Skootre on Viator.com

My Profile

Jul062012

Attraction

North Shore

Oahu

My Rating
5 star rating: Highly Recommended

My Review

Two tips for the North Shore - try to stay as close to Sunset Beach or Waimea Bay as you can, and be sure to visit the botanical garden by Waimea Bay. Really good.

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Apr192012

Travel Recommendation

Houses of Parliament & Big Ben

London

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Apr192012

Attraction

Union Square

San Francisco

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Dec122011

Attraction

Exploratorium

San Francisco

My Rating
5 star rating: Highly Recommended

My Review

The Exploratorium is one of the very best places to take kids (yours, or your friends)! There are tons of cool exhibits, all very interactive and encouraging kids to touch things. This is not a hands-off science museum, just the opposite.

My only tip is, if you want a super-cool experience, be sure to call in advance to book Tactile Dome tickets. I won't spoil the surprise of what this is, just know that kids love it (as long as they are over age 4 or 5) and it's really fun.

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Dec052011

Attraction

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art

San Francisco

My Rating
5 star rating: Highly Recommended

My Review

This is definitely a top-flight museum. But even more impressive is the building itself. A gorgeous setting and worth a visit in its own right.

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Dec022011

Attraction

La Jolla

San Diego

My Rating
5 star rating: Highly Recommended

My Review

This is such a great beach, easy access, beautiful views. Surfers and divers come here, so there's a great mix of people watching and swimming and just hanging out. The only downside is there is not much here for eating or drinking - you should bring your own food and snacks.

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Nov282011

Tour/Activity

LEGOLAND® California

San Diego, California

My Rating
5 star rating: Highly Recommended

My Review

If you're between the ages of 4 and 8, this place is heaven. The rides are - mostly - tame and targeted at kids, and there's plenty of Lego building blocks and models to keep you entertained.

We didn't have time to go to the aquarium or water park, but they look cool, especially if the weather was hot.

We saw some people in Legoland itself without kids, which was a head-scratcher. There's not much for adults here, it's really all about the kids.

It's also heavy on the marketing tie-ins. I dare you to leave Legoland without buying at least one Lego kit. It's impossible. Luckily your kids will have plenty to chose from and will be very happy that Legoland has a great collection of cool and hard-to-find Lego kits.

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Nov272011

Tour/Activity

USS Midway Museum

San Diego, California

My Rating
5 star rating: Highly Recommended

My Review

Don't be fooled - this is not a dull boring museum! The views alone of the harbor and San Diego make it worthwhile. And the planes and historical memorabilia are great. This was fun for the kids and the adults. Highly recommended.

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Nov272011

Tour/Activity

San Diego Seal Tour

San Diego, California

My Rating
5 star rating: Highly Recommended

My Review

This was a lot of fun. The views of the San Diego harbor were good, especially down at Point Loma where most of this tour takes place.

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Oct272011

Tour/Activity

Las Vegas Bite Card

Las Vegas, Nevada

My Rating
5 star rating: Highly Recommended

My Review

Good deal. Saved money especially since we were traveling with kids.

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May112011

Attraction

Tulum

Cancun

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May062011

Attraction

Sultanahmet District

Istanbul

My Rating
5 star rating: Highly Recommended

My Review

This is the heart of Istanbul's main traveler district. If you're looking for a neighborhood to stay in, this is a great choice. Easy access to the entire city.

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May052011

Attraction

Hollywood Walk of Fame

Los Angeles

My Rating
4 star rating: Recommended

My Review

So I grew up in LA. And I never, ever could figure out the appeal of the Hollywood Walk of Fame. What - movie stars putting their hands and feet in cement? Which then got trampled on, spat on, slept on - c'mon people, it's just a sidewalk! But then, a few years ago, I took an out-of-town friend and his kids to explore Hollywood. One of the kids, about age 10, stopped dead in his tracks and dropped to the sidewalk. What - an earthquake drill? No. It was the footprints of R2D2 from the Star Wars movies. The kid was freaking out, R2D2, ohmygawd, it's RD2D daddy! It was then I realized the genius of the Walk of Fame. You may not care about 99 percent of the stars ensconced in cement. But the 1 percent you do care about, that's Hollywood marketing magic.

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May052011

Attraction

La Marigalante

Puerto Vallarta

My Rating
4 star rating: Recommended

My Review

A friend of mine got married in Puerto Vallarta a few years ago, and it seemed like half the wedding guests did a tour of La Marigalante. I didn't go myself, but judging from the happy faces of the cousins, aunts, and uncles who came back from the trip, I judged it a success. The pirate show was very popular with the under-10 set. And that's a tough crowd to please, when it comes to pirates.

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Apr272011

Travel Recommendation

Birch Aquarium - Very Cool

San Diego

My Recommendation Tip

If you have kids, take them to the Birch Aquarium in La Jolla. It's part of the Scripps Institute. The kelp forests and tide pools are great for kids. It's a nice option if you want to seem some very cool wildlife for a few hours, and then head off to the beach at La Jolla.

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Apr082011

Attraction

Haight-Ashbury

San Francisco

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Mar192011

Attraction

Cable Cars

San Francisco

My Rating
5 star rating: Highly Recommended

My Review

Here's another great thing to do in San Francisco, totally iconic and a lot of fun. The main thing to avoid is going at peak hours, when the lines are long. And avoid boarding at the terminus (instead - hop on midway along the route).

I usually tell people to ride the cable cars around 6 or 7pm, when most SF visitors aren't! Then you're on the car with mostly locals who actually use these for local transport.

My favorite ride - the cable car line along California Street. The views are amazing.

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Feb172011

Travel Recommendation

Byzantine church and Mosaics Uncovered

Jerusalem

My Rating
5 star rating: Highly Recommended

My Review

Great tips, thanks. Really like the photos, thanks Shmuel.

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Feb092011

Travel Recommendation

Best Massage of My Life - Wat Pho in Bangkok

Bangkok

My Recommendation Tip

When you're visiting Wat Pho, look for the Thai Massage Medical School. It's located on the grounds of the temple, and I am not exaggerating - this was the best message ever! I've been back twice, and each time I walk away saying to myself, wow! They offer full-blown classes if you want to learn.

You can also just get a massage from one of the students. 60-minute massages (all in the traditional Thai style) are around 400 baht. You can also ask for a 'clean' sheet for a little extra, which I recommend.

What's great about the experience is that the massage is given on an outdoor platform, shaded, but still with views of the temple grounds.

And honestly, I am not kidding, I've had dozens of Thai massages in my life, and this is the best. Don't be intimidated, don't think too hard - just do it! It's one of my fondest memories of Bangkok.

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Jan242011

Travel Recommendation

Bangkok Airport - Get Free Internet

Bangkok

My Rating
5 star rating: Highly Recommended

My Review

I've done the same thing, and it works!

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Dec092010

Travel Recommendation

Europe Photo Contest

Europe

My Rating
5 star rating: Highly Recommended

My Review

Mario V, love your profile photo! Are you a travel super hero!!

Great photos, keep them coming!

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Oct132010

Travel Recommendation

Lummi Island

Washington

My Recommendation Tip

Highly recommended island in the San Juans, about 3 hours north of Seattle. The ferry ride is actually only 10 minutes long - the island is really close to the mainland. But Lummi is special in that there's not much here - a small main village, and then a lot of quiet roads and beaches. We spend 4 days here and really loved it. We took our bikes on the ferry (left the car on the mainland) and then just biked and walked around the island. We stayed at the Willows Inn, a really good inn with superb organic / local food. The owners really care about the environment and about making this island lifestyle sustainable. We stayed in the cottage up by their farm, and the kids really enjoyed walking through the fields on the way to/from the restaurant. There's no real downside to Lummi. We were able to fish, go crabbing (we rented a boat and captain for a half-day crabbing a fish outing) and walking and eating and biking. The perfect family holiday.

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Oct132010

Attraction

Sainte Chapelle

Paris

My Rating
5 star rating: Highly Recommended

My Review

I think this is one of the finest small chapels in all of Europe. It's surprising - from the outside it doesn't look like much. But inside, Sainte Chapelle fairly blows you away. Really worth visiting, if only to admire the craftsmanship of the windows.

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Oct132010

Travel Recommendation

Oh my goodness! The best quirky restaurant in Paris - Robert et Louise

Paris

My Recommendation Tip

Robert et Louise is a small restaurant without a lot of frills. The curtains are chintzy, the place has a real rustic feel, and you wouldn't notice it from the outside unless you knew what to look for. And that's part of why I love this place! If you don't eat meat, stay away. This place is all about big wood-burning fires, serious cuts of meat, and glasses of red wine. And don’t expect a table to yourself, you'll likely be sharing. The main dishes are mainly beef and lamb, And watch out for the veal (veau) liver. It's kinda gross. But apparently some people love it. The restaurant is at 64 Rue Veille du Temple, basically in the Marais not far from the St Paul Hotel de Ville metro station.

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Oct092010

Travel Recommendation

Eat at 5 Spot in Queen Anne

Seattle

My Recommendation Tip

The 5 Spot is a great restaurant / cafe in Queen Anne, at 1502 Queen Anne Avenue N. It's perfect for brunch with kids, food is mostly local and delicious, and the atmosphere is fun. It's a perfect mix of local and whacky Seattle.

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Oct092010

Travel Recommendation

Seattle with Kids - 3 Tips

Seattle

My Recommendation Tip

First off, stay downtown - or at least, within walking / bus / monorail distance of the main sites. We found a hotel with kitchens just a few blocks from the Space Needle, and it was really pleasant to walk everywhere. Second, have breakfast at the 5 Spot! Third, take a ferry ride!

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Oct092010

Travel Recommendation

Best place for fresh produce!

Seattle

My Rating
5 star rating: Highly Recommended

My Review

Yes, I couldn't agree more! Pike's Place is awesome.

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Oct092010

Attraction

Puget Sound

Seattle

My Rating
5 star rating: Highly Recommended

My Review

We took a ferry from Seattle to Bainbridge Island, about a 35-minute ferry ride. It's probably the best way to see the Puget Sound if you're short on time (or, like me, if you're traveling with young kids and want to enjoy the water with them, without too much risk). The views are great, so however you do it, definitely take at least one ferry trip on the Puget Sound when you're in Seattle.

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Oct092010

Attraction

Pike Place Market

Seattle

My Rating
5 star rating: Highly Recommended

My Review

This is a quintessential Seattle experience. You could easily spend an hour or two just roaming the stalls. There are also a few good restaurants here, not too touristy and not too expensive. So come hungry!

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Oct092010

Attraction

Space Needle

Seattle

My Rating
5 star rating: Highly Recommended

My Review

Highly recommended! The views we had were spectacular. The weather was clear, the sun was shining, and the views were really amazing. My 4-year-old was impressed. I thought he'd be worried about the heights but he wasn't (my wife, now that's a different story!). Only thing I'd say is, if you're going to visit the Space Needle and a few of the nearby museums, get the Seattle city pass. It would have saved us a lot of money - I forget to book the city passes ahead of time.

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Sep242010

Attraction

Temple Bar

Dublin

My Rating
4 star rating: Recommended

My Review

Temple Bar is tricky. On one hand it's a tourist-oriented theme park. On weekend nights it can get fairly obnoxious with crowds of 'lads' getting loaded and acting it. That said, if you choose wisely you can have an awesome time in Temple Bar. Here are three of my favorite pubs. They're not secret, by any means, but they tend to quiet afternoons and have actual locals drinking in them. 1) Stag's Head, on Dame Ct. This is a lovely spot, the food they serve is perfect in a pub sort of way, and the atmosphere is just what you'd want in an old-school pub. 2) Grogan's Castle Lounge on South William Street. Ah, Grogan's. Back in the day this was an island of wonder, one of the few pubs that guaranteed a fine conversation and a pleasant drink. It's changed a lot, more trendy now, still good though. 3) Front Lounge on Parliament St. It's newish, part of the late 1990s gold rush in Temple Bar. But it's still one of the better 'modern' pubs.

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Sep172010

Travel Recommendation

Papal Audiences & Pope Tours

Rome

My Rating
5 star rating: Highly Recommended

My Review

I'm not religious. But I will say, it is very cool to watch the Pope address the crowds from Vatican Square in Rome. Definitely worth seeing, even as just a cultural experience. Extra points if you get to see the Pope-mobile.

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Sep172010

Travel Recommendation

Rome with Kids

Rome

My Recommendation Tip

We took our 5-month old son to Rome. A bit nerve-racking in the planning phase, worried about the long flight from the USA and jet lag. So if you're planning a trip to Rome with kids, know that it CAN be done. Just a few things to share to make your life easier. First, ditch the stroller. Rome if full of cobblestone streets and our stroller was useless. Instead bring a baby carrier (like a sling or an Ergo). It will make your life much, much easier. Second, if you can, try to wake up late / stay up late. It helps with the time-clock adjustment -- and best of all it means you can live like a Roman. We kept our son up until 10pm most nights, to help with the time adjustment. And somehow it worked (at least the first few nights, until the jet lag caught up with him). Third, if you rent a car (like we did) bring your own car seat. The rental agencies claim you can use one of theirs, but the quality sucks. Fourth, don't try to do too much. I wasn't used to traveling with kids - I was much more of a 'do it all' kind of person. Traveling with a child taught me patience. It's a lot more fun to take it slow with a happy family, than to cram too much into an itinerary.

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Sep112010

Travel Recommendation

Best Thai Restaurant in Sydney

Sydney

My Recommendation Tip

Hands-down, the best Thai restaurant in Sydney (at least city center) is Spice I Am in Surry Hills (90 Wentworth Ave). It's always crowded, and deservedly so. I love the larb (it's seriously spicy - you have been warned!) and all the noodle dishes are winners.

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Sep092010

Attraction

Hanoi Old Quarter

Hanoi

My Rating
5 star rating: Highly Recommended

My Review

Hanoi is one of the best destinations in Vietnam, and old Hanoi is the best of the best. The streets here are amazing. Choc-a-bloc with people, stalls, restaurants, bars. It's one of the finest open-air people-watching experiences you could ever wish for. Highly recommended.

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Sep092010

Attraction

Yosemite National Park

San Francisco

My Rating
5 star rating: Highly Recommended

My Review

What a great spot. It's a long drive from San Francisco, but worth it on multiple levels - the views, the sense of grandeur, the hiking. There are lots of ways to beat the crowds, don't plan to stay in the valley the whole time. I really like going to the Eastern Sierras, staying in Bridgeport and then driving into Yosemite from there. There's also a cool little ghost town not far from Bridgeport called Bodie, a perfect stop to/from the Eastern end of Yosemite.

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Sep092010

Attraction

Great Ocean Road

Melbourne

My Rating
5 star rating: Highly Recommended

My Review

I lived in Australia for 9 months, and have spent much time in Melbourne. Always felt the Great Ocean Road was one of the best get-aways from Melbourne. The area reminds me of a mix of Ireland (green, sheep, sleepy) and Northern California (rugged cliffs, crashing waves). Highly recommend this, lots of places to stay and explore.

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Sep082010

Attraction

California Academy of Sciences

San Francisco

My Rating
5 star rating: Highly Recommended

My Review

I love the Academy of Sciences. So does my son. It's an awesome place to just wander (assuming you don't go on a busy weekend).

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Sep082010

Travel Recommendation

Great SF spots to take visitors

San Francisco

My Recommendation Tip

I always take visiting guests to three places: Mario's Bohemian Cigar Shop in North Beach (meatballs, wine); Zeitgeist on Valencia (their slogan: warm beer, cold women); and the top of Bernal Hill (walk all the way up, great city views). Any other good ideas in SF?

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Sep082010

Travel Recommendation

Egypt with kids - any advice?

Egypt

My Recommendation Tip

I'm planning a trip to Egypt with a 5 and 2 year old, both boys. I've traveled a lot in the middle east, but never in Egypt. Any thoughts on do's and don'ts with kids in Egypt?

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