City Snap Guide: San Antonio

San Antonio possesses a unique charm. With a huge cultural heritage that represents its dynamic history, this is a city of contrasts: one of the largest cities in the U.S that still boasts the relaxed friendliness of a small town. From down-home hospitality and cooking to high-brow dining, extensive art collections and excellent golf courses, San Antonio serves up an all-star winner. Why not get away from it all in southern Texas?

Haunted Houses

The battle at the famous Alamo took hundreds of lives, following repeated attacks by Mexican general Santa Anna's army in 1836. Their ghosts have wandered the site ever since; to this day staff and tourists claim to hear screams and witness grotesque apparitions. Brave a visit to the Chapel and the Long Barracks Museum and Library. Explore more of the paranormal with Alamo City Ghost Tours. Guides lead you through graveyards, battlefields, old hotels and more. Tours feature ghost hunting equipment and stories about why San Antonio is known as one of the most haunted cities in the U.S. Why not add "surviving a real haunted city" onto your bucket list, and then have the ability to cross it off?

Parks and Recreation

Take a swim in a lake shaded by cypress trees at San Pedro Park, the second-oldest park in the U.S. Check out the San Antonio Zoo, ranked one of the best in the nation with more than 3,500 animals representing 600 species. Walk along the San Antonio River in a beautiful park-like setting that winds its way through the city. Downtown, the river is lined with bustling restaurants, galleries, shops and attractions like the Aztec Theater, the only surviving exotic-themed movie palace in Texas. Events include arts and crafts shows, music celebrations, and a host of festivals. Perfect for those wanting to broaden their knowledge of the arts and of history!

Look and Learn

For spectacular views of Alamo City, ride up the 750-foot Tower of the Americas and enjoy fine dining at the new Chart House Restaurant as well as breathtaking scenery from the revolving observation deck. Kids and adults alike will enjoy the Witte Museum, San Antonio's premier museum of South Texas history, culture and natural science. Located on the banks of the San Antonio River, the Witte offers permanent and travelling exhibits as well as a super-fun H-E-B Science Treehouse with four levels of hands-on displays. Who doesn't like to touch things in museums?

Eats and Treats

Get to know the heart of the city through San Antonio Foodie Tours, an outfit that offers a variety of cultural and culinary experiences from restaurant tasting tours to ranch and rodeo visits! Sample such local delicacies as fish tacos, prickly pear margaritas and smoked brisket smothered in 'secret recipe' Texas BBQ sauce. Each tasting tour is different so you can go on more than one. This is perfect for those epicurean travelers who like a taste of adventure - both for the taste buds and for the soul. Get off the ol' dusty trail and step back in time for a brew at the Buckhorn Saloon and Museum, offering both history and classic Texan Fare. Don't forget to check out our article on beer while travelling, and remember to ask what's on tap!

Grover Beach Destination Guide

Why Grover Beach? Located along the seaside in the state of California, Grover Beach is a city in the San Luis Obispo county. The distance the city retains from the two major metropolitan areas of California - San Francisco and Los Angeles - allows it to keep a rural character and stay nature-lover friendly. If you fly into one of those major airports, renting a car would be in your best interest. You could also book a connecting flight to either SBP or PRB airports - ask your travel agent for more details. Some of the beauty of Grover Beach is it's proximity to the other communities such as Pismo Beach, Los Osos and San Simeon. The area attracts tourists based on it's moderate coastal climate, drive-on beach and diverse activities.

Nature Delights

When you're in the SLO County, or staying in Grover Beach - what can you do? A place designed for nature lovers, I hope you like exploring! Head over to Bishop Peak for some of the best views around. Bishop Peak is the tallest of the "Nine Sisters", a chain of peaks running to Morro Bay. Looking like a bishop's miter, locals of the area call it Bishop's Peak. The peak is just over 1,500 feet.

Interested in something different? Try the Oceano Dunes - a 5.5 mile beach open for vehicle use, and 1,500 acres of sand dunes for off-road recreation that attracts people from all over North America. The Oceano Dunes are the only park in California where vehicle use is permitted, meaning that passenger cars can easily be driven on the Northern area of the beach. Surfing, swimming, surf fishing, horseback riding and bird watching are also available. For more information on the Oceano Dunes, click here.

Los Osos's Montaña De Oro features over 8,000 acres of rugged cliffs, secluded sandy beaches, streams, canyons and hills, and includes the over 1,300 foot Valencia Peak. A nature lover's dream found in one amazing place!



It's Not Just Nature

For those who want something off the beach and mountains, try Hearst Castle in San Simeon. A National Historic Landmark mansion, Hearst Castle was originally designed for William Randolph Hearst, the newspaper magnate. It is currently maintained as a state historic park and boasts a large collection of art and antiques. It's open for tours, and attracts approximately one million visitors per year. With art, restoration projects, antiques, history - not forgetting to mention it's beautiful gardens - Hearst Castle has something for everyone. For more information on tours and what Hearst Castle can offer you, click here.

Wine & Cheese

SLO County also offers several wineries for wine tasting - all you epicurean enthusiasts will get amazing views as you sip a choice red or white. For a complete list of wineries in the San Luis Obispo area, visit their feature wineries page on the Wine Country website. After all, California is famous for it! For food, the area offers a taste of everything! A wide variety of cuisines can be found in Grover Beach, Pismo Beach, San Simeon and more. French, Italian, Mexican - you name it, it's there - your best bet is to find local favourites, or restaurants that use local ingredients to really get a taste of California. Try using Yelp to find local restaurants in the city you're in at the time. Pismo Beach is home to several small cafes and restaurants that are locally owned, such as Mon Ami and the Honeymoon Cafe.

Cruising China

China is one of the most fascinating destinations on earth. When you visit China you will marvel at its geographic diversity and the mighty Yangtze River. See the contrast between ancient Chinese culture and its more recent entrepreneurial spirit. Be inspired by majestic landscapes and impressive historical sites. And when you cruise China, all the while you’ll enjoy the comfort of your luxurious hotel on the sea!

China cruises take you to the highlights of China. Depending on the holiday you may visit:

Beijing – China’s former imperial capital whose rich history dates back more than 3,000 years. The Forbidden City is characterized by grand palaces and courtyards. Visit the famed Tiananmen Square, the Imperial Summer Palace and its stunning lakeside Chinese gardens. Take an excursion to the Great Wall of China a 4,000-mile-long series of sandstone and earthwork fortifications built and maintained between the 5th century B.C. and the 16th century A.D.

Xi’an - From 618 to 907 A.D., this dynasty presided over one of China’s most glorious cultural periods spreading its influence throughout Asia into Europe and Africa. Xi’an is home of the Terracotta Warriors, 8000 life-sized terracotta infantrymen still guarding the tomb of the first Quin Emperor.

Guilin - one of China’s most scenic areas. Pass spectacular limestone peaks on a trip down the Li River.

Shanghai - China’s largest city and one of the world’s most important ports. See the modern metropolis of the financial district juxtaposed with the older sections of the city. Head to the Shanghai Museum and see its ancient ceramics, bronzes, calligraphy and other artifacts.

Lhasa (Tibet) - the economic, spiritual and cultural centre of Tibet. Highlights include the 1,300-year-old Jokhang Temple, one of Tibet’s most sacred sites; the Tibetan Museum; Potala Palace, winter home of the Dalai Lama since the 7th century; and Sera Monastery, an active Buddhist temple.

Kayaking Desolation Sound

Canoe and kayak vacations in BC are unforgettable. The different mountain ranges act as backdrops painting a canvas of blues and purples, the forests are a melting pot of greens and the lakes are hues of azure and deep navy blues. For sea kayaking, the BC coastline with the Pacific Ocean at its door forms long, deep fjords and inlets that are teeming with fish and the lands are abundant with wildlife.

Desolation Sound is a sea kayakers paradise. Paddling amongst the towering mountains of the British Columbia Coast Mountain range is a truly awe inspiring adventure. Desolation Sound has a Mediterranean climate which makes it the perfect place to paddle in May, June early July and September where you can count on having the best weather on the coast.

Carved into the inaccessible wilderness of the Canadian mainland over the ages, the soaring peaks of the coastal mountains tumble to the waters edge in a jumble of river mouths and small islands. The rugged terrain has stopped any road access into Desolation; kayaks are the best way to visit this majestic and unspoiled area. There are few places on earth as stunningly beautiful as Desolation Sound. This is kayaking trip where you spend more time looking up than looking down. The calm waters make this ideal for first time paddlers and the rugged mountian vistas make it suitable for anyone looking to experience some of Mother nature's most amazing works of art.

Adventure in Alaska

Alaska is a wonderful destination for adventure travel. Experience majestic wildlife and amazing scenery in this breathtaking destination. If you're planning a trip to Alaska, make sure you check out these national parks:

Katmai National Park

At over 3.5 Million acres, Katmai National Park is home to the largest brown bear population in the world, holds the spawning grounds of literally millions of sockeye salmon, and contains within its wild borders the unaltered evidence of one of the world's most powerful volcanic eruptions ever recorded. Although created in 1918 to preserve the Valley of 10,000 Smokes, a landscape completely changed by the 1912 Novarupta eruption, Katmai National park is most known for its majestic Brown Bears, most notably those at Brooks Falls. Whether backpacking the austere landscape of the Valley of 10,000 Smokes, bear viewing at a remote camp along a salmon choked river, or padding along the park’s 400 miles of coastline, Katmai National Park remains one of the most spectacular parks in!

Kenai Fjords National Park

An area of ever changing landscapes, Kenai Fjords National Park is as diverse as the wildlife that calls it home. From its miles of coastline to surreal glacially carved valleys, this National Park gem is not to be missed. Best explored by kayaks, the rich waters of Resurrection Bay and Kenai Fjords National Park are home to humpback and orca whales, playful dall porpoises, and countless avian residents. While brown bears explore the tidal flats and rivers, mountain goats perch on the sheer cliffs of the towering mountains above. With virtually unlimited space for exploration, Kenia Fjords beacons the adventurer in all of us. Whether you want to go hiking at the Harding Ice Field, the Exit Glacier, or go kayaking in Kenai Fjords, you will definitely walk away with amazing memories.

The Sea to Sky Rail Journey

The Rocky Mountaineer is an amazing way to travel from Vancouver to Whistler or vice versa. It’s comfortable, stress-free and you’ll enjoy breathtaking scenery every step of the way.

The three-hour train trip takes you from the beautiful coastal city of Vancouver, through scenic Howe Sound and the spectacular Cheakamus Canyon. Howe Sound is North America’s southernmost fjord and is located northwest of Vancouver. Views of the sound are absolutely stunning from the Rocky Mountaineer. The Rocky Mountaineers Sea to Sky Climb is the most comfortable and intimate way to explore Cheakamus Canyon. Poke your head out the window and take in the dramatic scenery below.

Next, the train takes you across a trestle bridge and past the jagged snow-capped peaks of the Tantalus Mountains – a small but spectacular range of mountains in British Columbia. Pass by an old extinct volcano, before finally arriving in the mountain landscape of world-renowned Whistler Village. Whistler co-hosted the 2010 Winter Olympics with Vancouver, and is the ski capital of Canada.

For more information about this rail journey call 1-800-800-7252.

Things to do in Kelowna

Swimming in Kelowna

If the weather allows, and between June and September this is highly likely, swimming will no doubt be on the agenda. The H2O centre on Gordon Drive offers great entertainment for those wishing to cool off, with slides, rapids, hot tubs, a wave machine, a surf simulator, and an Olympic-sized pool. This is one of many indoor pools in the area, with The Johnson-Bentley Memorial Aquatic Centre catering for those on Westbank who would prefer not to drive.

Beaches in Kelowna

If an indoor pool is not the right environment, Kelowna does rest on the edge of the 84 mile Okanagan Lake, and so there are plenty of beaches to relax on. City Park is perhaps the most central, and boasts acres of grassy shade, as well as sports fields and a water park for children. Gyro Beach on Lakeshore Road has multiple volleyball courts and refreshments available from the red apple stall, or for a quieter sand and water combination, try Gellatly on Westbank.

Extreme Sports in Kelowna

With such a vast lake, the Okanagan Valley hosts a variety of water sports during the summer months. Jet-skis are readily available for rent, as are light watercrafts with a range of pull-along floats. Away from the water, there are places such as Silver Star Mountain Resort that offer rigorous tracks for mountain/quad-biking, although they are a little further away from Kelowna city centre. For the winter months, Big White Ski Resort promotes all types winter sports, and offers ski/board hire as well as lessons for all ages, and even horse/dog sleds.

Indoor and Evening Activities in Kelowna

With such an active populace, there is also a variety of local activities that do not rely on the weather. Within Kelowna city limits there are multiple cinemas, bowling alleys, restaurants and bars. Earls on Bernard Avenue offers dining with a view of the lake, and is a matter of metres from the Paramount Theatre, which shows late night movies on occasion.

If restricted by a budget, there are still countless opportunities to enjoy the Kelowna cityscape. Knox Mountain and Mission Creek present public parks or countryside treks, while downtown Kelowna tends to host many types of evening entertainment during the summer. Any time of year, the vibrant Canadian city of Kelowna is able to provide leisure endeavors for all.