#nationalgeographic

Check into the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel

Helen Avaient

Jan 24
2 min

Check into the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel

When visiting the Grand Canyon near Williams, Arizona USA ensure you stay at least one night at the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel. Stepping into the spacious two storey lobby, you start to experience the grandeur and space that, I am sure, was inspired by the geography of the area. Paintings decorate the walls, giving you a foresight into the glorious views you will experience when you visit the Canyon. The hotel is just metres away from the train depot, for those taking the Gra

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Helen Avaient

Jan 17
5 min

Luxury aboard the Grand Canyon Railway

A train trip to the Grand Canyon and back from Williams Arizona had been such an enjoyable experience in the coach carriage, I definitely wanted to experience the trip again, this time in the luxury carriage. It was an even more fabulous journey. Click here to read more about my first trip. The fun filled day of entertainment starts even before you board the train, with a wild west gun show re-enactment near the depot. Staged in an open-air arena with a backdrop of old wester

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Grand Canyon West and Skywalk with Desert Wonder Tours

Helen Avaient

Jan 13
4 min

Grand Canyon West and Skywalk with Desert Wonder Tours

Taking a private, small group tour with Desert Wonder Tours was a delightful way to experience the Grand Canyon West Rim and Skywalk in Arizona USA, without the large crowds. An average of over 5,000 people visit this site per day! My tour started early at 8am with a hotel pick up. There were three people on my tour and the two hour drive to the west rim gave us plenty of time to get to know each other. Driving through the Joshua Tree forest was amazing. I couldn't get enough

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Taking a day trip on the Grand Canyon Railway in Arizona USA

Helen Avaient

Jan 8
6 min

Taking a day trip on the Grand Canyon Railway in Arizona USA

Once upon a time…. Well, that is how all good stories start, and my spontaneous day trip to the Grand Canyon is a really good tale! I had spent a New Year's holiday with friends in Arizona and it was time to farewell them at the Las Vegas airport. Just as they were about to board their plane, a text came through to say their destination airport was shut due to massive snowfalls and they would not be able to fly back for at least two nights. So, what did we do…. We drove to Wi

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Stay off the terraces at Pamukkale Turkey

Helen Avaient

Jan 5
2 min

Stay off the terraces at Pamukkale Turkey

The snow-white travertine terraces of Pamukkale are a visual delight and shimmer down the mountainside. It is known as the Cotton Castle. A local legend states that the formations are cotton left out to dry by giants. Cotton is also the principal crop of the area. But like a lot of tourist destinations around the world, this beautiful place is being destroyed by some thoughtless and selfish people. Water from the calcite rich springs drips down the mountainside where the calc

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The Amazing Acropolis of Pergamon in Turkey

Helen Avaient

Dec 31, 2022
4 min

The Amazing Acropolis of Pergamon in Turkey

Rising high above the plains in the northwest Turkey is a 335m (1100ft) high mesa on which the Acropolis of Pergamon (also known as Pergamos or Pergumum) was situated. Buildings here date back to 281BC. Today, a chair lift rises swiftly upwards, taking visitors to wander and marvel at the impressive ruins of temples, homes and libraries. Pergamon was a cultural and political centre. People also came to Asklepion located at the base on the Acropolis to be healed with the water

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Helen Avaient

Dec 27, 2022
3 min

Helen at Troy in Turkey

Mention the destination 'Troy' and romantic scenes from various Hollywood movies often comes to mind. Where Paris steals the beautiful Helen away from her husband, the King of Sparta, leading to a war, with the Trojans valiantly defending their city for around ten years. The Greeks then built a large wooden horse as a peace offering on the beach and made it look like they had abandoned the battle. The Trojans brought the git horse into their walled city. At night, the Greeks

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Helen Avaient

Dec 19, 2022
5 min

A day tour in Istanbul Turkey

A full day of a guided tour had been arranged in marvelous Istanbul Turkey. I had been looking forward to the Spice Bazaar (known as Mısır Çarşısı) in the Eminonu quarter of the Fatih district. This famous covered shopping complex is one of the largest bazaars in the city and has been operating since 1664. Originally just selling spices, today visitors are spoilt for choice as around 85 small shops now sell spices, food, Turkish delight, jewellery, household items, dried frui

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Helen Avaient

Dec 13, 2022
8 min

Topkapi Palace in Istanbul Turkey

Topkapi Palace in Istanbul deserves at least four hours of your time to explore the many cherished wonders it holds. The Palace is a complex of buildings spread over 700 thousand square metres (146 acres), rather than one large building. There are so many things to marvel at once here, that it deserves a long visit. I have visited palaces in other European countries, and they cannot compare with Topkapi for its simple and comfortable beauty. It was the home of Ottoman Sultans

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A fabulous first day and night in Istanbul Turkey

Helen Avaient

Dec 4, 2022
4 min

A fabulous first day and night in Istanbul Turkey

The only transcontinental city in the world is located on two continents, Europe and Asia. Welcome to Istanbul Turkey, once known as Constantinople. I was looking forward to spending the next ten days exploring the wonders of Turkey, starting with a few days in its largest city. Istanbul was settled in the 7th century BC, which means the city has HEAPS of history to experience (It is officially a UNESCO world heritage site). With over 13 million visitors a year this is the wo

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Helen Avaient

Nov 30, 2022
3 min

Wacky about Doo Town

Wackadoo means "a little bit crazy and fun". It is a perfect word to describe the cheeky larrikins in Doo Town Tasmania Australia. Way back in 1935 residents of this small town started a tradition of naming their holiday cottages with the word Doo in them. All the shacks (this is what a Tasmanian calls their holiday cottage, no matter the style or size) have a quirky name. Well, except for one in town, it is called Medhurst! If I lived in town, I would want to call my shack -

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The absolute best place I have stayed in Tasmania Australia

Helen Avaient

Nov 14, 2022
5 min

The absolute best place I have stayed in Tasmania Australia

Hands down, one of the best ever places I have ever stayed is at The Cove near Devonport in the north of Tasmania. It isn't just me, there are rave reviews all over the internet about this fantastic oceanside retreat. Opened in 2021, it is perched on the land's edge with 180-degree views of Bass Strait literally right outside your front door. The views are similar to those on a balcony suite of a luxury cruise ship! The sight of the night sky lit up with stars and the moon ri

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My favourite ten food places in Richmond Tasmania Australia

Helen Avaient

Nov 10, 2022
3 min

My favourite ten food places in Richmond Tasmania Australia

The difficulty with making a '10 things to see and do list' in a town is narrowing it down to just 10. Over several days in Richmond, Tasmania I set out to discover some delicious and delightful venues. 1. The Richmond Bakery The long lines at this shop are testament to how good the food is. Offering both indoor and outdoor seating, depending on the weather, this is a delicious dining experience. Their scallop pies are little parcels of mouthwatering goodness. The most popula

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10 things to see and do in Richmond Tasmania Australia

Helen Avaient

Nov 7, 2022
5 min

10 things to see and do in Richmond Tasmania Australia

The difficulty with making a '10 things to see and do' list in a town is narrowing a favourite place down to just ten. Richmond in Tasmania has many attractions to delight people of all ages, including their famous convict-built bridge. As this bridge appears in almost every article about Richmond, I am going to share some of the lesser known but no less wonderful sights. 1. Repurposed buildings Many of the old buildings in Richmond have been converted into bed and breakfasts

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Australia's oldest existing colonial gaol at Richmond Tasmania Australia

Helen Avaient

Oct 28, 2022
3 min

Australia's oldest existing colonial gaol at Richmond Tasmania Australia

Tasmania Australia has a rich convict history due to the demands of agriculture development. However, not all convicts were hard-working, well-behaved persons. England was sending a steady supply of convict labour between 1788 and 1853 to this new colony. Its own gaols were overflowing with people for crimes as simple as stealing a handkerchief all the way up to murder. Today visitors can enter the Richmond Gaol, undertake a self-guided tour, and leave an hour or so later, u

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Unique accommodation in Richmond Tasmania Australia

Helen Avaient

Oct 24, 2022
2 min

Unique accommodation in Richmond Tasmania Australia

Horses and chickens came to greet me at my garden door when staying at Hatchers, near Richmond in Tasmania Australia. How delightful it was to be welcomed to a country retreat in this friendly way. Hatchers is a very interesting place to stay. Warmly welcomed by owners and their cute dogs, this is not a modern hotel, but a country oasis with old fashioned décor. If you are a fan of the TV show Fawlty Towers, then this unique venue is sure to delight you. There are various acc

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Old Hobart Town model village is a masterpiece

Helen Avaient

Oct 21, 2022
3 min

Old Hobart Town model village is a masterpiece

The marvellous miniature model village of Old Hobart Town, in Richmond Tasmania, presents a visual history in a fun environment. Often, when we look at books or paintings, we cannot “see” the actual three-dimensional realities of daily life in the past. This exceptional village provides that stimulus and visitors walk around and admire the displays. They are presented in a way that enable you to see the ordinary everyday situations that would have been the harsh, pioneer real

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10 things to see and do in Perth Tasmania Australia

Helen Avaient

Oct 10, 2022
3 min

10 things to see and do in Perth Tasmania Australia

Tasmania has many small towns with populations around 3000, each one packed with history, charm and lots of things to see and do. Perth in Tasmania (not to be confused with Perth, the capital city of Western Australia) is 20km south of Launceston, 180kms north of Hobart. Here are my favourite ten things to see and do in this lovely little town cosied up on the banks of the South Esk River. 1. Exclusive Cars Located at 68 Main Road, Perth is a smorgasbord of shiny vehicles tha

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My favourite ten things to see and do in Deloraine Tasmania Australia

Helen Avaient

Oct 6, 2022
5 min

My favourite ten things to see and do in Deloraine Tasmania Australia

Picture a quaint and pretty town, population around 3,000, with the calming Meaner River flowing right through the centre. The river is well named, as it entices you to take your time and enjoy what the town has to offer. Here, you can slow down and enjoy the vibrant green grassy banks, the sound of the water passing by and the smell of fresh clean air. This country town set amongst rural farms has a lot to offer tourists. 1. The Yarning Circle and fire pit Created by both lo

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12 things to see and do in Oatlands Tasmania Australia

Helen Avaient

Sep 10, 2022
4 min

12 things to see and do in Oatlands Tasmania Australia

1. Historical Sandstone Buildings Over 150 convict built sandstone buildings still survive in Oatlands, Tasmania from the 1800s. Eighty-seven alone are along the main street and are now repurposed into private residences, cafes, bars, bakeries, antiques, arts and craft stores and shops. Many are owned by the National Trust of Tasmania. The sandstone was obtained from the nearby Lake Dulverton. Oatlands offers visitors the opportunity to connect with history, having Australia

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Perth, Western Australia

helen@maturesolotraveler.com