Unique and Fun Destination Ideas

France

Paris: The Eternal City of Lights

My first trip to Paris was sparked by my brother’s doing a summer fellowship in Italy. I was 20 years old and in my second year of college, so as a family, it was decided that we would tour Europe before my brother went to Palermo. Charles de Gaulle Airport has not changed much throughout all my years of flying. It is a huge international airport that, if not careful, can be confusing, and one can easily get lost on where to go next after customs. Just walk outside to take a taxi or follow the signs to ride the Metro (subway). There are big maps on the Metro walls to help guide a traveler to their destination.
Per usual, we started off by renting a car and proceeded to drive to the heart of Paris. It took my father some time to learn that European drivers give right of way to those cars on the right. The funny part of the story is that we ended up driving around and around the Arc de Triomphe numerous times. I felt like I was in a Blake Edwards movie since we drove around so many times. The speed of all the cars coming in from the left and right of us made our small car shake with each passing. Finally, my father kept yielding to the right until we finally made it to the outside of the swirling cars and headed on our way to the Sheraton Montparnasse. It turned out to be a great place to start our journey as it was within walking distance of a Metro station.
Montparnasse is situated on the left bank of Paris and has quite a history of being an area where famous artists, performers, and writers created numerous works of art during the 19th and 20th centuries. It was a wonderful place to stay for our first time exploring this exquisite city, as it has many lovely cafes and unique stores for shopping. It gives you easy access to the Eiffel Tower and other famous landmarks. The windows in our hotel room gave us a great view of the city. However, the most impressive view is when you go up in the Montparnasse Tower with its 360-degree view of Paris.
My best memory of this time was when we stopped into a local grocery store and purchased a variety of meats and cheeses. Then proceeded to a boulangerie to purchase some bread. We were going to get 5 baguettes, one for each family member, but the shopkeeper let us know that his bread was reserved each day for his clientele, so he could only sell up to two. He then offered another type of bread, which we readily accepted. It turned out to be better tasting than the baguette.
Then we went back to the hotel and placed our lunch on a small side table just big enough to hold all the food. We sat down on the floor around the table and had our lunch. It was fun to be informal. Just then, we heard a knock on the hotel door. A maid was delivering some more towels to the room. She took one look at our feast, gave us a big smile, and said, “Bon Appétit.” I’m sure the hotel staff was not used to guests enjoying a meal purchased from a grocery store. The staff gave us big smiles throughout the rest of our stay. This is one of my most fond memories of lunch with my family.
So, if you have a limited budget or just want to immerse yourself in simple French cuisine, then go to the closest supermarché and enjoy.

California

Fresno: Raisin Capital of the World

It was always the highlight of my summer when we would make a trip to Fresno, California, to see family and have a little fun. The 6–8-hour drive to Northern California from our home in San Diego never seemed that long. We could make it in a day with such beautiful scenery to keep us engaged. I loved being able to make side trips to Yosemite, Kings Canyon, and the Sequoias. Although it was terribly hot during the summer months, we managed to stay cool by staying out of the midday sun and keeping hydrated. There was always the ever-popular slip and slide to cool us down. In the 60’s, my grandmother lived in a house close to the train tracks. It never bothered me to fall asleep with the sound of a distant train whistling late into the night. I’d dream of taking a train further up the coastline and exploring more of Northern California’s heritage.

One fond memory is going to Roeding Amusement Park to a place called Storybook Land. It is an adventure park made up of nursery rhymes and Mother Goose tales. We would run to each structure to hear a special reading of the rhyme. I still have the special key that we would place in a box located outside each nursery rhyme. The speaker would read out loud dialogue to one of the many themes in the park. My favorite was Three Little Pigs and the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland. Then you could go inside the house and play.

On the other side of the park was a pond where you could rent a paddle boat and paddle around the lake. It had a miniature train to ride and lots of space to run around the lake. Just go to the Roeding Amusement Park website for more information on all the attractions. It is a wonderful place to take small children and has been so since 1955.

Germany

Frankfurt, Germany

Frankfurt am Main, oh how I love this city located in the Hesse region of Germany. Beautiful mountains surround this travel destination, with a flowing river running down the middle of the city. Frankfurt Airport was, to me, always at the forefront of technology. As a Pan Am purser in 1987, we would access the elevator through biometric means by placing a hand on a reader, then the elevator doors would open and whoosh us down to a wonderful crew lounge to hold our preflight briefings. This expansive international airport has 3 terminals and is only 12km from the central city. Our personnel bus would pick up the crew to take us to the Intercontinental Hotel, which was situated right along the waterway. It was easy to catch a bus or just take a leisurely walk to the downtown part of the city. When getting on the crew bus, our driver would have heated bratwurst waiting with a warm bread roll and beer to feed us after such a long flight from New York to Germany. I would arrive at the hotel satiated, ready for a shower and a long nap before exploring Frankfurt on foot.

One trip, I kind of got lost on my walk and wandered down a side street where a small boutique had paper mâché easter ducks for sale. They were exactly like the ones I had since I was a child, which we fill every easter with chocolate candy. My grandfather had purchased 2 when he was also in Germany in the 1920s. What a discovery! I bought 2 more for our collection. Walking along the Rhine was always very relaxing, and I would build up quite an appetite.

The crew would meet in the hotel lobby and walk down to a restaurant that was lovingly known as the Gas Station. It was hard to remember the German name as we ate at so many places, but I still remember it was a few blocks from the Intercontinental, and it was called the “Gas Station” because the restaurant was situated right behind a gas station. The beer was always overflowing. It was the destination for many flight crews from around the world. Dinner would consist of Wiener Schnitzel, and many interesting adventure stories would be told, which led us to stay until closing time.

One year, my mother came with me for a week of flying to Europe, and we had a wonderful time with the flight captain and crew at this restaurant. The captain was so taken with my mother and her Irish sense of humor that when she asked to bum a cigarette from him, he responded with “a regular or funny one?” She took the regular cigarette. This was during the 80’s, so AIDS was just becoming a worry. The crew always liked to send someone to the bathroom because a vending machine was available to buy condoms right where you washed your hands. When my mother came back from using the bathroom, she didn’t say a thing. One of the flight attendants hinted around about the condoms, and my mom finally said, “It was a good thing to have around.” Boy, was she a hit with the crew.

Another time, I was in Berlin and decided to take the train from Berlin to Frankfurt and stay at the same hotel as I did as a Pan Am crew member. The gas station was gone, but the restaurant was still feeding many crew members to this day. It is very easy to get around Germany by train and a lot less expensive than flying, plus all the gorgeous scenery to be viewed along the way. However, make sure to know which train you’re getting on before boarding, as the tracks change sometimes faster than the main board gets updated. One time, I was taking the train back to Berlin in the evening, but the track location changed, and I boarded the wrong train. Instead of heading North, I was on my way south late in the evening. Fortunately, one of the conductors spoke English, and he assisted me in purchasing a new ticket for Berlin and helped me book a bedroom compartment. I had a good night’s sleep, a nice breakfast before arrival, and their train showers were excellent. All’s well that ends well, for right outside every train station are taxis, so I made it to my plane flight on time.

Frankfurt am Main is a must-see destination when traveling in Europe. I understand that the airport has a new interactive B737 exhibit that takes about 1.5 hours to do, with a starting price of $187 a person. Check out YouTube for a 5-minute tour of Frankfurt International Airport, and you’ll fall in love with it as I did years ago.

 

Arizona

Grand Canyon: Home to Indigenous Tribal Communities

Ever since I was a small child, camping was such an adventure with my family. Arizona’s Grand Canyon south entrance is only a 6-hour drive from San Diego, and the scenery is gorgeous. My father would like to get started at 4 am, and while most of the family moaned and groaned, I would be up and ready to go. In the 60s and 70s, there was a lot less traffic, and you didn’t need to book 2-3 years in advance. We would show up and always get a room. One year, I got a new set of boots to hike down into the canyon and learned that you don’t wear any type of socks other than cotton. I wore some type of material that slid around inside the boot, and by the time we got halfway down the trail, my feet had numerous blisters. It felt good to put my feet in the cold Colorado river stream, and I so wanted to ride a donkey back up to the top of the canyon. Unfortunately, I had to hike back out, which doubled up my blisters. Thankfully, the hotel boutique had a pair of very soft Indian moccasins that cushioned my blisters so I could get around by walking on the sides of my feet. They were so well-made that I still have those moccasins today, which remain in excellent condition.

When my daughter was 4 years old, during spring break, we recreated the Grand Canyon family adventure, just she and I. We made a few stops along the way and arrived outside the south entrance at 8 pm. I pulled into a small roadside motel, which, unfortunately, was booked. The office attendant told me that most of the motels would be full by this time of night. However, she took pity on me as she noticed I had a small child and offered me a suite room but charged me the regular room rate. What a blessing. The next morning, my daughter treated me to a sock puppet show after having a wonderful night’s sleep. It’s still one of my fondest memories of this trip.

We started off for the canyon, and a few miles down the road, we happened upon Flintstone’s Bedrock City, which was a small theme park. We had such a marvelous time playing on the rock formation setup. I now understand it is an RV and amusement park situated on Route 64 and U.S. Route 180. A perfect place to go if you are traveling with small children. We were able to get a room in the Grand Canyon Park, and the next morning, we were treated to a spectacular sunrise. My daughter recreated her interpretation of the sunrise in a finger painting when she got back to school. Her teacher called me into the office as she was quite impressed by my daughter’s sense of color and what sunrise meant to her. It is a rainbow of colors. I framed it and placed it on a wall where I can look at it every day.

Another adventure I love is taking the train from Williams, Arizona, into the canyon. They have an operational steam locomotive which runs on Saturdays from March to October each year. We stayed at the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel before taking our train tour. All I can say is: it is a memory that lasts for a lifetime, an experience of fun for your entire family. Check out their website for more information and special event tours, or use my contact form for more travel ideas.

Italy

Rome, Italy

My first experience in Rome came with Pan Am. I was sleeping in my Paris Hotel room when I was awakened at 4 am to the phone ringing. It was Pan Am Central Scheduling to re-route the flight team flying back to New York. The original crew landing in Italy had been delayed in taking off, and upon landing, required at least 48 hours of rest time. I thought it was going to be a simple turnaround when I had left JFK 2 days previously. Instead, we were going to Rome to pick up a flight that would be going to Geneva, Switzerland, and then back to New York City. We were deadheaded (meaning not working), just getting flown over to Rome, and had to be ready to go in an hour. I had already showered the night before, so all that was needed was to get dressed quickly and meet the rest of the crew of newly hired flight attendants.

It was exciting to go to the “Eternal City” and have a day to explore the many adventures Rome has to offer. When flying in for a landing, you get an expansive view of the seven hills that surround Rome. Very picturesque. It is also known as the center of Western culture and the Catholic Church. Flight crews with Pan Am would stay in a hotel in the center of any city we flew into, and so I had one day to explore Rome for the first time. An enthralling adventure to say the least.

The first stop was the “Trevi Fountain,” which is breathtaking. I had watched the movie “Three Coins in the Fountain” many times and was excited to throw a Lira into the center of the fountain. Any hotel I stayed at would take my check for changing funds into the local currency. Since we were Pan Am employees, it was always easy to get money for my many adventures. That was then, and this is now. Therefore, I would recommend doing a money exchange into Euros at home so you can have the local currency for incidentals upon arrival. However, most people use their phones to make purchases. It is nice to have a little cash on you when you are out and about at the small food stands, and there are still many small shops that don’t take Apple Pay.

The Trevi fountain was designed at the intersection of three roadways with seven aqueducts flowing into the structure that is carved out of Travertine Marble. The carved lion on the side of the fountain glistened in the daylight and seemed to come to life under the warm Italian sun. I had to have a picture taken below it. The fountain was mesmerizing, and I spent 2 hours admiring it and the surroundings. This is one place I always stop when visiting Rome, where I enjoy a small latte and a bite to eat. The second is across the street from the Coliseum. Here I love to get a gelato to go with my latte.

The Coliseum is the largest amphitheater standing in the world. I took lots of tours of the Coliseum back in the 80’s when in Rome to study its architecture. The construction of this massive structure is awe-inspiring and impressive. Now with so many more people visiting, you will need to get tickets in advance, having only a 24-hour window to cancel. My hotel was located on the other side of the Spanish Steps. Most times, I would explore cities on foot to get a feel for the culture and interact with the residents. After climbing the Spanish Steps to get back to my room, I would crash until dinner. One time, I was relaxing when I heard a scratching sound coming from the giant dressing cabinet. I opened the door to see where the sound was coming from, and out jumped a mouse. It scurried away not to be seen again. I stopped putting my clothes in drawers and just left my uniform hanging on future trips.

Dinner with the crew was so much fun, and the food was magnificent. In northern Italy, you find wonderful pasta dishes and smoked ham. While in southern Italy, they rely more on the sea for a food source. My favorite pasta is ravioli, which is served as a small portion in between courses as more of a palate cleanser, so the first time I ordered it from a menu, the chef noticed my disappointment and came over to the table to tell me how ravioli is prepared in Italy vs. America. The next time I ordered a double portion. You can’t go wrong with any selection from an Italian menu. I would also have a nice glass of Chianti with my meals. Buon Appetito!

Sometimes after a large meal, I would take a dresser drawer, place it between the mattresses, and hike up the end of the bed so my ankles wouldn’t swell too much while sleeping. I hated to work a flight home feeling puffy. I did this trick many times after my long flights.

New Mexico

Carlsbad, New Mexico

I’ll never forget the first time I went to see stalagmites and stalactites in an underground cave. On a hot summer’s day, it was wonderful to travel into a very cool, picturesque environment. When my father took us there in the 1970’s, it was a very different experience from today’s tours. Back then, the guides would turn off the lights when you got to its big, expansive hole in the ground. The cave had yet to be explored fully, so your guide would toss a coin into the hole and wait to see if anyone heard it hitting bottom, which none of us did. At this point, it wasn’t even roped off, so I was very careful not to walk along its edge. It was exciting to see the bats hanging upside down all around the cave, but the smell of bat guano left much to be desired. The cave was very primitive and a little scary.

When I took my daughter to Carlsbad Caverns in the 1990’s, it was a new and improved experience, creating a much-loved adventure. We started at the cave entrance with flashlights and traversed the switchbacks to descend into the cavern. The bat guano smell was gone, but it was still cool without being cold. When we reached the stalagmites coming up from the base of the cave and the stalactites coming down from the ceiling, they were now lit in pretty colors. No longer did they turn off the lights at the big chasm in the grand room, as the hole had been explored and the bottom was found, albeit still a long way down. They have a wonderful concession area to have lunch or dinner.

Since bats are on the endangered species list due to their changing environment, and food sources are dwindling, my daughter and I adopted 2 bats to fund. We were given certificates, and we even named them. I still have my purchased glow-in-the-dark t-shirt with a bat flying at night. After completing our independent exploration of the cavern rooms, we stayed to watch the bats leave the cave, sitting in a large outdoor amphitheater at dusk, to see the clustered bats leave in mass searching for food. They are so close together that the sky goes black. We were in such awe that my daughter and I stayed in our car to see more bats before going back to our motel right outside the park. It is still a vivid memory for both of us and a cherished time spent together.

The bat flight program runs from May to October if you choose to go on this adventure. It is a national park that has its own website at www.nps.gov/cave for purchasing tour packages. We prefer to stay at Quality Inns when traveling in the U.S.A. and love their affordable, quick breakfasts. One is about 16 miles from the park entrance. I would highly recommend this exploit to anyone, but especially those with small children. It’s a pleasurable experience for the entire family! Happy Travels!

Switzerland

Geneva, Switzerland

My first time in Geneva was when we flew out of Rome and deadheaded to Switzerland to do the flight back to New York. I had been gone for over a week by now and was enjoying my trips to new destinations. It was during the summer months in Europe, so the temperature was pleasant. We stayed in a hotel that was situated against the backdrop of the Swiss mountains. I walked into an expansive room for one person and really felt in the lap of luxury. The bed had a fluffy white comforter that lulled me to sleep within minutes of my head hitting the down pillows. The bathroom was well stocked with the usual stuff, such as a bathrobe and plenty of velvety towels. What was exciting were the elaborate travel kits provided by the hotel. They had luxurious kits for both men and women, and the best part was that the floors were heated. A big plus during the cold winter months. I decided I would definitely put in more bids to do Geneva flights.

One time, I took my husband with me while I was working on a flight to Geneva. Upon arrival, we crashed for a few hours to catch up on our sleep, then went for a long walk into the wondrous mountains behind the hotel. Geneva is surrounded by three mountain ranges, and Lake Geneva flows to the Rhone River, which winds its way to France. We spent all afternoon climbing and stopping to look at the beautiful surroundings. It was so nice that this was one instance that I wish I could stop time. After a pleasant day of hiking, we returned to our hotel and had a marvelous dinner of fondue. Most of the time, I would take a walk along Lake Geneva and visit the Natural History Museum and the Art Museums that this city has to offer tourists. They are also the headquarters for major financial markets and home to many agencies of the United Nations and the Red Cross.

Take a stroll down the city centre and enjoy the quaint buildings with flowers hanging from the balconies. During the winter months, Geneva has many ski resorts to take advantage of, and can be reached by tram from the city centre. It is the land of fondue, so I would plan on having at least one superb dining experience of cheese, bread, and wine. Switzerland is a must-see travel destination for the experienced and inexperienced traveler. Now, with Airbnb’s popularity, take advantage of staying for a week or two.

Nevada

Las Vegas, Nevada

I have been to Las Vegas so many times, I’ve lost count. It is a 5 ½ hour drive from San Diego and can be done in less time if you start your journey later in the evening. Many times, my reason for going to Las Vegas was to see my brother, who lived just blocks from the Las Vegas Strip. One escapade involved me going to the MGM Grand and winning $100 for dinner. I am not much of a gambler, but I do like to play poker, blackjack, and roulette. My brother does not gamble, so he stayed in the background while I played a few hands. I walked up to an empty table and sat down. Soon, I won and twice had the opportunity to split my aces. When I reached $120, that garnered attention from other players, and all the surrounding chairs filled quickly. Then I started to lose, so when I fell to $100, I quit. Sometimes you just need to know when to fold ‘em. My brother and sister-in-law joined me for a very nice dinner!

The fine dining, shopping, entertainment, and nightlife keep me coming back time after time. I especially like the Coca-Cola shop and the M&M store, which are two of my daughter’s and my favorite spots. On the top floor of the M&M store, you can get really tasty ice cream. You can also mix and match or blend your own bag of sweet, delicious chocolate. We like to go down and play at Circus Circus, a fun casino if you have children, but usually stay at Treasure Island. The nightly display of changing colored water fountains of the Bellagio is a must-see and quite spectacular.

To make a trip out of going to Nevada, I would recommend a stop at Hoover Dam and Lake Mead first. The construction of Hoover Dam is quite a hydroelectric power achievement, so plan on spending a couple of hours taking the guided tour and having a light lunch. Hoover Dam is 30 miles southeast of Las Vegas, and the picturesque, mountainous drive is stunning. We also like to stay at the Boulder Dam hotel. This hotel has only 21 rooms, but they are very comfortable, even though it was built in 1933. Since it’s close to “Sin City” (Las Vegas), you never know what stars you might run into. One occasion, my sister and I went down to breakfast only to have an encounter with Lucy Arnez. She was doing a tribute show about her mother, Lucille Ball, and was also staying at the hotel. Her voice sounded just like her mom’s, and when she entered the breakfast room, she told a very funny joke and took a bow.

My daughter and I took a dinner cruise, a short drive from the hotel situated along Lake Mead. It was a 5-course preset meal with candlelight on a paddle boat along a very lazy waterway. We had our picture taken as a memento of our special time together. It’s good to take advantage of on-site photographers who can capture your family moment perfectly. This kind of travel experience can be done over a long weekend. There are so many airlines that fly in and out of Las Vegas, so if you don’t want to spend time driving, just book a flight, then rent a car. Great fun for a weekend getaway, anytime.