Travels with Tam

That’s Rich! Vacation Like A Millionaire!

September 11, 2018 By Tam Warner 8 Comments

Vacation like a millionaire, baby! Once, just once, wouldn’t it be nice to see how the other half lives? And not by standing close by and watching from a distance. We want to sip champagne and mingle with the stars and do everything the mega-rich does. In normal life, it’s unattainable unless you have a couple of million bucks under the mattress. Oh, where did that come from?! However, you can get a taste of the good life on vacation. After all, it’s expensive but short. So, below are the tips on how to vacation like a millionaire. Maybe after this, you’ll upgrade to billionaire status! [Read more…] about That’s Rich! Vacation Like A Millionaire!

Introducing a New Addition to the Blog, welcome Sweet Sweet Dallas!

September 10, 2018 By Tam Warner 3 Comments

Please welcome Sweet Sweet Dallas! My daughter, Alexandra Minton, is a professional photographer, and food is her passion! She started an Instagram account called @SweetSweetDallas and it has had wonderful growth in the short time she has been posting on it. Her instagram says, “I’m just a girl standing in front of a sweet treat-asking it to love her. 🍭 The scoop on delicious desserts in Dallas! Email me for food photography at AlexandraMintonPhotography@gmail.com!” Prepare yourself, because mother and daughter are teaming up!

Alexandra will be posting all kinds of food goodies on Travels with Tam, so be sure and stay tuned for the yummies!

alexandra, alexandra minton, sweet sweet dallas — Alexandra Minton

6 Reasons to Visit Russia Right Now

September 8, 2018 By Tam Warner 5 Comments

The recent world cup festivities highlighted the beauty and welcoming atmosphere Russia has to offer. It’s not always easy for people to grasp just how large Russia is. Covering an area of over 17 million square kilometers, and with a population of just over 144 million people, there isn’t much Russia doesn’t have to offer visitors.

A rich heritage

Russia is home to thousands of museums full of interesting and important works of art from some of the world’s most influential artists, which is why it is the perfect travel destination for culture vultures. The Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg is home to more than 3 million pieces alone. Expect to see artworks from Michelangelo, Raphael, and Matisse, to name but a few.

In addition to the more traditional pieces of art, Russian architecture is rich and varied. With gold and ornate palaces to marvel at, expect to be blown away by the opulence and cleanliness of even the most everyday buildings. Even the subway in Moscow is special.

Interesting Fact: Russia occupies 10% of all the land on earth.

Tantalise your taste buds

Despite not being particularly well known for its cuisine, Russia offers a tasty and simple range of traditionally cooked dishes. Even the homemade Russian soup, Borscht, is a real treat.

If your taste buds have trouble adjusting to the Russian cuisine then you can always numb them a little with some famous Russian vodka. Going to Russia and not trying the vodka is like going to Italy and not trying the pizza. You haven’t tried vodka until you’ve had a shot in the land of its origin.

Interesting Fact: Russia spans two continents and 11 time zones.

Cover more ground

When you’re visiting such a large and diverse country you want to experience as much as possible. Enjoying several stops from the comfort of one of the many cruise holidays in the region, or enjoying the scenery while cruising up the river Volga, offers the perfect solution to the adventurous tourist. You get to enjoy all of the main sites without being constantly sitting on transport or packing and unpacking.

The Volga is the largest river in Europe, being equal in size to the Ganges and the Nile. A cruise up the Volga takes in many attractions and places of interest, such as Volgograd and Moscow, as well as letting you soak up the scenery at your own pace.

If you want to reach some of the more remote parts of Russia, there is an excellent railway infrastructure. The Trans-Siberian line is renowned as the world’s longest railway line. You can also learn about the surrounding countryside while you travel.

Interesting Fact: Russia has a coastline on three oceans, the Atlantic, Pacific, and Arctic oceans.

An abundance of culture and literature

Russia is well known for the quality of its theatres. The Bolshoi, in particular, is world-renowned and provides an excellent opportunity for you to enjoy an opera or drama. Theatres and Opera are a lot more common in Russia, with large portions of the population regularly attending a local theatre.

If you’re a fan of classic Russian literature, you will come across the places dedicated to the likes of Tolstoy, Pushkin, and Chekhov, and can even visit many of the places mentioned in their books.

Interesting Fact: Russia is home to Europe’s two largest lakes, Onega and Ladoga.

Supercharged nature

As well as being home to over 100,000 rivers and Europe’s two largest lakes, Russia offers a surprising diversity of nature. Whether you want to experience the peaks of a mountain looking over the vast pine forests or a vast desert, Russia has it all.

When a country has such a diverse landscape, it is also home to a varied selection of wildlife. Snow leopards, polar bears, and pikas are just a few of the animals you may get to see in their natural habitat if you’re adventurous. The Siberian tiger is possibly Russia’s most famous four-legged inhabitant. Growing to over 3 metres in length and weighing more than 300kg, we suggest you don’t try to stroke the world’s biggest cat.

Interesting Fact: Russia is home to about 120 ethnic groups speaking more than 100 languages.

Religious significance

Whether you’re a fan of colourful and amazing architecture, or interested in the history of the Orthodox Church, Russia offers an abundance of amazing cathedrals. Situated in the Red Square in Moscow, St. Basil’s Cathedral is a magnificent structure covered in blue domes and gold, while the Cathedral of the Annunciation features spectacular gold domes. Many of the cathedrals and other building of significance cost very little (or are free) to visit.

Interesting Fact: There are 75 million members of the Russian orthodoxy religion in the country.

Time to get packing?

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Make Sure You Add Beautiful Prague to your Bucket List!

September 6, 2018 By Tam Warner 2 Comments

*This post contains affiliate links, which means I will receive a small percentage of sales, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting me in my travels, and my mission to encourage others to explore this incredible world, experience other cultures, and help to make it a better place!

You must add beautiful Prague to your bucket list!

It is far beyond me to write a history of Prague, but I must mention a few things about the City of a Hundred Spires. The beauty of the city is undeniable, but let me say this: I didn’t see a tenth of what I wanted to see, there just wasn’t time. And, here is a travel tip: don’t go in summer! I will go back to this city and explore, but it will not be in the summer crowds. It was so busy there were moments I felt panicky! But, Prague, don’t worry, I shall return!

Unbelievable Adventures You Can’t Miss In France

September 4, 2018 By Tam Warner 7 Comments

Are you heading to France on holiday this year? Along with sightseeing there are some incredible adventure activities that you definitely don’t want to miss out on. These activities are for everyone, but thrillseekers are sure to get a kick out of the options offered in this incredible country. So, let’s explore the possibilities and see whether they could be a great choice on your next trip to Europe’s crown jewel.

Canyoning

While this activity used to be purely for daredevils, it has started to become very popular with a wider range of people. Basically, canyoning involving jumping down into canyons and exploring what lies beneath. Typically, there will be water in these canyons, but on occasion, people will abseil down into dry canyons as well.

France is the perfect choice for canyoning, particularly with such lush landscapes filled with hidden waterways and deep rivers. There are, however, a few things that you need to know about canyoning before you start making these jumps. First, it can be highly dangerous even for trained individuals. Always make sure it is safe to jump by asking local experts and guides. Do not jump somewhere that people have deemed unsafe. Do not jump down if you don’t have an exit strategy.

Skiing

We don’t think it’s a secret to say that France is filled with beautiful places to ski. Gorgeous mountain ranges attract literally millions of tourists every year. But where is the best place to ski in France? Well, while there are numerous options to explore, we think that Three Valleys ski holidays offer an unbeatable experience. With 335 runs to choose from, you will love exploring this incredible area.

That’s true whether you are new to skiing or if you have been doing it your whole life. Anyone can enjoy a trip to these powder-covered slopes.

Glacier Cycling

Speaking of chilly weather activities, France is perhaps one of the only places in the world where you can try cycling on top of an avalanche. This rather unique activity is available to those who visit Alpe d’Huez. This mountainous region has always been popular for those seeking a luxurious vacation in France. It’s filled with cycle paths to explore as well. Of course, sports fanatics felt the need to take it one step further. Today, they ride across the avalanches in this region and enjoy a fantastic sporting event here.

Wine Wonders

Are you heading to the south of France? While it might not be quite as pulse-pounding as some of the other activities on this list, you might want to consider exploring a classic option for those vacationing in France. That is, of course, the chance to go wine tasting and this is particularly popular with tourists through the spring season. You can explore various vineyards and delight in sampling the spectacular flavors of some of the best wines in the world. If this sounds like exactly what you need on vacation don’t forget that you can also cycle through these magnificent vineyards. As well as this, a glass of wine a day is also supposed to be very good for your health!

Hopefully you will try some of these on your next trip to France!

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You Should Definitely Take a Trip to the Bastei!

August 31, 2018 By Tam Warner 11 Comments

Take a trip to the Bastei? Where, you ask, is that? And, what is it? Well, it is an amazing sight in the Saxon Switzerland National Park, which is in Germany. Only an hour from Dresden, it is well worth a visit! One can hike, rock climb, or just take in the incredible views. My travel buddy, Suzanne Stavert of Adventures of Empty Nesters, and I saw this incredible park when we did a Viking River Cruise in July 2018! I hope you enjoy the photos!