USA Archives

Day Trips from Phoenix, Tempe and Scottsdale

Posted 9th April, 2019
By Alex&Bell
8 Comments

Packed with red rocks and tall saguaro cacti, Arizona features one of the most dramatically beautiful landscapes in North America. We recently enjoyed a great winter break in Tempe, home of Arizona State University. It’s a hip Phoenix area base to explore the Sonoran Desert and nearby highlights like the Apache Trail, Sedona and the Grand Canyon.

If you’re planning a trip to Arizona that includes great restaurants along with outdoor activities, you can base yourself in the Phoenix area and take nearby day trips. Here are several great day trips within and close to Phoenix, Tempe, Scottsdale, Mesa and Glendale.

Posted in Arizona, North America, USA. Tagged A Mountain, Apache Trail, couples travel, Day trips, Detours, Mission Palms, Papago Park, Phoenix, Sedona, South Mountain, Tempe, USA, USA travel

25 Washington, DC Travel Tips to Avoid Missing Out

Posted 29th March, 2019
By Alex Kallimanis
4 Comments

Washington, DC has a wealth to offer visitors beyond the world’s largest collection of free museums, The Smithsonian. We lived in Washington, DC for 4 years and got to know the city well. Here are 25 Washington, DC tips covering free Smithsonian museums and much more!

Posted in North America, USA, Washington, DC. Tagged Adventure Park, Arlington Observation Deck, Arts Club, attractions, DC airports, hotels, Mount Vernon, National Arboretum, Travel Advice, US Capitol Building, USA, USA travel, Washington DC, White House

Tempe: A Great Base to Explore Arizona

Posted 1st February, 2019
By Alex&Bell
30 Comments

Tempe, Arizona enjoys around 330 days of sunshine a year, more than anywhere else in the country. Its picturesque landscape in the Sonoran Desert is also highlighted by a fantastic southwestern culinary scene. Hayden Butte and Tempe Town Lake offer outdoor activities right in downtown Tempe. You can also take fantastic day trips to Sedona, the Apache Trail, or even closer, to nearby Papago Park and South Mountain Park.

Just 4 miles from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, Tempe is easily accessible. A light rail system connects Tempe with the airport and Phoenix, so you don’t even have to rent a car if you don’t want to drive. A winter visit to Arizona makes for an excellent reprieve from cold weather climates.

Posted in Arizona, North America, USA. Tagged Apache Trail, Arizona, couples travel, Culinary Dropout, Detours, Ghost Ranch, House of Tricks, Mission Palms, NCounter, Singh Meadows, Tempe, Tempe Town Lake, travel, USA, USA travel

Florida to Washington, DC: Great Road Trip Stops

Posted 1st November, 2018
By Bell Kallimanis
No comments

Orlando to Washington, DC spans 850 miles. When we relocated, we decided to turn the lengthy drive into a week’s vacation. Rather than banging it out in a day or two along I-95, we took state and county roads to enjoy the scenery. Getting off the beaten path offers travelers some unique and fun experiences.

Savannah and Charleston are two of the most popular destinations along the route. So we certainly recommend stopping in both southern gems. But the east coast is packed with wonderful historic destinations and seaside vacation spots. Great road trip stops from Florida to Washington, DC are in abundance.

If you are short on time, focus on the best stops along I-95. But if you have more time, consider venturing off the bustling interstate. This article covers both popular and lesser known highlights along multiple routes!

Posted in Florida, North America, USA, Washington, DC. Tagged Carolina Inn, Charleston, couples travel, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, road trip, Savannah, South Carolina, USA, USA travel, Virginia, Washington DC, Williamsburg

Fun Things to Do in New York City

Posted 13th October, 2018
By Alex Kallimanis
2 Comments

New York City is one of the world’s most exciting cities, but it can also be extreme when it comes to food quality and general experiences. We previously lived in Boston, and currently reside in Washington, DC, so we’ve made many trips to New York City the past several years. New York is around four hours from Boston and Washington, DC by car, train or bus (though we never drive to NYC).

These are some of our favorite things we’ve done in NYC that we recommend for visitors. I’ve excluded discussing the most famous options, like bike ride or picnic in Central Park.