Category: Viking River

When You Can't Go To Europe, Find It In America!

6/27/2020

It seems like COVID and the travel bans will never end. It's incredibly frustrating for those of us who suffer from wanderlust. We've been armchair travelers for too long. There are just so many websites you can look at and places you can dream about. It's time! We're ready to get out there!

We want to see new sights! Sunsets over the Alps. Ancient Druid ruins and modern-day German architecture. Rivers that rush on seemingly endlessly. Foreign faces and children at play. Street art and the fancy-schmancy stuff in The Louvre,. History that's been made and history in the making.

We want to eat new foods! "Uh... what's that? I'm supposed to put that in my mouth? Hmm? Oh well. Here goes!..... YUM!" And, we want to drink new drinks! Coffees and teas and wines and beers and spirits. Bubbly waters and flat. We want to experience them in new surroundings - tradition-filled pubs, unique cafes, trendy nightclubs, and renowned restaurants.

We want to smell new smells! The fresh morning air in a faraway Austrian village. The rain in the Irish countryside. The sweet smells of baguettes and pastries gently drifting out from French patisseries.

We want to hear the sweet sounds of babbling brooks and the energizing sounds of roaring ocean waves. We want to immerse ourselves in concert halls and sporting events and be carried away by the moment's vivacity and power.

But, Europe won't yet let us Americans enjoy all of that. So, what are we to do then? Continue our armchair dreams or adjust and adapt?

Perhaps we could look at our own country for what's great about it. What does America offer us that is similar in ways to those which we yearn for in the Old World?

They have the Alps. We have the Rockies. They have the Danube. We have the Mississippi. They have the Schwarzwald ("Black Forest"). We have the Tongass National Forest.

We may not have castles, but we sure have our share of grandiose manor houses. Our churches may not be a thousand years old, but they're hundreds. Their history is undeniable and unparalleled, but that doesn't mean we don't have our own.

Enjoying different cultures is entirely subjective. If the electricity of Berlin is your scene, try Vegas or New Orleans. If you prefer the serene majesty of the Highlands, try our National Parks. If you want tons of people, head to New York. If you want no people, head to Joshua Tree. Oceans? We've got a ton of coast! Have you considered the Pacific Northwest? It's stunning!

Maybe you're an outdoorsy type who loves hardcore adventure. Or, perhaps you like your adventure to be a bit softer. There are myriad options for both in our great land.

Do museums light up your brain? Explore New York City, Washington, D.C., Boston, just to name a few. Or, do museums bore you to tears? You prefer aquariums, zoos, and botanical gardens. We've got all that, too!

Of course, we have a wide variety of different foods and drinks to choose from, as well - Cajun, Southern, Italian, French, Spanish... whatever your heart (and mouth) desires. We've got craft brews and some of the finest wines on the planet. We've got real American Bourbon and coffee houses aplenty!

Entertainment venues, you say? Uh... Broadway! Duh! The West End may try, but there's nothing that can touch our theater scene. We have Hollywood and Dollywood. We have grunge rock out of Seattle and country music out of Nashville. We've got rap and pop and R&B. We've got concerts on the beach and blues bands on the river. You can dance the night away in Miami or stroll the night away in Virginia Beach.

Your American options are boundless!

Don't be stopped just because Europe says no to us. Dream your dreams, and then let's make them real right here in the good old US of A!

Your next Extraordinary Adventure can start today!
Message me and let's get started.

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Cruise lines voluntarily suspend all trips out of U.S. ports until Sept. 15

6/19/2020

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Major cruise lines have agreed to voluntarily extend a suspension of operations out of U.S. ports until Sept. 15, the Cruise Lines International Association announced Friday.
Members of the trade group, which includes cruising giants such as Royal Caribbean, Carnival Corp. and Norwegian Cruise Line, had previously announced a pause of operations on March 13.
On March 14, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a no-sail order for cruise ships, and on April 9 it extended the order until July 24.

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/06/19/cruise-lines-voluntarily-suspend-all-trips-out-of-us-ports-until-sept-15-trade-group-says.html