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Prague- The Golden City, also known as the City of a Hundred Towers. It was virtually untouched by WWII and made it through the communist era without many changes so the historic center remains much as it was in the beginning.

Prague is broken into areas- the Castle District, Little Quarter (Mala Strana), the Old Town and the New Town.The Castle District of course brings you Prague Castle and within the walls the Holy Cross Chapel, Castle Gallery, Spanish Hall, the Convent of St. George and St. Vitus’s Cathedral. Around the castle there is plenty to explore as well. The Baroque Gardens, Schwarzenberg Palace and Hradcany Square are just a few options.

Leaving the Castle District and heading towards the river you enter the Little Quarter where you can visit the Strahov Monastery, Lobkowicz Palace the Mala Strana Square and the Church of St. Nicholas among others.

As you hit the river you come to Charles Bridge, Europe’s most famous medieval bridge. It has massive towers on both sides and is adorned with 30 statues, mostly saints and religious figures. Gathered on the bridge you’ll find locals and artisans selling their wares, street musicians and some of the usual touristy stuff. The tower on the Old Town side of the bridge was the workshop of Peter Parler who produced much of the statuary on the bridge.

As you walk off the bridge you are entering the Old Town that dates back to the 11th and 12th centuries. Wander the little cobbled lanes for shopping and find your way to the Old Town Square where the big draw is the Town Hall’s medieval Astronomical Clock, constructed in 1410. When the clock strikes the hour, figures parade across the clock face, it’s very cool.Other sites not to be missed in the Old Town are the Baroque Hall Library, the Church of St. James and of course Celetna for the shoppers.

With all of the above some don’t even take time to explore the New Town but it’s definitely worth a visit. You can start in Wenceslas Square and check out the monument to Prague’s patron saint, other options include the National Museum, Charles Square, Church of St. Wenceslas and the Botanical Gardens.

And lastly I can’t mention Prague with out a word about the pubs. You won’t find comfortable chairs and TV’s broadcasting sports like you do at home, but I have it on the best sources that with the quality of the beer brewed there you’re sure of a more than decent drink no matter where you stop in. Try the Staropramen, I’ve heard it’s fantastic.

There is so much more to see and do in Prague, it’s hard to say it all here, so if you’d like help with your travel plans to the Czech Republic, contact me and I’d be happy to help you. -Jennefer

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Where can you rub noses with a Maori tribesman, enjoy spectacular scenery from an alpine train, cruise through scenes from Lord of the Rings, bungee jump from a bridge (or a tower) and hike on a glacier?  Why New Zealand of course!  Add to that bubbling geysers, world class sailing, four wheel drive excursions, hot air ballooning, kayaking in Abel Tasman and The Milford Trek and you’ll have an idea of some of the adventures available in this part of the world.

But it’s not just adventure travelers that are happy in New Zealand.  You’ll also find luxury lodges with glorious views, miles of pristine beach, wineries, open countryside with more sheep than people, charming villages and modern cities.  Accommodations are equally diverse with everything from camper vans to farmhouse stays and simple motels to elegant lodges and hotels.  Plus you can explore by car, train, helicopter, boat or bus and be free as the wind or TLC’d by a guide… There is truly something for everyone in New Zealand!

On one recent trip, we spent most of our vacation time on the South Island starting in Christchurch with a visit to the Antarctic Center and punting on the Avon River.  The next day was the TranzAlpine train through the Canterbury Plains and over spectacular Arthurs Pass and the mountains known as the Southern Alps.  This is a train trip everyone should include in their itinerary.

In Greymouth, we picked up a car and made the scenic drive to Franz Josef where we spent the night.  In the morning, after discussions of strenuous climbs and leaps over crevasses, we chose to hike the slighlty less daunting Fox Glacier.  This proved just the right challenge for our mixed age group.  No specialized gear was required and climbing boots were provided along with a personable and knowledgeble guide.  There were a few tricky spots but overall it was a great experience and the views at the top, with pictures to commemorate the accomplishment, were well worthwhile! 

The next day’s drive took us along the coastline and over the mountains to Wanaka, which is a lovely little town.  We would have enjoyed a day to simply relax, but we had a date with a Queen… or Queenstown that is… The highlight of our New Zealand vacation! 

Queenstown is surrounded by dramatic mountains and sits on the shores of beautiful Lake Wakatipu.  The town itself is charming with lots of shops and open air restaurants, a Kiwi Museum, bicycle and walking paths around the lake and a gondola ride to the top of the mountain.  There you can visit the museum, snap some gorgeous pictures or be a bit more adventurous and literally jump off the edge of the mountain top in a tandem paraglider!  Those that prefer to remain earthbound can head for the luge track, with wheeled cars for fair weather fun, or the view restaurant where you can sip and sup.

Near Queenstown you’ll find many other adventures including a 4 wheel drive excursion into Skippers Canyon where early New Zealanders mined for gold, the Dart River Safari which takes you up river into spectacular Lord of the Rings scenery, a working sheep station at the far end of the lake, and for thrill seekers, bungee jumping and the shotover jet.  Yet another “must do” near Queenstown is Milford Sound with its dramatic fjords and waterfalls.  A day excursion by bus or plane is easily arranged or you can consider a night on the lake or in Te Anau for a more leisurely experience.

Depending on vacation time and budget, you can complete your South Island vacation with a side trip to Dunedin, known as the most Scottiish city outside of Scotland or a stop near Mt Cook and Lake Tekapo before heading on to the North Island of New Zealand or, sadly, home.  More to see another day!

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Last week, the Travel Channel was in Hawaii conducting “Man on the Street” interviews with a grand prize of 24 hours at the Bungalows at Mauna Lani Bay .  Since I toured the Bungalows in December, and know the going rate is $6000 per night with a 10 night minimum stay, I was especially interested… that was quite a prize!

The smallest bungalow at Mauna Lani is 2500 square feet and has a pool, hot tub, and private butler.  The whole experience begins when guests are met at the airport by their butler and transported to the Bungalows by limousine.  And that’s just the beginning!  Perhaps you’d like your butler to arrange a 1/2 day private hike near the volcanoes with catered luncheon for a mere $1500.  Or, after a strenuous day of hiking, ask him to draw a bubble bath, complete with candles and champagne.  Your wish is his command and a stay at the Mauna Lani Bungalows is all about pampering, privacy and luxury!

If $6K per night would stretch your budget a bit, perhaps the Hilton Waikoloa Village is more to your taste.  The Hilton is considered the “Disneyland of Hawaii” with fabulous pools, 3 story waterfall and swim with the dolphin program.  The lazy river and waterslides are something both kids and adults love, you can snorkel in a huge saltwater lagoon and you’ll feel like “Indiana Jones’ while trying to keep your balance on the swinging rope bridge…the kids love to make it swing!

The Big Island has lots to offer in the way of activities such as the Volcanoes National Park.  The black lava fields look like Highway 405 has been hit by an earthquake.  If you can imagine black top erupting, that’s how the lava fields look.  On each side of the road through the fields are steam vents with steam rising from the volcano.  Hiking in Volcanoes National Park is not your garden variety wilderness trek, but the rewards are worth the challenge.  Where else can you see lava, cinders, steam vents rifts, craters, tree molds, a lava tube (where the lava has tunneled underground) and views of new life struggling through the past devastation. Since most of the hikes in the Volcanoes National Park are quite long, and some are arduous, it is advisable to not try and see the entire park in one day.  Volcano House is the only hotel in the park, and offers rooms with a view of the crater.  Hawaiiana is alive and well at the Volcano House.  Koa wood furniture & Hawaiian quilts are featured in each room.The summit of Mauna Kea, another of the Big Islands many volcanoes, also boasts 13 active telescopes, including the world’s largest optical/infrared telescope.  Yes, you can visit and have your very own “tour of the stars”. In Hilo, visit the new ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center.  The planetarium offers several shows per day, and the center has many interactive exhibits, which are popular with the keikis (children). So if you are thinking the Big Island or any Hawaiian destination, please give me a call.  Mahalo!  Sandi