Travel Paths

Visiting the California State Capitol in Sacramento

vlad — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 20:38:52 +0000

I think everyone must visit their state capitol at least once in their lifetime. I believe it is important to see where laws affecting your state are being created, debated and approved. This is the place that is mostly affected by our votes. Granted, you might not like politicians and politics but usually state capitols are places full of history. This is also the case at the California State Capitol in Sacramento.

4 easy things that make long distance car travel easier on children

vlad — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 05:22:02 +0000

Traveling in California takes a long time. Probably it's a general statement that applies to the whole of United States, but particularly to Southern California. Whenever we have to travel from Southern California to Northern California we take into account hours of travel...it's pretty much a day if you count stopping to eat some food and getting out of the car to stretch your legs. If you throw some young children into the mix, then the equation gets a little more complicated. However, there are a few things to do that make the trip to Northern California a little more bearable.

Beautiful flowers at the Sacramento Capitol Park

vlad — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 02:48:16 +0000

We visited the Sacramento Capitol park when we visited the actual State Capitol building. We didn't rush to get inside the building but took our time to see the flowers and trees that are everywhere in the park. It was very hot outside in Sacramento that day but the abundant vegetation in park kept us a little cooler and we enjoyed our visit a lot more because of that.

Delight yourself with history and champagne at Reims, France

vlad — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 20:24:10 +0000

Reims, France is close to Paris and it is filled with history. This is why Reims makes for a great daytrip from Paris. In addition to old churches you can see old Roman ruins and you can also visit one or more of the major champagne houses that make the Champagne region famous worldwide.

Walk among great history at Soissons, France.

vlad — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 06:00:48 +0000

Even though located only about 65 miles north of Paris, Soissons is relatively unknown as a tourist attraction in France. However, Soissons has a very rich heritage in French history being one of the oldest towns in all of France. In fact Soissons was the first capital of old France in 486 A.D. As a consequence you will find lots of historical buildings in Soissons today.

Fill your lungs and eyes with Mont Blanc at Chamonix, France.

vlad — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 22:56:03 +0000

Chamonix, France is a very famous winter resort but it's not popular only in the winter. We visited Chamonix at the beginning of October on a bright and sunny day. It proved to be the perfect day trip from Geneva, Switzerland.

Lose yourself in time and mistery at Sighisoara, Romania

vlad — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 00:09:18 +0000

We came to Sighisoara from Brasov on a sunny day in September. We got off the train in a small train station that was just too quiet. We thought that Sighisoara was a very popular tourist attraction in Romania and we assumed that it would be pretty busy at this time of year, but we were wrong and we didn't mind it. It was actually very pleasant to walk around a small old city and not be surrounded by lots of people.

Crazy dog dives in for a ball in very rough ocean waters

vlad — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 07:08:37 +0000

Sometimes when traveling you get to witness amazing things that you were not planning to see at all. This is what happened to me when going to the beach again at Point Mugu State Beach in California. I have brought some relatives of ours to the beach since they have not been in this part of the state. When we got there, we noticed that the waves were pretty rough and very loud (about 10 feet high). The water was breaking very close to shore, which made it pretty hard for us to enjoy the water. Eventually we decided to head back home since we couldn't really play in the water much.

Travel Pictures from Sighisoara, Romania

vlad — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 07:16:04 +0000

We have visited Sighisoara in September 2007 but it took me a long time to actually post pictures from our trip. We loved Sighisoara, even though they were still doing lots of building and fixing up. See more pictures

Day trip to the beach at Point Mugu, California

vlad — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 21:27:56 +0000

We wanted to go to the beach one weekend and we decided to go to Point Mugu since we haven't been there in a long time. Since I have forgotten to take cash with me, I couldn't park at the state beach and ended up parking right next to the Mugu Rock and then went down to a small rock beach nearby. We ended up having a great time and saw a sea lion and lots of pelicans. My daughter loved the trip.

Travel Pictures from Point Mugu, California.

vlad — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 06:59:31 +0000

I went with my daughter to the beach one weekend. She really wanted to go see "sharks" at the beach. So, we did go to the beach but didn't see any sharks...which was good. We did see lots of pelicans and one sea lion swimming very close to shore. That was really cool! I decided that we could go to the Point Mugu beach since we haven't gone there in a long time. We had a great time ! I'll write more about Point Mugu in another post, but for now take a look at my pictures. See more pictures

Beautiful flowers and sunset in Scottsdale Arizona

vlad — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 22:47:39 +0000

Here's another travel gallery from my brother. I have gotten used with his great pictures and I can's wait to see them every time he comes back from vacation. This time they went to Scottsdale Arizona. He didn't give me any city pictures but he gave me some great nature pictures. So, here they are. Nature pictures from Scottsdale Arizona.

A daytrip to UCLA is educational for the whole family.

vlad — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:29:34 +0000

We have visited UCLA in the winter on a sunny December day. Even though the day was short, we had a great time. I always like visiting the UCLA campus, regardless if it's summer or winter, school day or weekend...I just love it. Maybe it's because I graduated from UCLA myself...yeah it's because of that. However, I believe anyone can enjoy visiting the campus for a day, including your children.

Gatorland in Orlando, Florida – Travel Pictures

vlad — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 19:45:18 +0000

This is another photo gallery from my brother's trip to Orlando, Florida. This time he took his family to Gatorland. They have crocodiles and alligators and many birds. As usual, he takes great pictures and he allows me to post them on my site. He is a lot more patient with the camera and he's got a much better eye for taking great pictures. See more pictures

Animal Kingdom in Orlando, Florida – Travel Pictures

vlad — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 17:51:15 +0000

My brother took a week vacation and went with his family to Orlando Florida. As usual, he takes great pictures and he allows me to post them on my site. He is a lot more patient with the camera and he's got a much better eye for taking great pictures. See more pictures

Pagosa Springs, Colorado – Travel Pictures.

vlad — Tue, 19 May 2009 19:23:07 +0000

My good friend Jason visited Pagosa Springs, Colorado earlier this year. He took his family on a nature trip and he was very kind to allow me to post some of his great pictures on my site. I have not visited Pagosa Springs, but based on the pictures it looks like a great place to visit with your family...well if you live nearby. There is a small zoo that features a bear, a wolf, a mountain lion and other animals...caged of course. You can take a small steam train that will give you great views of the valley and forest. Well, take a look at the pictures and see for yourself. See more pictures

See the best Southern Califonia tourist attractions in one day trip

vlad — Thu, 07 May 2009 14:47:00 +0000

This is an article that I wanted to write for a long time. It is a bit long, maybe that's why I took such a long time to write. However, this is our favourite Southern California tour. When we have friends and family visiting from outside of California we always take them on this tour because they get to see some of the best tourist sites in SoCal. Yeah, it's true, this tour doesn't include Disneyland, Universal Studios or Sea World, but those are attractions that anyone would know about. Our tour hits the best things to see in SoCal apart from amusement parks. The best thing about this tour is that it can be done in one day...a full day that is.

Day trip in the middle of nature at Silverwood Lake and Wrightwood California

vlad — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 02:39:30 +0000

We have recently taken a day trip to Silverwood Lake and Wrightwood here in Southern California. While these destinations are practically unknown to tourists, they are popular for the local people. They are perfect travel destinations for a day trip on a sunny day (which are plenty in Southern California). Water, nature and maybe...snow will make a great weekend Southern California trip.

Silverwood Lake in Hesperia California – Travel Pictures

vlad — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 18:53:15 +0000

Silverwood Lake in Hesperia California is well known for many things: great picnic areas, stunning natural beauty and amazing fishing. We only got to stop at a vista point overlooking the lake. I wish we would have had more time to visit the lake this time. I have only visited Silverwood Lake once before...a few years ago and I was impressed by how blue and clean the water was. See more pictures

Santa Barbara Zoo is the perfect family day trip

vlad — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 02:57:09 +0000

If there is one place that children always like to visit it is the zoo. No matter how small or large, any zoo is a cool place for children. Animals are just very interesting for children. However, if on top of that you add the ocean and a wonderful sunny climate then you get the greatest place for children to visit. Well, there is such a place and it's called the Santa Barbara, Zoo. This is arguably my favorite family destination of all the Southern California day trip destinations.

Travel Pictures from Santa Barbara Zoo

vlad — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 21:10:02 +0000

I am finally able to put together a gallery of travel pictures for Santa Barbara Zoo. We have visited a couple of times since the beginning of the year and we loved it every time. We just love visiting Santa Barbara Zoo...I think it's the greatest day trip for small children in Southern California. If you haven't visited this place, then make it a point to visit it. You will not be disappointed. Read my travel destination guide for Santa Barbara Zoo. See more pictures

3 places in Southern California where small children can enjoy the snow

vlad — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 23:48:05 +0000

If you live in Southern California, snow is a rare occurrence. If you don't make some extra effort, your children might grow up not knowing what snow is. However, one of the greatest things about living in Southern California is that pretty much everyone lives within a few hours from the beach and within a few hours from the snow. I love snow and I love to take my family to play in the snow at least once a year...and it doesn't take much effort. While, everyone knows about the big Southern California ski resorts, there is very little information available about places where you can take small kids so that they can simply play in the snow.

Most photographed tourist attractions in the world

vlad — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 20:12:20 +0000

I have recently read a paper presented at the 2009 International World Wide Web conference. This paper had to do with a large collection (30 million) of Flickr photos. While the main topic of the paper was about organizing such large collections, a secondary result of the research was some really cool lists with the most photographed cities and tourist attractions in those cities. So, here are these cool statistics.

Is the Grand Canyon overrated ?

vlad — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 05:50:05 +0000

When we planned to visit the Grand Canyon this past spring, one question kept coming up: Is the Grand Canyon overrated? Everyone wants to visit it, but what if it's just one big hype and nothing more? Sure, the pictures looked nice, some reviews were great, but what is there to see anyway...just some rocks? Well, I was about to find out why The Grand Canyon National Park is so grand!

RSS feed has moved

vlad — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 19:33:48 +0000

Since Google has purchased Feedburner, I didn't notice that they have changed the URL for my feed. For those of you that are subscribing to my RSS Feed, the new location for my feed is: http://feeds2.feedburner.com/travelpaths. I have also updated the Subscribe button on this page with the new location. So, please update it in your RSS reader.

Grand Canyon National Park South Rim – Travel Pictures.

vlad — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 08:40:18 +0000

We visited Grand Canyon National Park as part of our Las Vegas trip. Actually, this was the last part of our trip. After a stop at Hoover Dam we kept on going through the desert all the way to Williams Arizona. After spending the night there, we visited the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. I struggled with taking pictures and not being able to capture the vastness of the Grand Canyon. I found it very difficult to be purposeful in taking great pictures. One has to go visit and enjoy the view...the entire view. [ SEE MORE PICTURES ]

Hoover Dam, Nevada and Arizona

vlad — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 08:25:05 +0000

When we visited Las Vegas, we decided to drive all the way to the Grand Canyon. On the way to the Grand Canyon we have stopped at Hoover Dam...of course we did! It's was right on our way from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon. This was a good opportunity to stretch our legs a little and see some breathtaking views of the Colorado River and of the Hoover Dam. [ SEE MORE PICTURES ]

Is Las Vegas, Nevada a family destination?

vlad — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 07:38:17 +0000

I have wondered for a long time if someone can visit Las Vegas and have fun without gambling and visiting the night scene. I have heard that Las Vegas has changed and they're catering to families a lot more these days. So, are they really? Can Las Vegas be called a family destination ?

Gorgeous flowers on Maui, Hawaii – Travel Pictures

vlad — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 23:04:53 +0000

This is another travel gallery by my brother. He had so many gorgeous flower pictures that I had to create a separate gallery just for that. I hope you enjoy them just as much as I do ! [ SEE MORE PICTURES ]

Maui, Hawaii – Travel Pictures

vlad — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 09:38:02 +0000

My brother, Radu spent a week in Maui, Hawaii and brought back some gorgeous pictures as usual. Here's is his travel gallery. [ SEE MORE PICTURES ]

The Strip in Las Vegas, Nevada

vlad — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 06:55:58 +0000

This is the last gallery from Las Vegas, Nevada. These are shots taken from the strip and...of the strip itself. I thought that it's great to have a few pictures just of the strip in Las Vegas, because at night it becomes spectacular indeed! I have included some pictures taken by my brother...his pictures are actually much better than mine. [ SEE MORE PICTURES ]

The Wynn and Encore in Las Vegas, Nevada

vlad — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 02:55:51 +0000

Supposedly, the Wynn Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada is only for the rich. It definitely looks like it even if we judge by the Ferarri and Maserati dealers that are on site. Too bad you don't get to just walk in the showroom. I guess they're afraid that regular people like us would leave their fingerprints on the cars. They look cool no matter what...even if only seen through the window. The hotel and casino doesn't look very impressive from the inside...except for the shopping galleries. Beware, strollers with small children are not allowed inside the Wynn...I thought that was plain terrible...but oh well, what can I do? [ SEE MORE PICTURES ]

The Venetian in Las Vegas, Nevada

vlad — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 12:25:03 +0000

Venetian is another European copy...scaled down a little obviously. Yes, it has the gondolas, with Italian singers and all...I'm still not sure if the songs are taped (they look and sound very real), but it is copied nevertheless. It's ok though, 'cause you only drive a few hundred miles from Los Angeles and you get to see Venice...or something pretty close to it. [ SEE MORE PICTURES ]

Paris in Las Vegas, Nevada

vlad — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 03:58:36 +0000

This the picture gallery from the Paris Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. Paris was great for one things: food. I mean it has amazzzzing food ! Especially the breakfast buffet is really out of this world...just unbelievable...oh well...more on that to come. [ SEE MORE PICTURES ]

New York, New York in Las Vegas, Nevada

vlad — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 20:48:40 +0000

New York, New York is another well-known casino in Las Vegas. It sits right at the entrance on the strip, right across the MGM Grand. The Statue of Liberty replica is huge and it serves as an easy way to locate the casino. However, other than the New York look and feel, New York, New York doesn't offer anything other than gambling and ... lots of smoke. [ SEE MORE PICTURES ]

The Mirage in Las Vegas, Nevada

vlad — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 17:27:33 +0000

Here's the photo gallery from The Mirage in Las Vegas. This resort boasts a private dolphin habitat and a private zoo with Siberian tigers and white lions. This is definitely a must see for any family with children traveling to Las Vegas. The animals are simply impressive. I have never seen tigers this big at any of the zoos I have ever visited. Just amazing ! SEE MORE PICTURES

Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada

vlad — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 07:47:13 +0000

Here is another picture gallery, this time from Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada. I 'll be adding more pictures from each of the major casinos. Caesars Palace didn't have anything special to offer other than exquisite shopping. Just miles and miles of shops at the Forum Shops. Good thing there are many other hotels in Las Vegas. [ SEE MORE PICTURES ]

The Bellagio in Las Vegas, Nevada

vlad — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 21:42:25 +0000

We finally got to see Las Vegas in May of this year. However, it took me forever to get the pictures on my blog. I was only able to add pictures from the Belagio...it will be a while until I add the other ones. My travel destination guide of Las Vegas will be coming soon...hopefully. [ SEE MORE PICTURES ]

Impressive landscape in King’s Canyon National Park.

vlad — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 00:21:39 +0000

When I mention King's Canyon National Park, quite a few people ask where that is. This is very different than when talking about Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks. Even though King's Canyon is a lot less popular, it is a great place to visit and just like Sequoia, it is a backpaker and hiker's paradise.

Travel Pictures – New Zealand

vlad — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 22:21:16 +0000

My friend Maryanne live in New Zealand and she takes great pictures. I have asked her to let me put some of her pictures on my site and she has agreed. She's very nice. I love many of the names of places in New Zealand, they're very cool: Rotorua, Coromandel, Mairangi and Rangitoto. They're Maori names I believe, and they sound so un-English.

Travel Pictures – Taiwan

vlad — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 16:44:40 +0000

My brother took a trip to Taiwan in 2006 and he has taken many great pictures. He's a much better photographer than I so, I decided to add some more of his pictures on my site.

Travel Pictures – Saint Paul, Minnesota

vlad — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 23:23:44 +0000

I have visited Saint Paul, Minnesota on two different occasions. One time was on a layover caused by a power failure that hit the whole northern United States and one time for about a week visiting some friends.

Travel Pictures – Seattle, Washington

vlad — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 21:25:17 +0000

Here is a new travel gallery courtesy of my brother Radu. He's a much better photographer. I have not visited Seattle, but I would like to visit this city.

It’s not just about big trees in Sequoia National Park, California.

vlad — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 20:12:24 +0000

Whenever people talk about Sequoia National Park they mention the Sequoia groves that made the park famous. But Sequoia National Park is home to many other natural attractions. Find out what makes Sequoia National Park an amazingly spectacular place !

Yosemite National Park is breathtaking year round.

vlad — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 05:07:23 +0000

Yosemite National Park is a great travel destination both for the backpacker and the entire family. Weather you love to backpack for days or you just enjoy day hikes with your family, Yosemite National Park has something for everyone. I have visited Yosemite many times and each time I have done something completely different and fun. However, if you're visiting for the first time there are some things you must see.

Day trip to Hearst Castle – a castle with an ocean view.

vlad — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 18:38:31 +0000

Hearst Castle is one of the few buildings in America that bears the name "Castle". We just don't have castles here like they have in Europe. Castles are a thing of the past and especially in California we don't have old buildings except for the few old missions that are scattered along the coast. I know I am exaggerating a little but not too much. So, just the name Hearst Castle becomes interesting almost immediately to the tourist.

Day trip to California Adventure Park – a true amusement park.

vlad — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 04:31:06 +0000

We took advantage of the 2Fer ticket for Southern California residents when we visited Disneyland on Easter weekend. So, two weeks after visiting Disneyland during Spring Break, we came back to visit California Adventure for FREE ! This was a great deal indeed. The simple fact that we came after Spring Break made our experience a lot better than what we went through when visiting Disneyland.

Day trip to Disneyland, California – a dream come true.

vlad — Fri, 16 May 2008 06:57:07 +0000

Disneyland is called the "happiest place on earth"...at least that's how the Disney company calls it. A place of magic and wonder where Mickey Mouse is the king. This visit was very special because I took my wife and my daughter to visit and it was their first time visiting Disneyland. I think it's pretty cool to take people to Disneyland especially if they've never been there before.

Mysterious California – Alcatraz Island

vlad — Thu, 15 May 2008 00:26:38 +0000

As I think of mysterious places in California, Alcatraz Island comes to mind right away. The scene of many movies and known as "The Rock", Alcatraz Island is a mysterious place. It is so close to shore and yet far enough. It's interesting to read about the escape attempts that have made Alcatraz Island famous...history has not recorded any successful escape attempts.

Alabama Hills is a mix of California mystery and Hollywood.

vlad — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 23:49:21 +0000

When people think about Romania, they immediately think of mystery! Not so when they hear California. California brings different thoughts: sun, ocean, surfing, Hollywood but nobody is immediately thinking of mystery when they hear the word California. Does this mean that there is nothing mysterious about California?