Inspirational Travel Quotes

Traveling allows you to live an adventure and learn about the world around you in the process. The act of traveling gives you the opportunity to reflect on your own life and grow as a person. If you are thinking about traveling, needing some encouragement, or counting down the days until your next trip, I have compiled a list of some of the greatest inspirational travel quotes.

1) “For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel’s sake. The great affair is to move.” – Robert Louis

2) “I am not the same, having seen the moon shine on the other side of the world.” – Mary Anne Radmacher

3) “Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.” – Gustave Flaubert

4) “We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.” – Anonymous

 

5) “Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all of one’s lifetime.” – Mark Twain

6) “Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.” – Andre Gide

7) “The use of traveling is to regulate imagination with reality, and instead of thinking of how things may be, see them as they are.” – Samuel Johnson

8) “Travel and change of place impart new vigor to the mind.” – Seneca

9) “Once a year, go somewhere you’ve never been before.” – Dalai Lama

10) “To travel is to discover that everyone is wrong about other countries.” – Aldous Huxley

11) “Traveling tends to magnify all human emotions.” – Peter Hoeg

12) “When overseas you learn more about your own country than you do the place you’re visiting.” – Clint Borgen

13) “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.” –  Helen Keller

14) “To my mind, the greatest reward and luxury of travel is to be able to experience everyday things as if for the first time, to be in a position in which almost nothing is so familiar it is taken for granted.” – Bill Bryson

15) “Not all those who wander are lost.” – J.R.R. Tolkien

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America’s Greatest Poker Rooms

When you’ve played poker as much as I have (just check my poker website), you can understand how a certain environment can help aid in a flawless game. How the temperature, ambiance, noise level, and lighting of a room can either comfort you, or make you feel exposed. How you always have to have your signature drink, or perhaps you wear the same sunglasses or baseball cap. Whatever your traditions of habit are, you have them.

With the introduction and booming popularity of online poker playing, we’re now able to play our favorite game from the comfort of our very homes. However, there are poker rooms which have a certain level of ambiance, just the right amount of pressure in the air, and the delicious soundtrack of shuffling cards being played on a loop that could never be topped. These poker rooms are the best of the best, the undisputed facilities of optimal poker playing that make Saturday night poker games at your brother-in-laws seem like child’s play.

Commerce Casino || Commerce, CA
If bigger is better for you, then the Commerce Casino is the place to go. Facilitating 200 playing tables, there’s always another option if the one you’re sitting at has gone dead. Home to the LA Poker Classic, the large poker room offers a myriad of games and limits and attracts a wide variety of players. Benefits include virtually free meals with table-side dining options! However, be careful of your bets, the Commerce attracts many pros who can make your games a whole lot tougher.

Gold Strike Casino Resort || Tunica Resorts, MS
Boasting a quality staff that goes out of their way to make poker players really feel like VIPs as well as a free steak dinner after a couple hours of poker play, the Gold Strike Casino sets itself apart with it’s attention to player experience. Home to the World Poker Open, it offers only mid- to low-stakes games, but if you’re looking to place a heavier bet, you can visit one of the many casinos in the immediate area!

Foxwoods Resort Casino || Mashantucket, CT
It’s the largest casino in the world, and probably the most popular in the tri-state area outside of Atlantic City. Home to the second largest poker room, the Foxwoods Poker Classic and the World Poker Finals, Foxwoods offers 125 poker tables and three multi-table events daily, mostly in no-limit hold’em. There’s essentially a table for every type of player here, so watch out for the pros!

Bellagio || Las Vegas, NV
I couldn’t make this list without including a poker room in Vegas! And what better than the luxurious Bellagio, which offers a glamorous poker room for the highest of rollers. Boasting the highest class of amenities, all stakes games, and celebrity sightings, it also comes with its drawbacks. Wait time for a medium to low stakes table on the weekends can be hours, and at such high volumes, getting the staffs attention can sometimes be difficult.

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Best Ski Destinations in the World

Finally winter is approaching! For fellow skiers, the season starts relatively soon and it’s very exciting! Although the east coast is starting to feel winter probably more than the mid-west or west coast, unfortunately the east coast doesn’t even have the best skiing. Between the National Geographic and US News, they both rank spots Lake Tahoe, Vail, Aspen, Telluride, Jackson, Steamboat Springs and Whistler among the top places in the world to ski. At least when it comes to skiing, “the west coast is the best coast” becomes a true saying.

Niseko, Japan is ranked as the 10th best spot to ski in the world according to National Geographic. It’s known for great power, and even hot springs and sushi. The mountains on the Japanese island of Hokkaido are globally renowned for having the most consistent, light powder on Earth. Mount Niseko Annupuri is about 4,291 feet tall and skiable with just one lift ticket. It averages about 590 inches of snow per year which is a great deal of snow! The town of Niseko is an easy drive from the four separate base areas and is known for it’s laid-back surfer-town vibe. There are many hot springs, great after a day of skiing! Night skiing is also a thing, with humongous, stadium-style lights illuminating the night time mountain. Read more about specific recommendations here.

Niseko, Japan

Innsbruck is the capital of Austria’s western state, Tyrol, and was the site for the 1976 Winter Olympics. the city is known for its fresh powder and old world charm. It was the seat of regional power for centuries and sits in the center of the Austrian Alps.

Innsbruck, Austria

Other spots mentioned outside of the U.S. were the following: Zermatt, Switzerland, Chamonix, France, and Cortina D’Ampezzo, Italy. Next month we’ll go over spots in the States.

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Where to Travel in September?

According to some, September is the best month to travel the world. The Northern hemisphere is finally feeling a relieve of the sizzling days of summer. The Southern Hemisphere is is experiencing blooming as the chills have passed.

For some, September means the start of school or back to work after a summer of travels. But for others, September is the time to pack your newly purchased travel backpack and begin an adventure.

France and Italy are frequently visited places in the summer. However in September, the lines are shorter and the prices drop because the summer buzz has quieted.  Beaches in the Mediterranean are sunny. Eastern Europe starts to cool down. Turkey is actually a wonderful place to visit in September. Cappadocia, a city on the Anatolian plains in the center of Turkey, has geological structure unlike anywhere else. If you want to take a balloon ride over the beautiful city, you will not regret it! However, I would stay in the city for 2-3 days just in case it’s too windy on the morning you decide to go. If the government says it’s too windy, balloons don’t fly! Give yourself a few days just in case you happen to visit during a wind spell.

Cappadocia, Turkey

In the United States and Canada, autumn is beautiful. New England and Nova Scotia will have more lobster and seaside lounging now that the crowds have left. Harvest season begins for farmers, more likely to be in Quebec and the American midwest. Farmers markets have produce and even pumpkins start to emerge! Apples fall from trees, asking to be crushed into cider.

Most leave Central America in September because the rains get fierce. However some may enjoy the wildlife that is brought out by the monsoon. It also means the best or worst surfing, depending on your skill level. There are some serious waves in Central America in September. Although if you’re a beginner, Tamarindo in Costa Rica might be a good place. It tends to get the smaller part of the action from the swells.

Tamarindo, Costa Rica

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Best Beaches in the Bay Area

Dror Gal loves to travel in his free time. With many places to go, he enjoys traveling to great locations during different seasons of the year. In the summer, Dror likes to escape Nevada and head to the Bay Area in California and go surfing. He has been surfing for some time and likes to do it as much as possible. Let’s take a look at some of the best beaches in the Bay Area according to travelandleisure.com.

Marshall Beach

One of the best aspects of Marshall Beach is that if you have a great view of the west wing of the Golden Gate Bridge. It also contains a fantastic trail along the water. The beach is ten miles from Point Reyes Station, a cool neighbor that tourist enjoy visiting. Many fisherman travel to the area to take home shellfish.

Marshall Beach view of the Golden Gate Bridge

Bolinas Beach

Bolinas Beach has many unmarked roads making the transportation hear during holidays like Memorial Day weekend easy. There’s a surf shop called Two Mile Surf Shop that allows visitors to rent surfboards to catch some waves for the day. The beach also contains a beautiful view of Stinson, another local beach.

Pacifica Beach

Pacifica Beach, located off the Cabrillo Highway, is just 15 miles south of the beautiful San Francisco. This beach is home to some of the best waves in all of Northern California. The Nor Cal Surf Shop not only offers surfboard rentals but lessons as well. This beach is much more private and friendly than many other beaches along the coast, which is great for picnics.

Pacifica Beach

There are many hidden or under the radar beaches that you can access in the Bay Area. They all bring different things and experiences to the table. So do a little research and find yours! Get more access to great beaches in the Bay Area on travelandleisure.com.

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Places to Catch Fireworks

With July 4th coming right around the corner, everyone is preparing for barbeques and family gatherings. But what would any Independence Day be without fireworks? These loud, gorgeous spectacles light up the night sky for millions across the country, and from Texas to New York, everyone thinks they have the greatest. If you’re looking to catch some of the best firework shows in the United States, look no further than these locations.

Kaboom Town in Texas is more than just a clever play on words. It’s home to some of the best fireworks in the state, boasting over 1,500 pounds of the sky candles set off every July 4th. With famous barbeque, live air shows and carnival rides, Kaboom Town’s annual show is recognized by the American Pyrotechnics Association as one of the top ten fireworks displays in the nation.

Boston’s firework show, over the Charles River Esplanade, is a sight to be seen for miles around. Drawing over 500,000 visitors to watch the show, locals say the best spot to view the show is across the river at Cambridge. Often accompanied by live music, Boston’s 4th of July celebration is sure to light up your night.

Nashville, Tennessee is considered by some to be the music capital of the United States. But would you have guessed they’re also known for their spectacular 4th of July celebrations? The “Music City July 4th: Let Freedom Sing” celebration draws the largest crowd in the south with its day-long activities, A-list country performances, and 27-minute long fireworks show.

When thinking of The Big Apple, you conjure images of massive buildings and a larger than life community. It’s no wonder that this famous city has the largest fireworks display in the United States. Lighting up their famous skyline with hundreds of bright blooms, this is a show not to miss for any able to attend.

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Some of the Best Surfing Spots

When Dror Gal isn’t busy working on the installation of solar panels, he enjoys many different kinds of recreational activities. One that he’s big on is surfing. Although he lives in Nevada, Dror makes many trips to California where he catches some ways in the Pacific Ocean. Do you get board of the same beaches? Looking for a new experience? There are many great beaches where the waves and scenic views are different. Let’s take a look at some of the best surfing spots from around the world according to list25.com.

Superbank, Gold Coast, Australia

The Gold Coast has long been known as a surfers paradise. The coast stretches for 70 kilometers and has four epic point breaks. One of these breaks, the Superbank, is known as one of the best breaks in the world. These waves form into solid walls and tubes of water making for a great surfing opportunity. That large area allows many surfers to surf without over crowding the beach.

Lima, Peru

Peru contains over 1,500 miles of coastline making for plenty of space to surf. While the water may not look all that great compared to other waters but Peru creates some of the best waves in all of South America. The waves tend to be about a meter high and break in three sections. The great thing about the break is that they break in all different sizes allowing surfers of all different talent to surf.

Cloudbreak, Tavarua Island, Fiji

This heart shaped island offers all sorts of degrees of difficulty in surfing from the ultimate pro to a toddler. With that said, Cloudbreak in particular is just for the hardcore surfer. Waves begin to form up to 1,600 meters off the coast and can reach heights as high as 10 meters high and the wave can hold together for about 500 meters before breaking.

For more information on many other great surfing destinations, check this article out at list25.com.

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Disney Cruises

The Disney Gang

Disney’s Adventures branch will partner with AmaWaterways for a brand new line that will open the Danube river to the cruise-happy. In 2016, travelers will be able to sign up for a week-long tour along Europe’s second-largest river for an authentic smorgasbord of cultures. Disney cruises have tended to balance elegance with kid-friendliness by inviting the entertainment of many of the beloved iconic characters aboard its big ships, but the Danube river cruise will be geared more toward adults, and will replace characters in costume with European performers who demonstrate the cultural arts with authentic spectacles. It will still offer games, movies, and karaoke nights, but with that, wine tastings and luxury spa services as well. The relaxing fun-for-everyone attitude aboard will not be stripped, just tailored to the more mature and sophisticated experience intended.

Disney currently runs its four ships globally with destinations ranging from the Caribbean islands to the Asia and the nations of the Indian Ocean. This new expedition under its smaller family vacation branch along the Danube will visit central and eastern European countries like Germany, Austria, Hungary, and Croatia. Adventures by Disney, as the branch is called, brings families along guided vacations where they can relax and be engaged in learning simultaneously. Disney stated itself it wants to see the river cruise lines offer a less fantasy-prone vacation for couples and families that want to explore the intricacies of world cultures without familiar distractions. The ships are set to leave in the summer of 2016 from Vilshofen, Germany, and will arrive in Budapest, Hungary. The country-based itineraries include activities including but not limited to visits to wineries and breweries, bicycle excursions, tours through medieval castles, historic choir shows, horseback riding, and a slew of musical shows and movie nights. (For a list of the daily itineraries, click here.) Cruisers will be able to explore each country and its popular and less known attractions.

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