Travel |

September 1, 2017

Fall in Downtown Sacramento

Fall season in downtown Sacramento, USA

After a long and hot summer, locals in Sacramento usually welcome in the crisp, cool days of fall with open arms. For those who want to make the most of all that the season has to offer, here are a few of the best fall activities to try in the city.

Sacramento River Fall Foliage
Fall foliage is always one of the highlights of the fall months, and the best place in Sacramento to view this is along the Sacramento River. The river is lined on both sides by a variety of different trees, all of which transform from green to golds and reds in the late fall months. While you can simply take a stroll along the river to take in all of the colors, you could also try out a river cruise, which will give you the opportunity to enjoy a meal or a glass of champagne as you cruise by the stunning foliage.

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Walking Tours
With the weather being slightly cooler in the fall, this is a great time of the year to sign up for a walking tour, as you will not feel as overwhelmed by the heat as you would have in the summer. There are so many different tours available, depending on what you are interested in. For those who want to soak up some history, try a historic walking tour of Old Sacramento, or, if you are an avid foodie, sign up for food tours that showcase the city’s culinary specialties.

Fall Festivals
There are so many fall festivals to choose from in Sacramento, ranging from music to food to beer. The California Brewers Festival is always a popular one, as this showcases an incredible selection of local brewers and beers, as does Oktoberfest, which is also a great place to soak up some German culture. The annual Farm to Fork Festival is another one that you should not miss, especially since Sacramento is the farm to fork capital of the United States, guaranteeing the highest quality food. For those visiting Sacramento with their family, including young children, do not miss out on the Delta Fall Harvest Festival, which offers everything from grape stomping to pumpkin picking to hay rides. The Sacramento Harvest Festival is also worth checking out, and this takes place on the weekend before Thanksgiving, with everything from music and entertainment to hundreds of stalls where you can do some shopping.

Woman picking red apples

Apple Hill
As you would imagine from its name, Apple Hill is abundant with apple trees, and there are over 50 ranches located here. In the fall, these apples are ripe for picking, and many of the ranches here offer pick-your-own experiences for visitors. Denver Dan’s is one of the very best orchards to head to, as they grow over 50 different varieties of apples, giving you the opportunity to sample different types and learn about the unique features of each.

Sacramento is a fantastic destination to visit throughout the year, but it definitely does take on a magical air during the months of fall. From bountiful harvests to seasonal festivals, this is a great time of the year to visit California’s capital.

Travel |

October 7, 2016

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Boston’s Ghost and Gravestone Tours

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Boston is known for having quite a dark past, and a Ghost and Gravestone Tour is one of the best ways for a visitor to learn more about this. From visiting the city’s ancient burial grounds to learning more about the characters that used to terrorize the city, these tours guarantee a spine-tingling experience.

Ghosts and Gravestones Frightseeing Ghost Tou
Offered in conjunction with Historic Tours of America and Old Town Trolley Tours, the Ghosts and Gravestones Frightseeing Ghost Tour is, without a doubt, the most popular ghost tour in the city. The tours run for about one and a half hours each and are led by a guide who plays the character of a 17th-century grave digger. From taking a walk over Boston’s largest unmarked burial ground while listening to stories of the torture and executions that took place here, to passing by the Omni Parker House, famous for being the most haunted hotel in the city, this is a tour that truly showcases Boston’s sordid past.

Haunted Boston Ghost Tour
The Haunted Boston Ghost Tour is a walking tour that lasts for around one and a half hours, covering the chilling yet enchanting history of the city. Often referred to as a storytelling tour, this tour features seven different stops, each one paired with a spooky true story, ranging from gruesome murders to tales of unbelievable witchcraft to numerous hauntings. Some of the highlights of the Haunted Boston Ghost Tour include the site of the Hanging Tree on Boston Common, the Cutler Majestic Theater, which is said to be haunted by several ghosts, and the Central Burying Ground, which is bound to give you chills when visited at night.

Boston Ghost Walk
Organized by Best Tours, the Boston Ghost Walk lasts for around 90 minutes and sets off from the north side of Boston Common. This tour is known for its incredibly knowledgeable tour guides, who have a unique way of being able to bring the city’s sordid past to life. This ghost walk takes in some of the spookiest sights around the city, such as the Boston Massacre site, which was where the most famous bloodbath in American history took place, as well as the site of Boston’s most gruesome murder, the George Parkman case.

Ghost Ship Harbor
While not technically a tour, Ghost Ship Harbor is a haunted attraction set aboard the USS Salem, which is known for having several ghostly residents, and was even featured on popular television show Ghost Hunters in 2009. This attraction gives visitors the opportunity to experience some of the ship’s ghost sightings for themselves, and is guaranteed to send shivers running through your body.

A city that is almost 400 years old, it only makes sense that Boston would have parts of its history steeped in blood, gore and ghostly hauntings. From the lynchings that took place on Boston Common to the incredible number of haunted buildings around the city, these tours are the best way to learn more about the city’s sordid past.

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July 29, 2016

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Walking for Chocolate

Being the city in which the first chocolate in the country was manufactured in 1765, Boston has quite the rich history when it comes to this delicious treat. For any chocoholics visiting the city, taking a chocolate walking tour is not only a fantastic way to sample some of the high-quality chocolate created in Boston, but also enables you to explore the city’s neighborhoods, learning more about its history and heritage.

Back Bay
Back Bay is a historic Boston neighborhood that is famous for its Victorian brownstones. When it comes to chocolate, Newbury Street and Boylston Street are the main highlights of Back Bay, with the finest of chocolatiers lining these busy streets. Hotel Chocolat is run by a European cocoa grower, who controls production from bean to bar, and has an elegant private tasting room, while Gourmet Boutique is another popular stop, featuring the largest collection of imported bars in the city. Other notable chocolate-related points of interest in Back Bay include the best chocolate chip cookie in Boston, visiting the Swiss chocolatier who created the Dom Perignon Champagne Truffle, and even stopping by at a couple of cosmetics companies that use chocolate in their products.

South End
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, South End is an extremely vibrant and diverse neighborhood, and offers up some of the best chocolate in Boston. Chocolate lovers will definitely need to stop by at David’s Teas, where you will be able to sample a range of different chocolate-based teas, from the Chocolate Chilli Chai to the Red Velvet Cake, as well as the Flour Bakery, which is run by celebrity chef Joanne Chang. You will also come across plenty of chocolate cupcakes, as well as adult beverages that showcase this ingredient in truly creative ways.

Beacon Hill
The luxurious neighborhood of Beacon Hill is ideal for taking a walking chocolate tour, as the diversity of chocolate available here is most definitely impressive. J. P. Licks is usually the first stop for chocoholics, as this ice cream maker brings a new intensity to chocolate ice creams. Also in the area is Beacon Hill Chocolates, which is a quaint and charming shop that sources artisan chocolates from around the world, giving you the opportunity to try everything from French chocolate macaroons to dark Guatemalan chocolate. For those who want to try something more unusual, head on over to 75 Chestnut, whose dessert menu features the Chocolate Trilogy, which includes a delicious chocolate soup. Before leaving Beacon Hill, take a stroll through Boston Common and make your way to Finale, which is a restaurant that focuses on desserts, promising to cater to your chocolate sweet tooth.

Not only is Boston the oldest city in America, but it is also home to the classic chocolate chip, an all-American favorite. Taking a chocolate walking tour will not only show you parts of the city that you may have otherwise missed, but will also enable you to taste your way through some of the finest chocolate that Boston has to offer.

Travel |

January 22, 2016

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Planning Your Summer Vacation

Couple in a yacht

With the holiday season over and many cold months ahead, there is no better time to start planning your summer vacation. From taking the time to choose a unique destination to planning creative and unforgettable activities, we have put together some of our top tips for when it comes to planning your summer vacation.

Choosing a Destination
One of the best advantages to planning your summer vacation well in advance is the fact that you can take the time to choose a unique destination. If you are quite flexible about where you go, then it could be worth scouring the different options available to you at this early date. Whether it be a VIP holiday package or a luxury tour around a certain country, planning your vacation in advance means that you will have first pick of all aspects to your vacation. You may also find that destinations that are always busy in the winter empty out a lot more in the summer, from the southwestern states of the USA to the colder regions of Australia, so it could be worth taking this into account.

Considering Accommodation Options
We all know that companies such as AirBnB are giving conventional hotel chains a run for their money, and if you have never used these websites before, your summer vacation is the perfect time to start. If you are planning to visit a major city, such as London or New York, you will likely find somewhere not only cheaper than a hotel but with a fantastic location and all the amenities that you need. However, there are still some instances where a hotel would be more convenient, so be sure to carefully evaluate your situation as well as the people who you plan to travel with. If you are going to be traveling with young children, hotels will usually offer activities and facilities that are catered to them, leaving the adults with much more free time on their hands. Booking well in advance also means that you will have a much wider selection of hotels, as well as rooms, to choose from, so you are extremely likely to be able to find one that works perfectly for you.

Researching Activities in Advance
No matter where you may have decided to visit for your summer vacation, it is always wise to do some advanced planning on the different activities available in the area. This gives you enough time to plan your activities creatively. For example, instead of visiting the local zoo, you would have a much better time seeking out a local wildlife sanctuary. If you are visiting a new city, you will be able to find a number of walking tours on the internet that you can print out, as well as information on when certain museums are hosting special events and VIP nights.

It may seem early to begin planning your summer vacation, but experts say that now is the perfect time. Not only have you given yourself enough time to carefully plan your holiday, but the thought of your exciting summer will provide you with plenty of motivation to get through the upcoming months.