Silver Haired Gappies
North
America
Toronto, Muskoka & Vancouver Canada
Day 3 -6 Lake Muskoka
Stay with friends
Nothing can be more pleasurable than to arrive back at Lake Muskoka and be whisked off to David Island to spend a few days with dear friends.
Activities at Beaumaris Yacht Club:
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Golf,
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Pickleball
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Tennis
Reading, relaxing, boating on the lake, dinners and drinks with friends
Day 6 -9 Vancouver
Stay
Visit
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Stanley Park
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Van Dusen Botanical Gardens
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City Tour
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Granville Island & Market
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Vancouver Lookout
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Flight over Gulf Islands cancelled due to poor weather
Eat
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The Lobster Man, Granville Island - lobster roll
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Faubourg - Breakfast & Coffee
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Palete Kitchen - Breakfast
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The Nightingale - Dinner
Day 9 - 15 The Inside Passage
Stay Seven Seas Explorer
350+ suite explorer ship with every luxury provided. Excellent way to travel and view the wilderness from Vancouver to Seward (near Anchorage).
Eat
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Chartreuse
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Pacific Rim
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Prime 7
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Sette Mari @ La Veranda
Day 9 - 15 The Inside Passage
Stay Seven Seas Explorer
Visit
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Ketchican - Kayak on Lake Connell
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Juneau - Town Tour (Mendenhall Glacier River Float cancelled)
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Skagway - Klondike Explorer & Skagway Gold Panning & Sled Dogs
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Icy Strait - Whale watching
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Hubbard Glacier
Day 15 & 16 Seattle
Stay
Hugely disappointing hotel existing on its former history and relevance to this city, uncomfortable and filthy. Waterside Bar was best aspect, especially at sunset.
Visit
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Pike Place Market
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Space Needle
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Chihuly Garden & Glass
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Gas Works Park
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Gates Foundation Discovery Centre
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City Tour
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Harbour Tour
Toronto - Thriving city with exciting buzz - Niagara Falls a must, despite being an understandably huge tourist trap! Beware hotel foyer one of the most popular evening venues! Also, had to change substandard room.
Lake Muskoka - Canada's best kept secret!
Vancouver - recommend trying to find boutique hotel in the glorious suburbs. Primarily a city to base oneself whilst exploring Canada's extensive nature reserves, eg the Rockies, Islands etc.
Regent Seven Seas - surprisingly pleasant, never felt crowded at all, excellent service and facilities. Unique to visit the more remote parts of Canada. The highlight, Hubbard Glacier, was not as impressive as the St Raphael Glacier, Chile.
Seattle - like Vancouver, its environs are more pleasant than the city itself. Fascinating to pound the same pavements as some of the most insightful people of this era. Particularly recommend Gates Discovery Centre and Chichuly Garden & Glass exhibition.
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St Michael's Basilica, Toronto
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Cathedral of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, Vancouver
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St Therese Catholic Church, Skagway
Private Trip organised with Trailfinders
Days 1-4 Isla Holbox
Stay
Relaxed, eco tourism mirroring island's bohemian lifestyle.
2 night stay would suffice despite the 3hr car drive from Cancun to Chiquila Port, followed by an enchanting boat ride in a fishing boat!
Alternative: hire a plane from Cancun directly to Isla Hoblox!
Travel
Used private car with driver from Day 1 to Day 7 included.
Wonderful country / fabulous people / sensational Aztec and Myan architecture and culture.
Merida City; Aztec & Mayan architecture; Basilica de Guadalupe; vibrant Mexico City.
Merida Cathedral, Mexico City Cathedral, Basilica de Guadalupe
Part of a trip: Mexico; New Orleans, USA
Private Trip organised with Trailfinders
11 Day Tour with drivers. Mexico
Warm, friendly people / vibrant nightlife / birthplace of Jazz
Immaculate Conception Jesuit Church
Part of a trip: 2 nights, combined with visiting Mexico, wonderful contrast!
New Orleans USA
Eat
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Lunch at Loebe Boathouse
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Tea at The Plaza on Central Park
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Bottle & Bine (57th/58th Street)
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Bobo (Greenwich Village)
Stay
Stately and historic landmark hotel with the best of contemporary luxury - ideal position.
Visit
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St Patrick's Cathedral
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Statue of Liberty (book in advance)
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Ground Zero
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Wall Street
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High Line Walk
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Chelsea Market
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Tenement Museum - Lower Eastside
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Rockefeller Centre Observation Deck
Unique City with positive energetic vibe. Be sure to book sightseeing and any Broadway shows long before you go! Walked everywhere.
The whole trip was outstanding! Bonus to see the City through the eyes of our son who was living there.
St Patrick's Cathedral
4 nights, organised with BA City/Flight deal, excellent value!
New York City USA
Biltmore Village, N.C. USA
Special corner of the US, with stunning scenery and outstanding restaurants. Biltmore House & Estate visit is a must (may need to book in advance).
Part of a trip: 2 nights, following group tour around the National Parks of USA
Group Travel USA
Coach Tour of National Parks USA
Day 1 arrive Las Vegas
Stay:
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Fly in to Las Vegas
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Organised own tickets for Ricky Martin
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Met group of people travelling in the coach
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Walked around Las Vegas (not an SHG place of choice!)
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Very disappointing hotel - note it closed April 2024
Day 5 arrive Yellowstone
Stay:
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Cross Grand Teton National Park
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Arrive Yellowstone National Park, one of the most stunning natural parks of the world.
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Basic accommodation not listed on Expedia
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SHG Highly recommends:
Lake Yellowstone Hotel
Day 6 stay Yellowstone
Stay:
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Explore spouting geysers, bubbling hot springs - watch Old Faithful waters arch over 30 metres.
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See bison and elk
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Stunning waterfalls and scenery
Day 15 return to
Las Vegas
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Grand Canyon Helicopter flight over the Canyon
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Driven back to Las Vegas via the Hoover Dam
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Took flight to Asheville (see above)
SHG Highlights
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All national Parks
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Helicopter flight (privately organised)
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Yellowstone
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Denver & Vail
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Ancestral Puebloan houses
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Mount Rushmore
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Grand Canyon
SHG critique:
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Trip too long
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Bus surprisingly sub standard & uncomfortable
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Hotels disappointing, ordinary at best
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Group meals average
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Trip a bit too gimmicky / touristy in parts.
SHG Thoughts for returning:
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Stay at Lake Yellowstone Hotel for a minimum of 4 days
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Consider private plane to travel between national parks
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Distances too far to self-drive
Organised by Trafalgar, USA