the Super Bowl (for UK newspsper duties) with an in-depth look at Miami and Miami Beach. With the city putting on its best 'game' face, it was the ideal time to review this mixture of the slick and chic; the stylish and self-conscious; the beach culture and fashion passion; and the shopaholics and nightclub frolics. The traffic was worse than usual and Miami still has a distinctly ragged look around the fringes, but the wonderfully refined air of Coconut Grove and the sheer ebullience of South Beach are still intoxicating to be around. The Super Bowl itself? It was wet - a first in the 41-year history of the game.
February and March 2007	Florida - Orlando Up-dates	It's that time of year again when we start work on up-dating the Brit's Guide, hence we are putting in some miles in and around Central Florida, re-visiting the theme parks, checking what's new and finding some original additions for the book. It requires a lot of back and forth and much leg-work, but the weather has been largely wonderful and we have unearthed a few new gems for future features. The parks remain busy and fun (especially in Walt Disney World) but the biggest (and growing) feature locally is the burgeoning restaurant scene. This has been quietly adding a five-star element to Orlando's appeal in the last couple of years, and is now in full spate, with no less than five major new venues all vying for the sophisticated palate. Truly, Orlando is now a gourmet's paradise as well as a gourmand's.
April and May 2007	Anaheim, California - Pow-Wow 2007	We're off on the start of a major new adventure in sunny Southern Cal. Not only is it the venue for Pow Wow 2007, the USA's big annual travel convention and exhibition, but it marks the beginning of a new Brit's Guide venture, when we will be looking at Disneyland, Anaheim, Los Angeles and everything else that makes up this vast tourist metropolis. From San Diego to San Francisco, we will be aiming to chart the full low-down of this fabulous area in best Brit's Guide detail. Not all at once, though! This will be our starting point, the chance to see the area with its best tourist hat on. And we can then go from there...........!
June 2007	Orlando - The Teenage Way!	We needed to finish off our Orlando up-dates for this year primarily by putting our two teenage 'researchers' to work (step forward Ben and Andy!) in some of the parks, and getting their respective opinions of some of the latest attractions. So, in the space of 8 days we managed to check out the new 'floorless' version of the formidable SheiKra coaster at Busch Gardens Tampa (unsurprisingly, both boys baulked at the 200ft drop!); a full tour of both Universal parks (including the new HydroAction ski stunt show); all 4 Disney parks in the space of 2 days (final price up-dates for 2008, plus a chance to ride Expedition Everest and Rock 'n RollerCoaster - two big teenage thumbs' up!); a chance to experience Discovery Cove's Twilight Evening programme (which is just superb, and certainly gets high marks from all concerned); Medieval Times dinner show (a big hit with both boys); and the biggest success of the trip - Cici's Pizza buffet restaurant!
June 24-July 1	Caribbean Cruise - Fort Lauderdale, Bahamas, Jamaica, Grand Cayman, Cozumel	With our World of Cruising magazine hat on, it was time to take an in-depth look at one of the main year-round Caribbean cruises that has been earning a lot of serious passenger praise since it started two years ago. The Caribbean Princess is one of the most modern ships in the Princess Cruises fleet and we were keen to see how well the ship was working now it is a well-established commodity. And we were very pleasantly surprised to find the cruise more than met our expectations, especially from the service point of view, which was nothing short of exemplary. With the ship’s huge range of onboard choice, novel features like their Movies Under The Stars programme on deck by the pool (complete with blankets and popcorn) and the Princess ‘Anytime Dining’ system, the week flew by in a haze of lazy mornings and wonderfully well catered evenings. For a big ship experience, this truly takes some beating.
July 6-20	Europe - Dublin, Paris and London	This was our long-planned 'road-trip' to Europe, to give Susan's son Ben his first taste of everything European and to get up to date on Disneyland Paris (for another round of guidebook re-writing - see separate entry). And it worked out spectacularly (even if we did all wilt at some stage during the fortnight's near-8,000 mile trek!). The idea was to hit three of the main high points in Dublin, Paris and London (as well as a few spots in between, like the South Coast and Hever Castle in Kent). Flying Detroit-Boston-Dublin (2 nights); Dublin-Paris (4 nights in Disneyland Paris); taking Eurostar DLP-Ashford (it should have been London, but the train broke down!), then Southern Rail Ashford-Brighton (6 nights); then flying London-Dublin (1 night); and Dublin-Chicago-Detroit. Whew! Highlights - many, but including the Guinness Storehouse and Dublin Castle; Paris open-top bus tour and Eiffel Tower; London open-top bus tour, London Eye and Windsor Castle. A real eye-opener for young Ben but a truly wonderful family experience, done in some style and with real appreciation for all stops en route.
July 9-13	Disneyland Resort Paris	Returning to DLP after more than a year's gap (and with 14-year-old Ben getting his first taste of 'Disney with a foreign accent') it proved an illuminating and busy trip. Staying at the Holiday Inn in the nearby Val de France area (nearly everything else was seemingly fully booked), it turned out to be much busier than we anticipated - a testimony to the popularity of the resort's 15th anniversary celebrations. It was great to reacquaint ourselves with the resort, though (despite some decidedly indifferent European 'summer' weather!), and we thoroughly enjoyed all the 15th birthday festivities; the Disneyland Park still looks superb and the Walt Disney Studios is finally emerging as a genuinely worthy park in its own right, with a lot of new development there (one sour note - the appalling early-morning crush to get to the new ride in the WDS. Hard to believe management can't sort something out here to manage the crowds better).
Intermittent - May-July	Great Lakes North America	Living (at least part of the time!) in Michigan means we are handily placed for a new one-off project writing and editing the Great Lakes North America Guide for Phoenix International Publishing this summer. It is a wonderful commission to have as it means we get to journey around much of the region and call on recent travels to places like Ohio and Pennsylvania; just travelling with our eyes open and noting many small, offbeat things that are likely to pique the interest of UK visitors. It reinforces our opinion that the likes of Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana and Pennsylvania have a LOT to offer to overseas tourists and how rewarding the US in general is for memorable holidays.
Sept 21-23, 2007	Michigan/Wisconsin Fall Tour	A quick commission (for Essentially America magazine) to feature the wonderful Fall Foliage of the Michigan/Wisconsin region led to a magnificent few days driving up through the length of Michigan and right around into Wisconsin, stopping off at Lac Du Flambeau (an Indian reservation in the heart of some stunning forests and lakes). As well as the truly monumental sight of the glittering vastness of the foliage, we also got to learn a lot of the local Ojibwe history, past and present, and visit with some of the people at the Ojibwe Museum & Cultural Center. Fascinating stuff, and another 'living' history lesson into this extensive part of the world. Oh, and the autumn vistas are easily the equal of the New England version - and a lot less crowded!
October 1, 2007	Epcot Park, Orlando	The 25th anniversary of the slendid Epcot park in Walt Disney World was the opportunity for a superbly-organised fan celebration of an event that Disney almost didn't bother to acknowledge themselves. In fact, it took the considerable online efforts of the Celebration 25 event crew (a group of like-minded Epcot fans) to ensure there was a public ceremony for the thousands to enjoy on October 1, with Disney management finally realising the date could not pass without a significant festivity. With the combined efforts of the Celebration 25 eventers (which we helped to publicise) and Disney's own expertise - including a rare and very welcome appearance by Imagineering legend Marty Sklar - it turned into a hugely memorable day for all concerned - and a fitting tribute to the park's founding father, who never got to see his grand vision take shape from the drawing board.
December, 2007	Boyne Country, Michigan	A supposed two-day Christmas break has turned into a major new writing project after we 'discovered' this little-known corner of Michigan (up in the north-west). We are totally convinced this is a fantastic area to tell the world all about, and we will be actively engaged in writing a LOT more about the region in due course, with multiple visits in both winter and summer. It is extremely rare to find a year-round vacation destination like this in the northern states, and we are just amazed at the potential it has to become the next major tourist discovery (see more on our Blog pages).
Jan 26-Feb 4, 2008	Phoenix, Arizona	This was nominally my big annual trip to the Super Bowl (on behalf of the Sun and New of the World newspapers back in London and SkySports.com) but we decided to head out early and take in some of southern Arizona as well as all the usual hoopla associated with the host city's Big Game. And it turned out to be an inspired idea as we had 5 full days touring the likes of Tombstone (one of the South-West's great gems), Tucson (including the Sonora-Arizona Desert Museum and the amazing Pima Air & Space Musum), Apache Junction (and the attendant Apache Trail out to Canyon Lake and Tortilla Flats), Scottsdale (with its happening shopping and restaurant districts) and Phoenix itself, where the superb Heard Museum and Deer Valley Red Rock Arts Center both provided fascinating historical perspectives. A trip out horse-riding with Fort McDowell Adventures was another highlight, while the rolling desert vista, with its subtle variations, was our constant inspiration. Oh, and the game was pretty good, too!
February 17-27, 2008	UK, including Cornwall	A late decision to head back to the UK for some business meetings and family time gave us the opportunity to pick up my boys (ages 9 and 11) for the spring half-term holiday, and head out to Cornwall for a few days. With the help of some friends (big thanks to Pete and Nina Dew!), we were set up with a visit to the outstanding Eden Project near St Austell. A delightful B&B in the picture-postcard-pretty village of Fowey also proved the perfect setting for exploring the local villages and Bodmin Moor and, after 3 days in the area, we decided we had barely scratched the surface of this part of the world, and we WILL be back! A trip up to London to meet with another friend also threw up two more truly superb restaurants - the Argentine-inspired Gaucho in Canary Wharf and the French-tinged Bluebird in Chelsea. A very satsifying trip, all in all.
Mar-May, 2008	Orlando, Florida	It's up-date time for the Brit Guide to Orlando and that means a couple of months of touring, park visits and meetings to take notes on everything that's new and in development in the Theme Park Capital of the world. Already in the bag: Cypress Gardens, WonderWorks, Kissimmee, Downtown Orlando, the Orlando Science Center, Epcot and the Capone's and Medieval Times dinner-shows. Much more to do, though, including our first look at the new Aquatica water park, the Simpsons ride at Universal Studios, Jungala at Busch Gardens, Animal Kingdom and the newly-renamed Disney's Hollywood Studios. Then it's out to Tampa, St Pete Beach and Clearwater; over to Daytona Beach; all the new shopping developments; and (hopefully) a look at the stunning new coaster for Universal for 2009.
June 21-Jul 3, 2008	ALASKA!	Our big summer adventure this year will be a cruise-and-tour investigation of America's largest and most natural state. We will be flying to Seattle, driving up to Vancouver and then taking a 7-night cruise with Holland America Line (their Zaandam) to Seward, taking in Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway en route. It should give us a really in-depth view of this inspiring region (my second visit, Susan's first), and we will finish off with 5 days in the Anchorage area to see some more of the main part of the state. It promises to be a chance for a real up-close and personal encounter with the scenery, flora and fauna, plus the fascintaing Native American heritage. Plus, it's a cruise, so I will be in seventh heaven once again!
Aug 18-23, 2008	The Grand Michigan Tour	As part of our annual work with Phoenix Publishing we both write and edit their Great Lakes North America publication, so we thought we would combine that with a family tour (with all three boys in tow - see 'Oh Brother!' their amusing blog of the trip) of much of Michigan, notably the Upper Peninsula and Mackinac Island. And it proved a HUGE hit with all concerned, underlining once more how much there is to enjoy and appreciate in this vast state, from the festive fun of Frankenmuth (and Bronner's CHRISTmas Wonderland) to the lock city of Saulte St Marie. Indoor water parks, outdoor river rafting, hiking, bicycling, zip-lining and rock-climbing all featured on a varied and activity-focused tour that also included Tahquamenon Falls, Traverse City, Historic Mill Creek Discovery Park and the surprise of Shanty Creek Resort. Much to recommend!
Aug 28-Sep 11, 2008	Back In The I-75 Groove	Having dabbled in the 'I-75 Project' on and off through the summer, we decided it was time to devote a more substantial chunk of time to it, and we arranged a whistle-stop tour through large parts of Tennessee and Kentucky on the way down to Florida, and then a return trip with substantial stops in Georgia. It unearthed some real gems for this ongoing - and drastically different - book-writing project, including fabulous little Forsyth (GA), the fascinating Museum of Appalachia (TN) and 'the cleanest rest-rooms on I-75' just outside Berea (KY). The portfolio is building nicely.
Sep 30-Oct 2	A Barcelona Breeze	Having flown back to the UK to catch up with family and friends (and the inevitable bit of publishing business), we decided to take a side-trip to one of Simon's favourite European cities, Barcelona. This Catalan conconction of modern and medieval is a true delight for a few days and the chance to sample the local tapas, paella and rioja proved a heady combination in truly gorgeous late autumn weather. Getting around by bus, metro and taxi was also easy and enjoyable and the Gaudi architecture remains one of the great attractions of any major metropolis (and this is now a substantial city).
Oct 25-Nov 8, 2008	Florida Fanfare	It's time to get back to Florida for a while, where some more 'I-75' travels await, along with an official engagement in Miami for the inauguration and sample cruise aboard the new Ruby Princess of Princess Cruises. This should be a valuable opportunity to investigate some lesser known areas of the great arterial highway along the Tampa-Naples stretch of the Sunshine State, and conclude with a look at the revamped Eden Roc Hotel in South Beach and then the latest piece of cruise hardware from 'the Love Boat line.' Having seen the Caribbean Princess fairly recently (summer 07), it will be interesting to see how her new near-sister shapes in, as the cruise business is still developing in leaps and bounds these days.