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Archive for October, 2009

For families interested in traveling to Europe, consider one of the guided tours offered by several outfits that will take you and show you the best sights and sounds of Ireland.  Such vacations are often not very expensive when compared to the rest of Europe and family members of all ages will enjoy the scenery and attractions.

Most guided tours of Ireland will have you fly into Shannon.  This is a small airport on the western side of the island and it’s close to many attractions you’ll see.  Your first stop will be to the village of Adare, famous for its thatched roof cottages and quaint charm.  This is your first stop along the Dingle Peninsula, Ireland’s most beautiful natural area.  You’ll see dramatic mountains, green fields and many archeological sites.

As for your next stop, guided tours of Ireland may take you to some of the sites or to a pub in the Dingle Peninsula.  You may choose to go dolphin-watching at specified places along the Peninsula road.  Soak up the beautiful scenery and eat some of the hearty local dishes.  After that, you’ll travel to Killarney and visit the Gap of Dunloe, a four mile gulch carved out by glaciers. 

Guided tours of Ireland would be remiss if they didn’t take you to the infamous Blarney Castle.  While much of the castle is in ruins and it doesn’t have a roof, visitors will be amazed by the ancient architecture and will be given a chance to kiss the Blarney Stone—a feat which is done while lying on your back.  Afterward, you’ll likely go to the picturesque town of Kinsdale, within County Cork.  Visit one of their gourmet restaurants and walk along the cobblestone streets.The next logical stop for guided tours of Ireland is the town of Cobh, the departure point for many emigrants to the US and the last port of call for the Titanic.  Visit the local graveyard where many of the Titanic’s passengers are buried. From there, travel to the medieval town of Kilkenny, famous for its cathedrals and its history of witchcraft. 

Often, guided tours of Ireland will then bring you into Dublin where there are numerous sites to see, including the site of Ireland’s first Parliament and the famous Guinness Brewery.  Taste some of Ireland’s finest beer and stay at the Cabra Castle, complete with a golf course, gardens and beautiful walking paths. 
To get the most out of guided tours of Ireland, you’ll continue on to visit Carrick-on-Shannon, a scenic boating haven and Boyle, the site of some lovely abbey ruins.  After touring this area, you’ll likely move on to the County Mayo. In Mayo, you’ll walk the streets of Westport and see its seashore, dotted with a number of tiny islands.  Shop along the traditional Irish shops and take in the quaint nature of this lovely town. 

Guided tours of Ireland rarely miss Galway, the cultural capital of Ireland.  Take in some traditional Irish music by visiting one of the town’s several pubs.  After that, you’ll visit the Aran Islands, the place where the famous Irish Aran sweaters originally came from.  These islands will take you back in time as little has changed over the years.  Most guided tours of Ireland will let you see and taste and listen to Ireland at every possible chance.  It’s a beautiful country with lovely people and it will be an experience you’ll never forget.

With the coming of the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics, more and more guided tours of this city in China have been established and China itself has become one of the fastest growing tourist locations in the world.  For the US, the borders of China are open and tourists are welcome to get visas for travel in this country.

Because Chinese is such a difficult language to learn, signing up for one of the many guided tours of the country is the best option.  Otherwise, the complications of travel and language barriers make it difficult for a couple or family to really see the country in the best way possible.

Most guided tours of China include several cities as well as intra-China flights from city to city.  This is preferable to driving as this is a very large country. 
Otherwise, you can just pick a city and spend your time there.  For example, a tour could involve the city of Beijing (formerly “Peking”) where the Olympic preparations are being made.  From this city, you can visit the infamous Tiananmen Square, where many protesters were killed in 1989.  Now, it is a peaceful meeting place where visitors can see MaoTse Tung’s entombed body and an official museum.
Almost all guided tours of Beijing also include a walking tour of the Forbidden City—a place where ancient emperors lived and ruled the country.  Although it has been burned down and rebuilt several times, the tourist definitely gets an idea of how the ancient royalty lived and several of the large statues and the garden are still standing.  The Summer Palace in Beijing is on a lake nearby and includes the longest covered walkway in the world. Bring your most comfortable shoes as there is a great deal of walking involved.

Guided tours around Beijing also commonly include a visit to a portion of the Great Wall of China.  On the bus ride out to the wall, the visitor can see bits and pieces of the wall snaking along the tops of the mountain. At the visitor center, the tourist can take a cable car up to the base of the wall, where a short walk takes you to the wall itself.  Good walking shoes are vital here as well because the wall isn’t flat when one walks on it and is instead very irregular and slanted in places.

Other places to see on guided tours of Beijing are what the Chinese call the “hutongs”.  These are very narrow alley-like passageways that can, in part, be traveled through using Chinese pedicabs—bicycles attached to surreys for two riders to sit on and enjoy the scenery.  The lucky tourist will get to visit a school inside  one of the hutong areas where very small children are taught from as young as two years of age.  Private homes in the  hutongs can be visited as well so the tourist can see how genuine Chinese people live.  Because you are on a guided tour, you will have the advantage of an interpreter. 

None of the guided tours of Beijing are complete without a trip to the shopping areas.  The infamous “Silk Alley” contains a plethora of what otherwise would be street vendors—all trying to get your attention and all hoping you don’t know how to bargain.  Bargaining in Beijing is essential so bring your money and an extra suitcase to pack your well-loved souvenirs in.