Castles

Posted by Laura & Claire on Mar 1, 2012 | 9 comments

Castles are some of the most beautiful architectural buildings we have seen in our travels. We love to visit them and hear the history behind them. No matter what, there’s always something unique and intriguing about each castle. They were all built for different purposes, for interesting people, and in some of the most beautiful places. Whether they are in ruins or still inhabited, the castles we’ve seen have all blown us away.

Hearst

In California, we visited the Hearst Castle. It’s one of the newer castles, being built in 1919 for William Randolph Hearst. It’s a beautiful castle, which is why we were both surprised when we were told that Mr. Hearst referred to it as “the ranch.”

The castle is up on top of beautiful California hill, and consequently, has spectacular views of the ocean and the landscape.

The pools were some of the most amazing parts to see. He had an indoor AND outdoor pool.

Buckingham

Just a few months ago, Claire was in London and saw where the Queen lives. Her “castle” is exactly what you expect when you think “royalty.” It doesn’t look like your typical castle, but we like to think of it as one, since all the royals have lived there since 1703.

The changing of the guards was the most spectacular thing to see at Buckingham Palace.

Heidelberg

Laura visited this Heidelberg castle in Germany which is in ruins but it was still amazing to see what was once a beautiful Renaissance and gothic-style castle, built around the 13th century:

Germany

On top of the hills of Germany was another beautiful castle:

Biltmore

Another castle we’ve visited is the beautiful Biltmore estate in North Carolina: (photo courtesy of Mike Miley on Flickr) It is the largest home in North America and the inside of this spectacular house is even more breathtaking! The history of it is even more amazing, so if you’re anywhere near North Carolina, we suggest you visit this one-of-a-kind castle!

Edinburgh

We hope to see the captivating Edinburgh castle in Scotland in the near future sometime. If you’re going to Edinburgh, you can check out Edinburgh hotels here.

{photo courtesy of beautifulplacestovisit.com}

What is your favorite castle you’ve visited and why?

Guest Post: London: City of Love

Posted by Laura & Claire on Feb 28, 2012 | 0 comments

It might be Paris that, in the popular imagination, is most often linked with romance – but London has had its moments on the world stage. It’s here, after all, that Shakespeare wrote Romeo & Juliet, that Celia Johnson and Trevor Howard had their Brief Encounter, and that Julia Roberts stood before Hugh Grant and told him she was just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her.

If you’re looking for romance this February then there’s no better way to spark a relationship, celebrate an anniversary or get down on bended knee than at the heart of the UK – and there’s no better time than now to book a few nights at one of the Covent Garden hotels in the centre of the city and set about exploring all the romantic delights London has to offer. Below are just five ideas to get your pulse racing!

St. Martin-in-the-Fields: The striking, pillared façade of St. Martin’s suggests that it’s a cathedral – in fact, this famous house of worship is an impressively grand Anglican Church. It boasts an affiliated orchestra and choir, both of which hold regular concerts, and also plays host to a number of musical guests over the course of a year. For an unforgettably atmospheric evening, attend one of its flickeringly lovely candlelit performances – a treat for the eyes and the ears.

Take a spa day: The Grange in Tower Bridge is one of the luxury hotels in London that offers spa treatments as part of a room package, making staying in as much fun as going out. Have breakfast in bed, followed by a relaxing massage and spell in the heated pool. You’ll feel rejuvenated and completely ready for all the things that London has to offer.

London Chocolate Tours: Forget the fancy box of chocs you bought last year – go bigger and better with a lavishly tasty tour of London’s sweetest scene. Chocolate Ecstasy runs weekend sightseeing trips of Chelsea and Mayfair, so book a place in one of their evening and daytime tours. Your guide will take you on a journey spanning the history of our country’s most delicious import and the shops of a few of London’s finest chocolatiers, to boot.

London Aquarium: Spend an afternoon away from the hustle of the city, marveling at the quiet, majestic beauty of a host of watery creatures – including forty different species of shark and a family of penguins. Drift off to exotic worlds in the aquarium’s peaceful, rippling blue light – then reignite your afternoon with a trip to the huge underground arcade next door!

Oysters and Champagne: There’s nothing more romantically opulent than a delicate French feast of oysters washed down with champagne. If your tastes are expensive, there’s no place like Harrods Caviar House Oyster Bar for a bottle of bubbly and the finest gourmand seafood. If you’re more interested in having a taster session head to the Amuse Bouche Bar in Fulham, where you can sample a few gorgeous vintages at under £10 a glass.

Excitement at Buckingham Palace

Posted by Claire on Dec 30, 2011 | 10 comments

Every two days at exactly 11:30 AM at the Buckingham Palace, something super cool happens… The changing of guards at Buckingham Palace happens!

And I watched it!

We ate breakfast at this little sandwich cafe called Pronto A Mangia and then sprinted over to the palace to try and catch the changing of guards! We made it just in time and, although we didn’t have front row seating or anything, we still had a great view!

I also had a great view of the beautiful gate!

We then decided to cross the street… Which gave us a better view of the Palace…

…But not so much the guards!

“Oops!”

But to our surprise, we now had a much better view of the guards passing by!!!

We also had a great view of the horses which were groomed like princesses!

Posing!

And here’s me amongst the crowds after the changing of guards…

Have you ever seen a changing of the guards?

Favorites of 2011

Posted by Laura & Claire on Dec 28, 2011 | 12 comments

2011 has been a great year for us! It has really flown by though and we had some great moments during our travels!

Favorite moments

Starting out the year in Australia!
Horseback riding on the beach in Australia.
Learning to surf!
Getting stuck for five days in Sydney.
Drinking multiple smoothies every day in Mornington, Australia.
Seeing a tango show in Argentina.
Falling off paddle boards in Tybee, GA.
Taking a mud bath at the Dead Sea.
Riding a camel, visting Holy sights, and getting baptized in the Jordan River in Israel.
Cliff diving in Kusadasi, Turkey
Seeing the Parthenon in Athens and relaxing on the beautiful island of Patmos, Greece
Reaching over 400 followers on Twitter.
Watching the changing of guards at Buckingham Palace in London.
Staying with friends in a small town in Switzerland for a week.
Driving 110 mph on the Autobahn in Germany.
Randomly running into a childhood friend in Amsterdam.
Spending a day kayaking and bike riding in Tybee Island.
Spending Thanksgiving at Port Saint Joe.

Favorite destinations

We can’t wait for 2012! :)

Buildings of London

Posted by Claire on Dec 22, 2011 | 6 comments

One thing I really just love about the places I visit are the buildings. I know that’s so lame but they just fascinate me… Plus I’m pretty much obsessed with taking pictures of them. I love how different buildings have a different architectural style, were built in different times, and have their own little uniqueness.

What really intrigued me about my trip to London, of course, was the buildings! So I’ve put together a little snippet of buildings and things…