Traveling with kids can be a wonderful, memory-building experience. Let’s be honest, it can also be one of those nightmares you can’t wake yourself up from. My wife used to be a travel agent so spends weeks planning our vacations. If our son had his way, the only sights we would see would be toy stores and amusement parks. I, on the other hand, have about a 30-minute tolerance for “family fun” activities before I start punching myself in the face and must be brought wine immediately. Balancing everyone’s vacation needs isn’t easy but if you’re visiting Vancouver, you’re in luck. Here are three uniquely Vancouver spots offering family fun without family breakdowns:
Granville Island
Your littles of any age will love Kids Market with a four-level play area, toy shops, old-fashioned arcade, outdoor water park and, every kid’s favorite, their very own kid-sized entrance door. Now that our son is a tween he’s too tall (and cool) for the door but it’s still the perfect height for me! “Ugh, mom, you’re so embarrassing.”
Granville Island is also home to artist studios, clothing boutiques, gift shops, restaurants and the world famous Public Market. You could spend all day wandering outdoors, taking in busker performances, watching for seals in the surrounding waters, or enjoying an adult beverage on a patio. From Granville Island you can take a wee ferry to several fun places like Science World, the Maritime Museum and English Bay. Not just a daytime destination, Granville Island has the highest concentration of live theatres in Vancouver, a brewery, and a hotel so you could happily spend a weekend there.
By Morgan Brayton – Full Story at Passport
Vancouver Gay Travel Resources
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My day took me from my base at Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria in Sorrento, all the way to Ravello and back along the stunning panoramic road of the Amalfi Coast, with stops in Amalfi, Praiano and Positano. From the distance, I was also able to catch a view of Maiori and Minori, and drive by Atrani, which I thought I was very charismatic.
In Biblical Times, Al Ula was called as Dedan. It is mentioned in Isaiah 21:13 as a home trade base of Arab caravans. Today, the old town of Al Ula is a ghost town. No one lives there anymore but there’s a new town that is settled not far from the old.
When you think of old towns as a tourist attractions, you’d think of them as fully-renovated places restored for commercial purposes. But these mud brick houses of the Old Town of Al Ula are untouched.
Pompeii, along with Herculaneum and many villas in the surrounding area, was mostly destroyed and buried under 13 to 20 ft of volcanic ash in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79.
Periodically we’ll feature one of our properties here to let our readers know about some great gay friendly places to stay:
Hale KupuKupu is constructed from old growth redwood planks in the single wall design traditional to the islands during the plantation period of the 1930s and 40’s.
Hale KupuKupu offers a quiet and tranquil experience, reminiscent of a lifestyle from an era gone-by. The outside surroundings of the house provide natural beauty and unmatched privacy.
I have to apologize if I’m getting on your nerves with my constant ravings about Austin – I’ve already sang the city’s praises here and here – and I can’t stop gushing about Texas’ quirky capital. I arrived in New York last week and have been enthusiastically talking about how great Austin is ever since my plane touched down here, almost forgetting that I’m in my favorite city in the world.
But my last week in Austin was a great one, and I finally got the local introduction to the city that I had hoped for: from someone who had lived in Austin for many years and knew the city inside out. Together, we hit up some of East Austin’s coolest bars (including the fabulous Weather Up bar, which I learned had a branch in Brooklyn’s Prospect Heights neighborhood, just around the corner from where I lived two years ago – not sure how I had missed that place back then!).
I was introduced to the magic of pinball arcades (I need to bring them to NYC – so much fun!), finally watched a movie at the Alamo Drafthouse while enjoying craft beers and a surprisingly tasty meal, wishing I could always enjoy restaurant service and booze in a movie theater (apparently Brooklyn is getting an Alamo Drafthouse in a few weeks – I am excited!), and had a midnight diner meal at the Magnolia Cafe which came to fame thanks to the Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.
Yes! We are in Firenze….that is Florence, in English. Florence is my favorite city in Italy. Although I do enjoy being in most of the other Italian cities, Florence is the place where I feel like I have come home again.
Florence is not as big as Rome, and its historical treasures are more recent than Rome’s. While Rome was the center of civilization in its time, Florence is the birthplace of the Renaissance; art, literature, music, the architecture of the grand palaces are the treasures here.
We had reservations at the Accademia Galleria for 9:00 a.m. Last Friday. We got there early and the guard let us in. We had the place almost to ourselves for twenty minutes or more. We were able to see Michelangelo’s “David” without so many other tourists in the hall. I have seen this statue many times, but I never get tired of looking at that guy. The workmanship still amazes me. The muscles of his torso and limbs are so well defined. The veins in his hands, arms and feet stand out. I know I could start an IV in that right hand without a problem.
Then there is the Duomo. We walked past here our first night back in Florence. The beauty of this cathedral still brings tears to my eyes. Our apartment is not far from the Duomo, so we walk past it every day. However, this nighttime view is one of my favorites. Only a few people were out that night and there was no traffic. Our view was unobstructed as we walked around the church.
Getting around Florence by foot is really quite simple. Florence is not hilly like Rome, and most of the must-see sights are within a short walking distance from the center of the old city. Piazzale Michelangelo is one exception, though. It sits high on a hill, overlooking the Arno River. Getting there is quite a hike; however, the views from the piazza are worth the trip. If one really doesn’t want to walk up the hill, city buses make that trip frequently.
The white church on the hill is San Miniato, just above Piazzale Michelangelo.
Today we outdid ourselves. This is our last full day in Florence. We started our day early, getting to the Uffizi Gallery for our 9:00 appointment by 8:20. Once again, we were early, and the door guard let us in.
The Uffizi has the largest collection of Italian art in the world, so going there is a must. We went straight to the Botticelli room, as that room can get so crowded that it is impossible to see anything.
After two hours in the Uffizi, we went to the Bargello Gallery then to Santa Croce church, where many famous Florentines are interred. Among them: Leonardo di Vinci, Michelangelo, Galileo, Macchiavelli, the composer Rossini, plus a large monument to Dante Allegheri, father of the Italian language, though he is not buried here.
Frank wanted to go to our favorite leather shop, so we did that. Frank made a purchase and we visited with the owner, who, like several others in Florence, have become our friends.
So now we are going to relax for a bit, then prepare dinner, as our friends, Massimo and Magda, are coming here for dinner.
Tomorrow we will leave Florence and go to Venice for a few days. Our trip is going by quickly. There is always some place that we want to see that has to be bypassed, as we simply run out of time.
However, life is good. Being in Italy is indeed “la dolce vita”, the sweet life.
Until next time,
Ciao for now,
Dolly
Periodically we’ll feature one of our properties here to let our readers know about some great gay friendly places to stay:
Breathtaking views from every room. You might want to call it a lodge – We call it “C&M Bunkhouse” We can even marry you! Many options available – BBQ Dinners and Breakfasts can be included by a professional chef (Dinners Thursday’s thru Sunday nights) and other nights by request. If you want to be private and not partake in the meals provided, there is a Kitchenette included in YOUR living space. You can also have access to our master kitchen and living room area.
Enjoy the quiet and time away from the City. Boise is close (30 minutes) and there are two stores 20 minutes away. 15 miles from Historic Idaho City and 12 miles from the famous Hilltop restaurant off Hwy 21.
Elk, wild turkey, quail, and deer at our doorstep (no hunting) in spring and fall.
16 miles from Downtown Boise, Up Hwy 21 and then 2 miles up the dirt road, you’ve arrived at a peaceful, beautiful slice of heaven.
Wrap around deck gives you a private show the the best sunrises and wildlife the mountains have to offer.
Hot yoga room, In house gym, patio Jacuzzi, Amazon TV, and more.
Hiking, Water sports near by. We even have a hiking trail 100feet from our front door.
Summertime? Paddle boarding, fishing, kayaking right here (10 minutes away).
Wintertime? Snowshowing right here, and Bogus Basin ski resort less than an hour door to door.
Spring and Fall, enjoy the 6 mile hiking trail and all the beauty and wildlife.
Emperor Augustus might have been the first to land in Capri, but I was determined to conquer my day experience exploring the Island upside down in five hours. so I had to commit to my pace, and have a quick glimpse of the main atractions. and of course, find an amazing local restaurant to enjoy true Italian flair. This was my first time visit to Capri.
For those of you unfamiliar with the island, it is divided in three regions, by elevations – Capri, Anacapri and Monte Solaro. How do you get from one point to the other on the Island of Capri? There are four main modes of transportation: bus or taxi, funicular, single chairlift and if you have the time… by foot. You can also read more tips and recommendations by checking and following me on Instagram to see all my past-current-future posts and experiences while in Italy.
Capri, an island in Italy’s Gulf of Naples, is famed for its rugged landscape, upscale beach resorts and high-end shops selling handmade leather sandals and signature limoncello liqueur. One of its best-known natural sites is the Blue Grotto, a dark cavern where the sea glows electric blue, the result of sunlight passing through an underwater cave. ( Which you nay or not be able to visit due to weather conditions, winds and tides. In my case I just didn’t have time to do it).
Situated in Northern Italy, in the Po Valley, at about 50 km from Bologna, on the Via Emilia, Reggio Emilia borders Parma’s territory to the west and Modena’s territory to the east. In the north, the River Po separates its territory from the province of Mantua, while in the south the Apennines mark the border with Liguria and Tuscany.
Why Visit
Reggio, also known as the Tricolour town, because it was here that the future Italian flag was adopted for the first time in 1797, has an ancient history: In the 11th century, the town was the heart of Matilde’s county in the neighbouring territory. Later, important figures marked its Renaissance, ranging from Boiardo to Ariosto, the great poet of The Orlando Furioso.
On the Table
Do not leave the town without tasting and buying the excellent delicacies of its gastronomy: the cappelletti or caplett, the Parmesan cheese, the seasonings and the Traditional Balsamic Vinegar. In the town bakeries, it is possible to find the erbazzone and the chizze, in the pastry shops, the spongata, the traditional rice cake and the biscione.