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St. Augustine was the winter playground for the turn-of-the-century filthy rich! Unbelievable opulence! Good grief! Can you BELIEVE how cool… CONTINUE READING >>
St. Augustine was the winter playground for the turn-of-the-century filthy rich! Unbelievable opulence! Good grief! Can you BELIEVE how cool this resort-turned-college is? Look at the dining hall! For more on this Florida town – the oldest in the United States: https://www.gypsynester.com/sta.htm
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Business travel often follows a familiar pattern: airport, hotel, conference venue, airport again. But attending a BGaming iGaming conference can be much more than a routine business trip, especially when the world’s biggest iGaming events take place in cities that deserve far more than a quick visit. Whether you are traveling for networking, partnerships, or to discover the latest industry trends, extending your stay by even a day or two can completely change the experience.
From Mediterranean waterfronts to vibrant Latin American neighborhoods, these destinations offer memorable food, culture, and attractions that make every business trip feel like a rewarding getaway.
Here’s why these seven cities are worth exploring long after the conference badge comes off.
The iGaming industry has become increasingly global, with conferences bringing together operators, affiliates, game providers, payment companies, and technology innovators from every continent. While the meetings happen indoors, the host cities often become just as valuable as the exhibition floor.
Traveling this way offers several benefits:
Many experienced conference attendees agree that some of the most valuable conversations happen outside scheduled meetings.
| City | Why It’s Famous | Perfect For |
| Barcelona | Beaches, architecture, nightlife | Walking after conference sessions |
| Malta | Mediterranean history, gaming hub | Combining business with island exploration |
| London | Museums, restaurants, entertainment | Networking over world-class dining |
| Amsterdam | Canals, cycling, culture | Relaxed sightseeing between meetings |
| São Paulo | Food scene, business capital | Experiencing Brazilian culture |
| Dubai | Luxury, innovation, architecture | Modern attractions and premium hospitality |
| Las Vegas | Entertainment capital | Extending business into unforgettable nightlife |
Barcelona has become one of Europe’s favorite conference destinations for good reason. After spending the day discussing industry trends, it’s easy to exchange exhibition halls for seaside promenades.
The city combines centuries-old architecture with modern innovation. Walking through the Gothic Quarter, relaxing at Barceloneta Beach, or admiring Antoni Gaudí’s masterpieces creates the perfect balance after busy conference schedules.
Food lovers will also appreciate traditional tapas bars where networking continues naturally over shared plates and local wine.
Don’t miss:
Few places are as closely connected to the iGaming industry as Malta. The island has become one of Europe’s major gaming business centers while maintaining its relaxed Mediterranean atmosphere.
Conference visitors quickly discover that Malta offers much more than corporate offices. Ancient cities, crystal-clear water, and scenic coastlines make it easy to extend a work trip into a memorable vacation.
Walking through Valletta’s historic streets feels completely different from spending the day inside a convention center.
Highlights include:
London remains one of the world’s leading business capitals, making it a natural destination for major international conferences.
Fortunately, it’s equally rewarding for travelers.
Whether enjoying afternoon tea, visiting world-famous museums, or watching a West End performance, London offers countless opportunities to recharge after a day of meetings.
Excellent public transportation also makes exploring surprisingly convenient.
Top attractions include:
Amsterdam offers one of Europe’s most relaxed atmospheres for business travelers.
Instead of rushing between appointments, visitors can explore picturesque canals, rent bicycles, or enjoy waterfront cafés.
The city’s compact layout means many attractions are within walking distance, making it ideal for attendees with limited free time.
Recommended experiences:
São Paulo surprises many first-time visitors.
While often viewed as Brazil’s business capital, the city also boasts one of the world’s most diverse culinary scenes and an energetic cultural atmosphere.
Conference attendees can enjoy exceptional steakhouses, street art, museums, and lively neighborhoods without traveling far from business districts.
Must-see places include:
Dubai continues attracting international technology and gaming events thanks to its world-class infrastructure.
But outside the conference venue, visitors find an entirely different experience.
Luxury shopping, desert adventures, waterfront dining, and futuristic architecture create unforgettable contrasts between business and leisure.
Popular attractions include:
Few cities understand conferences quite like Las Vegas.
While famous for entertainment, the city has evolved into one of North America’s largest convention destinations.
Once meetings end, visitors have immediate access to award-winning restaurants, live performances, rooftop lounges, and nearby natural wonders such as Red Rock Canyon.
Best experiences:
A little planning goes a long way when combining work and travel.
Consider these simple strategies:
These small decisions often become the most memorable parts of the journey.
Today’s conferences aren’t just about keynote presentations or exhibition booths.
They’re opportunities to meet people from different cultures, understand regional markets, and build stronger business relationships. Sharing a meal in Barcelona, taking a canal walk in Amsterdam, or exploring Valletta after meetings often creates conversations that simply don’t happen inside meeting rooms.
For professionals in the fast-moving iGaming industry, choosing conferences in exciting destinations adds another layer of value. The destination itself becomes part of the overall experience.
Instead of treating travel as something to endure, many attendees now see it as an investment in both professional growth and personal enrichment.
Irony. Sometimes people say it is impossible to define, but we think this comes pretty close: The Fountain of Youth is in America’s oldest city.Hmmm, on second thought, maybe that makes perfect sense, perhaps it is the secret to St. Augustine’s… CONTINUE READING >>
Irony.
Sometimes people say it is impossible to define, but we think this comes pretty close: The Fountain of Youth is in America’s oldest city.
Hmmm, on second thought, maybe that makes perfect sense, perhaps it is the secret to St. Augustine’s longevity.
Ponce de León roamed these parts way back in 1513 searching for the mythical spring of eternal vitality. We find it highly doubtful that he found it here, since he died eight years later at only forty-seven.
The fact that he wasn’t even said to have been looking for it at all – until years after his death – casts further doubt on the tall tale.
Neither of these facts stopped Luella Day McConnell from creating a tourist trap with a scientific sounding name, the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park.
Luella, known as Diamond Lil, was famous for fabricating fictitious accounts, but the legend stuck and people have come to St. Augustine to drink from Lil’s fountain since 1904.
Surprisingly, reports of miraculous longevity seem to be in short supply.
St. Augustine is the oldest non-native city in the United States, formally founded in 1565 by Spanish explorer Pedro Menéndez de Avilés.
For the next couple hundred years – give or take – the settlement was under near constant attack from the British colonies to the north.
To protect themselves from this onslaught, the Spanish settlers built wooden forts -ten of them – before finally deciding to go bold and use several-feet-thick stones to build the impressive Castillo de San Marcos.
The Castillo is a big old sucker – no figure of speech, it truly is large, covering over half a million square feet – and elderly, dating back to 1672. Wait, one figure of speech, it doesn’t suck.
Ambling along the sea walls and then down in the moats, we got a feel for the oldest stone fortress in America.
On the seaward side, we came upon the most interesting of artifacts, a furnace where cannonballs were superheated till they glowed red hot.
These molten missiles were then fired at ships, setting them ablaze. Ingenious. No wonder the Brits could never take Florida by force.
A bargain was finally struck in 1763 with the Treaty of Paris, the British relinquished control of Havana in exchange for Florida. By then the Spanish must have figured they were never going to find the Fountain of Youth.
We weren’t naive enough to believe that some font of magic elixir was hiding around St. Augustine either, so we went in search of some other source of sustenance.
Just a stone’s throw from the fort we found Casa Maya, a wonderful little cafe that features fresh local and organic ingredients and, what’s this… Hibiscus Flower Sangria?
Ohhhhhh. Delicious and satisfying – perhaps we found the fabled fountain of invigoration after all.
Speaking of invigorating, a dash of Casa Maya’s delicious homemade habanero sauce on the Aztec Pork and Ranch Eggs with Mole sauce really put a spring in our step.
Both dishes were prepared to perfection, presented with panache, and priced properly. We were fired up – literally – and ready to take in the landmarks of St. Augustine’s Gilded Age.
Henry Flagler had a big idea. St. Augustine should be the new winter playground for the filthy rich, a “Winter Newport.”
Flagler certainly had the connections to pull this off. He was John D. Rockefeller’s partner in, and by most accounts (including Rockefeller’s) the brains behind, Standard Oil. So Flagler came down to Florida in the 1880s and started buying up everything in sight.
No other person had anywhere near the influence on making the state the tourist destination it is today as Henry Flagler. He was truly visionary in that manner.
His conquest began here in St. Augustine, with The Ponce de León Hotel and The Hotel Alcazar, that stand right across the street from each other in the center of town.
Neither serves as a hotel anymore, The Ponce de León is now Flagler College and The Hotel Alcazar is The Lightner Museum, but they can be viewed by the public. Seeing as how we are part of the public, we headed in, beginning with the good ol’ Ponce.
The Spanish Renaissance style of the former Ponce de León Hotel harkens back to the beginnings of St. Augustine and blends in beautifully with the semi-tropical surroundings.
An impressive structure both inside and out, the construction is entirely poured concrete – quite an experiment for those days – and, thanks to Flagler’s friend Thomas Edison (apparently this guy knew EVERYONE), one of the first buildings ever to be wired for electricity.
The interior has been restored from floor to ceiling, and we must say, the ceilings are works of art in their own right.
The Ponce de León Hotel made it through the depression, then served as a Coast Guard training center during World War II and ended up playing a role during the civil rights movement of the early sixties as the site of a student sit in when Dr. Martin Luther King came to town.
In 1968, the hotel had become the centerpiece of the newly-established Flagler College. We have to say, as college facilities go, it’s pretty amazing. The ornate ballroom now serves as a cafeteria and the old guest rooms as dorms. We spoke to one of the students about her housing and she gushed over how great her digs are.
Good to see she understood just how cool her rooming situation is – you never know with the young whippersnappers these days!
Wandering across the street and through the gardens of The Lightner Museum we entered the huge courtyard of what once was The Hotel Alcazar.
A truly a grand resort in its day, Captains of Industry could throw a bash in the three-story high ballroom or enjoy the spa, complete with a steam room, massage parlor, gymnasium, Turkish bath and the world’s largest indoor swimming pool.
Sadly the pool is no more, the space has been transformed into an exhibition area and a restaurant. But we did find the very spot where a turn of the century post card captured the record holding cement pond and snapped our own modern, less liquid version.
St. Augustine’s third hotel jewel from that era is the only one still operating as an inn. The Casa Monica Hotel was opened by Franklin W. Smith in 1888 to compete with Flagler’s twins next door.
Smith’s plan failed rather miserably and Casa Monica was bought and renamed The Cordova Hotel by Flagler the following year.
Still, Smith was instrumental in Flagler’s reconstruction of St. Augustine. It was Smith who first brought St. Augustine to Flagler’s attention and also Smith who championed the poured concrete architectural style that became Flagler’s trademark building method.
Smith had experimented with the construction when he built his home, the quirky Villa Zorayda, a few years earlier. Even with the grandiose hotels surrounding it, this was the first building we noticed when coming into town.
The eccentric mansion, based on the 12th-century Moorish Alhambra Palace in Granada, Spain, is impossible to miss. A sore thumb blends in quite nicely by comparison.
Flagler also employed Smith’s poured concrete style in several stunning churches that he built throughout the city, perhaps the most impressive being the Memorial Presbyterian Church.
With a dome inspired by St Mark’s Basilica in Venice, this church is so rockin’ that Flagler chose it as his final resting place.
As sensational as all of Flagler’s creations in St. Augustine are, he had even bigger fish to fry. To see his most opulent efforts we’d have to go further south, all the way to Palm Beach.
We know where we’ll be headed.
David & Veronica, GypsyNester.com
Our favorite funny and inspirational quotes – GypsyNester style!
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Our favorite funny and inspirational quotes – GypsyNester style!
Share, tweet or pin them to your friends!
I’d rather regret the things I’ve done than the things I haven’t done -Lucille Ball
Those who dance are considered insane by those who can’t hear the music. George Carlin
The way you treat yourself sets the standard for others. Sonya Friedman
The person who says it cannot be done should not interrupt the person doing it. – Chinese proverb
You can’t be brave if you’ve only had wonderful things happen to you. Mary Tyler Moore
If your ship doesn’t come in, swim out to it. Jonathan Winters
I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. Maya Angelou
The kindest thing you can do for the people you care about is to become a happy, joyous person -Brian Tracy
If you don’t like the road you’re walking, start paving another one -Dolly Parton
“Do something wonderful, people may imitate it.” -Albert Schweitzer
You can only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough -Mae West
Blessed are those who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused
I could not, at any age, be content to take my place by the fireside and simply look on. Live was meant to be lived. Eleanor Roosevelt
Normal is nothing more than a cycle on a washing machine. -Whoopi Goldberg
Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things. -Robert Bault
If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, again. Then quit. There’s no use in being a damn fool about it. W.C. Fields
When people are laughing, they’re generally not killing each other. Alan Alda
Old age is fifteen years older than I am. Oliver Wendell Holmes
The only time to eat diet food is while you are waiting for the steak to cook -Julia Child
Time may be a great healer, but it’s a lousy beautician!
A man who views the world the same at 50 as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life. Muhammad Ali
You can take no credit for beauty at sixteen. But if you are beautiful at 60, it will be your soul’s own doing. -Marie Stopes
It is only when you see people looking ridiculous that you realize just how much you love them. Agatha Christie
Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness. Mark Twain
I want my children to have all the things I couldn’t afford. Then I want to move in with them -Phyllis Diller
To carry a grudge is like being stung to death by one bee. -William H Walton
I’m old enough and cranky enough now that if someone tried to tell me what to do, I’d tell them where to put it. -Dolly Parton
Worry is as useless as a handle on a snowball. -Mitzi Chandler
Inside every 70-year-old is a 35-year-old asking, “What happened?” -Ann Landers
Don’t let negative and toxic people rent space in your head. Raise the rent and kick them out!
To err is human, but to really foul things up you need a computer. – Paul Ehrlich
It’s my belief we developed language because of our deep inner need to complain. Lily Tomlin
There are only two things a child will share willingly; communicable diseases and its mother’s age. -Dr. Benjamin Spock
The day a child realizes that all adults are imperfect, he becomes an adolescent; the day he forgives them, he becomes an adult; the day he forgives himself, he becomes wise. Alden Nowlan
Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it’s better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring. -Marilyn Monroe
By the time a man realizes that maybe his father was right, he usually has a son who thinks he’s wrong. -Charles Wadsworth
I still feel thirty, except when I try to run. -Bob Newhart
If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun. -Katharine Hepburn
I take a very practical view of raising children. I put a sign in each of their rooms: Checkout time is eighteen years – Erma Bombeck
As a child my family’s menu consisted of two choices: take it or leave it -Buddy Hackett
The purpose of life is not to arrive safely at death
My theory on housework is, if the item doesn’t multiply, smell, catch fire, or block the refrigerator door, let it be. Erma Bombeck
If you can’t get rid of the skeleton in your closet, you’d best teach it to dance. George Bernard Shaw
If evolution really works, how come mothers only have two hands? Milton Berle
If I had my life to live over again, I’d make the same mistakes, only sooner. Tallulah Bankhead
Retirement must be wonderful. I mean, you can suck in your stomach for only so long. -Burt Reynolds
Middle age is having a choice between two temptations and choosing the one that’ll get you home earlier -Dan Bennett
When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around… -Mark Twain
You shouldn’t compare yourself to others -they are more screwed up than you think!
Life literally abounds in comedy if you just look around you. – Mel Brooks
Leap and the net will appear -John Burroughs
I have everything I had twenty years ago, only it’s all a little bit lower. -Gypsy Rose Lee
Worry is like a rocking chair: it gives you something to do, but doesn’t get you anywhere -Erma Bombeck
Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway. -John Wayne
The only people with whom you should try to get even are those who have helped you. John E. Southard
Never go to bed mad. Stay up and fight -Phyllis Diller
Age is not important unless you are a cheese. -Helen Hayes
Children today are tyrants. They contradict their parents, gobble their food, and tyrannize their teachers -Socrates
How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are? -Satchel Paige
We are like tea bags -we don’t know our own strength until we’re in hot water -Sister Busche
Families are like fudge. Mostly sweet with a few nuts
Trying to be happy by accumulating possessions is like trying to satisfy hunger by taping sandwiches all over your body -George Carlin
Those who boast about being “brutally honest” are usually more brutal than honest. -Lori Palatnik
All women have an hour glass figure – it’s just that we all tote around different amounts of sand
Never say anything about yourself you do not want to come true – Brian Tracy
You know you’re getting old when all the names in your black book have M.D, after them. Arnold Palmer
Aging seems to be the only available way to live a long life -Kitty O’Neill Collins
Love is a game that two can play and both win. -Eva Gabor
If we threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d grab ours back. -Regina Brett
No one can make you feel inferior without you consent -Eleanor Roosevelt
When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” – Mr. Rogers
The future ain’t what it used to be -Yogi Berra
Experience: that most brutal of teachers. But you learn, my God, do you learn. -C.S. Lewis
The Holidays!
Christmas gift suggestions: To your enemy, forgiveness. To an opponent, tolerance. To a friend, your heart. To a customer, service. To all, charity. To every child, a good example. To yourself, respect. -Oren Arnold
A grandmother pretends she doesn’t know who you are on Halloween. Erma Bombeck
On Halloween, the parents sent their kids out looking like me. Rodney Dangerfield
I’ll bet living in a nudist colony takes all the fun out of Halloween!
My cooking is so bad my kids thought Thanksgiving was to commemorate Pearl Harbor -Phyllis Diller
An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves -Bill Vaughan
May you have the hindsight to know where you’ve been, the foresight to know where you’re going, and the insight to know when you’re going too far.
What I don’t like about office Christmas parties is looking for a new job the next day. -Phyllis Diller
You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4th, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnices where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies dies of happiness. You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism. -Erma Bombeck
There, I guess King George will be able to read that. – John Hancock (after signing the Declaration of Independence)
Spring is Nature’s way of saying, “Let’s Party!” -Robin Williams
Enjoy!
David & Veronica, GypsyNester.com
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Going Gypsy One Couple’s Adventure from Empty Nest to No Nest at AllGoingGypsyBook.com#1 Amazon Best Seller“If you are tempted by the awakening of your own long-dormant wanderlust, Going Gypsy can serve as a primer. . . . The questions [Veronica] poses about ‘what next’ are relatable ones for all empty nesters.” —PBS’s Next Avenue |
Celebrating Life After Kids ™
David & Veronica are experiencing the collision of Baby Boomer and
Empty Nester. We decided to grab life by the horns, sell the nest and become GypsyNesters!
Remember that cruise where we replanted the rainforest, made clean water filters, and improved a family’s home?
We’re excited to share with you exclusive savings, so you can follow in our footsteps and keep up the great work!
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Going Gypsy One Couple’s Adventure from Empty Nest to No Nest at AllGoingGypsyBook.comNow available from Skyhorse Publishing!#1 Amazon Best Seller |
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Philly is truly the birthplace of our republic, this is where both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were deliberated and approved.We felt it all around us, inch for inch this must be the most historic ground in America…. CONTINUE READING >>
We popped up out of the 5th Street Subway Station and found ourselves right in the heart of history, directly in front of Independence Hall.
Truly the birthplace of our republic, this is where both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were deliberated and approved.
We could feel it all around us, inch for inch this must be the most historic ground in America. But before we get started exploring we need to explain that to see the historic sites in the center of Philadelphia requires a good bit of walking. Our best advice to avoid sore feet is to bring shoe inserts. Your feet will thank you.
We find the added arch support of a good insert to be a real game changer on days like this when we are on our feet for hours and hours. The cushioning and customized support can make the difference between being ready for adventure in the morning or staying in the hotel all day and missing out on these amazing landmarks of America’s founding.
Built in 1753 to house the colonial legislature of Pennsylvania, the hall became the meeting place for the Second Continental Congress in 1775, then the site of the Constitutional Convention in 1787.
Prior to the ratification of the Constitution there was no official United States capital (or capitol, for that matter) but Philadelphia, and this building, certainly served the purpose.
Once the nation was officially formed, New York City was named the capital.
Not everyone was on board with that idea, so debate to decide a permanent site carried on.
Congress finally settled on Washington, DC, but while the new city was being built Philly, once again, served as the capital city. This time officially.
For those few years the building right next to Independence Hall, Congress Hall, housed the government, with the House of Representatives meeting on the main floor, and the Senate upstairs.
This was also the site of two presidential inaugurations, George Washington for his second term, and John Adams.
As we made our way to the building on the other side of Independence Hall, the Old City Hall, it hit us that we were truly walking in the footprints of the founding fathers.
No doubt many of our democracy designing dads made this same trip when the city hall housed the Supreme Court during Philadelphia’s time as the capital city. As part of the Independence National Historical Park, the Park Service has completely restored the interior of the old hall.
May it please the court, we found the jury box, witness stand, and judicial bench guilty of looking just as they would have when statesman, patriot, and first Chief Justice of the United States John Jay called the court to order in 1791.
Directly across from the Independence Hall Complex is The Liberty Bell Center.
While waiting in line to see the bell we pondered just how some things become so iconic. It did toll from the tower of Independence Hall, but actually played a very small part in history.
In fact, the story of it ringing out the news of declaring independence on July 4, 1776 is most likely false, since the declaration wasn’t read in public until July 8. Yet the bell has captured the hearts of Americans for over one hundred and fifty years.
The bell did ring out many special occasions through the years, and sustained a nasty crack at some point along the way, but much of its celebrity seems to stem from an 1847 story in the Saturday Review by George Lippard.
He penned a legend about an aged bellman waiting by the bell on July 4, 1776, and a young boy who appeared with instructions to ring the bell proclaiming the declaration.
Within a few years, the fable had been accepted as fact, and soon began to appear in textbooks.
But what is history without a good tale or two?
With this fame the bell became an icon, and toured the country after the Civil War. All the travel, and souvenir hunters picking at it, made the prominent crack worse, so the National Park Service took control in 1948, and finally placed it in The Liberty Bell Center in 2003.
That brings up another legend, how did the bell get cracked? Truth is no one seems to know for sure, but we don’t feel like the symbolism of the bell is diminished one bit. Let freedom ring!
In front of The Liberty Bell Center we came upon a relatively new discovery, The President’s House, which opened in 2010.
While it was known that a house where Presidents Washington and Adams had lived stood on this site until 1832, it wasn’t until 2000, while excavating for the new Liberty Bell Center, that the foundation was uncovered.
When it was revealed that the exposed ruins were part of the slave quarters, a door was opened for discussion of a topic that had been long avoided, the fact that many of our founding fathers were slave holders.
The memorial, President’s House: Freedom and Slavery in the Making of a New Nation, addresses the subject like this:
If we are to understand how a nation founded on the principle that “all men are created equal” could also somehow embrace and justify slavery, we must examine the context and effect of this contradiction on the lives of Americans of every race and condition.
With that food for thought filling our heads, we were ready for a repast.
To indulge that notion, and to get fully immersed in the colonial spirit, we headed to an interesting addition to the Independence National Historical Park, the nearby City Tavern.
The original structure was partially destroyed by a fire, perhaps of suspicious origin according to our server, in 1834 and then demolished in 1854.
But a perfect replica of the historic building was built and re-opened in 1976 for the United States Bicentennial.
As the seeds of the revolution were sprouting, the City Tavern was certainly at the center of it all.
John Adams called it “the most genteel tavern in America” while visiting Philadelphia for the First Continental Congress, Paul Revere rode here to proclaim the news that the British had closed the port of Boston, and Thomas Jefferson kept an open tab while writing the Declaration of Independence.
Being a tavern we felt a tankard of ale was in order, how opportune that the City Tavern has Ales of The Revolution on tap.
These are brewed with the very recipes used by George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin. We choose Jefferson’s 1774 Tavern Ale, and Franklin’s Poor Richard’s Tavern Spruce.
Move over Sam Adams, it seems many a founding father knew a thing or two about beer. As Franklin said, it proves God loves us and wants us to be happy. Cheers!
We were excited to sample truly typical colonial fare, and with owner and executive chef Walter Staib using many authentic 18th-century recipes, including Martha Washington’s Turkey Pot Pie, we were not disappointed.
The menu also mentioned an intriguing story about Benjamin Franklin. It seems that he introduced tofu to North America in a 1770 letter to his friend, the renowned botanist John Bartram, so we ordered that too.
It is hard to imagine that the colonists ate this well, but if the portraits of Ben Franklin accurately portray his paunch, we have reason to believe they did.
Speaking of old Ben, there are plenty of tributes to Mr. Franklin throughout Philly, and we intended to see most all of them the next day. So we formed a plan that was all about the Benjamins.
Our initiation into all things Ben began at Franklin Court.
This was not only where Franklin lived, but also where he worked. He owned all of the buildings surrounding the courtyard, one of which served as a post office, and another as his print shop.
Both are still operating, the post office in its official capacity, and the print shop as a reproduction run by the National Park Service.
The house where Franklin lived from 1763 until his death in 1790 stood in the center of the courtyard, but has been gone for two hundred years.
A steel frame “ghost house” showing the location was built for the bicentennial in 1976. Beneath that outline we found several viewing portals where remnants of the Franklin home can be seen below ground level.
The site was excavated beginning in 1953, and continuing up to just before the bicentennial celebrations.
Viewing stands over the excavations were installed that show foundations, walls, and even one of Franklin’s privy pits.
We had no idea that we would be getting so personal with one of the founding fathers!
When we entered the print shop a ranger was printing up a copy of The Declaration of Independence as a demonstration for a group of school kids.
Eavesdropping on the field trip was almost like having our own tour guide. The entire process, including the press and type setting, is just as it would have been when Franklin was printing newspapers here in revolutionary times.
Mr. Franklin realized that the sharing of information would be essential if our fledgling country was to unite, so he began mailing newspapers throughout the colonies to keep everyone on the same page, so to speak.
Perhaps that is why he opened a post office next door.
The B. Free Franklin Post Office looks much like it would have when Franklin used it as the first Postmaster General in 1775.
The clerks were happy to explain the history to us, and included the fun fact that this is the only post office in the United States that does not fly the stars and stripes.
Sounds strange, but it is in recognition of the fact that it was opened under British colonial rule, so the United States didn’t have a flag yet.
Speaking of flags, the Betsy Ross house was just up the street and, even though this particular site is of dubious historic value at best, we felt we should see it.
We hate to be bursters of bubbles, but not only is the legend of Betsy sewing the first flag most likely false, there is also serious doubt as to whether she ever even lived in this house.
Pop!
A very nice local gentleman tipped us off to something nearby that is a little less famous, but a lot more authentic, that sounded right up our alley… Elfreth’s Alley.
Named after Jeremiah Elfreth, a colonial blacksmith, this is considered the nation’s oldest residential street, and it has been amazingly preserved.
A rare surviving glimpse into life on a 18th-century working-class street. What a great tip!
Perusing our map we discovered that we had missed Carpenters’ Hall, so we backtracked a bit to see it.
In a way this could be called America’s first capitol building, since the First Continental Congress met in the hall in September and October of 1774.
Later it served as a hospital for both British and American troops during the Revolutionary War, and as home to Benjamin Franklin’s Library Company, The American Philosophical Society, and the First and Second Banks of the United States.
Our final stop was Benjamin Franklin’s grave. Though he was originally from Boston, Franklin had such impact on Philadelphia that it is very fitting for his final resting place to be in The City of Brotherly Love.
He is laid to rest next to his common-law wife of forty-four years, Deborah, in the Christ Church Burial Ground. We thought it was odd that the tomb was covered with pennies, but learned they are from a Philadelphia tradition that is supposed to bring the penny-tosser good luck.
We certainly felt like we had plenty of good fortune during our adventures in Philly – even without tossing a penny.
David & Veronica, GypsyNester.com
Thanks to Amtrak for providing the train travel portion of this adventure through Boston, Philadelphia, New York, and Washington, DC! As always, all opinions are our own.
With so much to see and do we think that Mallorca, and especially the Apartamentos Casa Vida in Santa Posa, might just make for the best summer getaway ever…
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Summer is here so it is time to plan that summer getaway. We started looking as the weather turned hotter and found something that we want to share, Mallorca!
So with that big decision made all we need to do is iron out the details. This year we are thinking about a multi-generational family escape so regular hotel rooms might not be the best idea. Kids, and us adults too, can get feeling a little confined in a typical room. That’s why we are thrilled to have discovered the perfect family apartments in Mallorca.
The Apartamentos Casa Vida, right by Santa Ponsa beach, could not be better for a sun and beach holiday. Plenty of room to spread out so we never feel crowded, and plenty of food and fun for everyone.
Each of the 26 apartments has been beautifully redecorated with a modern, Mediterranean flair and include a private bath, a nicely equipped kitchen, a cozy living room, and separate bedrooms so everybody can have their own space.
And no summer getaway is complete without a swimming pool so Apartamentos Casa Vida as a gorgeous outdoor pool the whole family will love. There is also fast, free WIFI throughout the hotel so the kids can stay entertained and the adults can too. Or maybe sneak in a little work in if they need to.
But the real water fun is at the incredible beach just steps from the rooms. Not one, but two beautiful beaches, the Playa Grande and Playa Pequeña, are are right there waiting for a great time. For those who don’t know Spanish, the names identify them as the large beach (Grande) and the small one (Pequeña).
Playa Grande has everything to make a fantastic beach day for the whole family happen. Start with the golden sand and crystal-clear water, then add in loungers, umbrellas, and all kinds of water toys like paddle boards, kayaks, and snorkeling gear and the fun will fill the entire day. Or, for a more laid back beach experience we can slip over to Playa Pequeña and just relax. This little cove is also a great place to catch a sunset.
Of course, if you are like us, there will also be food involved, so we checked and found just about every style of cuisine we could possibly want along the waterfront promenade. So when we need a break from the sun and to refuel we can still enjoy the amazing sea views.
But one of the big reasons we liked The Apartamentos Casa Vida is because we don’t have to eat out at restaurants all of the time. The complete kitchen means we can try our hand at creating some local favorites, or maybe just whip up a snack when ever we feel like it. It’s like we discovered self-catering apartments in Santa Ponsa.
With all of these features we might never need to leave the hotel, but we love to explore so we checked out some of the other exciting attractions around Santa Ponsa. Plenty of adventure for both kids and adults awaits at the nearby Jungle Parc with zip lines and hanging bridges to thrill young and old alike while enjoying the forest.
Or a day trip to Palma is certainly belongs on the itinerary. Mallorca’s main city offers several interesting yet kid friendly historic sites. I mean, what kid doesn’t love a castle? Bellver Castle is a good one. For over seven hundred years it has stood guard over the city and it still looks like it is right out of the pages of a story book.
The Palma Aquarium is often heralded as one of Europe’s best. Everyone will love the variety of interactive experiences available like 3D virtual tours that get you up close and personal with humpback whales, or diving with sharks or stingrays. Another big favorite is the jellyfish tank.
With all of this to see and do we think that Mallorca, and especially the Apartamentos Casa Vida in Santa Posa, might just make for the best summer getaway ever.
David & Veronica, GypsyNester.com
Planning a romantic Sydney getaway together? You might want to rethink your itinerary after reading about these experiences…
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Let’s be honest, planning a trip with your partner to another city, state or country puts a lot of pressure on the person organising it. Of course, this pressure is not the kind that comes from being forced to do something, but the kind that comes from genuinely wanting to ensure your other half enjoys the trip as much as possible.
A city like Sydney is no different. With so many top-notch romantic experiences, it can feel like having too many options is a curse. But that is also Sydney’s greatest strength; it presents you with countless memorable experiences and lets you decide which ones suit you best. That is why choosing the right experience matters. The best couples’ activities in Sydney are those that spark genuine excitement in both of you. So, here are five must-do experiences for couples visiting Sydney for the first time.
If there’s one dinner cruise in Sydney that screams romance, it is the Showboat. It features Sydney’s longest-running cabaret show, ‘Voyage of Love’, and takes guests through splendid music and dance performances inspired by cultures from around the world, including France, Spain, Brazil, India and more.
Couples can enjoy a 3-course dinner while cruising across Sydney Harbour at night, with panoramic views of the illuminated Opera House and Harbour Bridge. There are also exclusive packages for couples that include premium inclusions and VIP seating, allowing guests to enjoy the show from the seat on board.
So it is this curated blend of premium dining, live entertainment and spectacular harbour views that make Showboat Sydney Harbour dinner cruises a stand out experience.
Visitors might not know much about Sydney, but they would certainly have heard of and marvelled at the Opera House and the gigantic Harbour Bridge beside it. What many do not realise is that they can climb this architectural marvel all the way to its summit.
BridgeClimb has been running guided climbs to the summit of the bridge since 1998, taking visitors 138 metres above the harbour and offering breathtaking 360° views of Sydney Harbour, the Opera House and the city skyline. For couples, the Harbour BridgeClimb offers dedicated romance packages that add a personal touch to the experience. Climbing the bridge with your partner as the sky transitions from evening to twilight to night is a romantic experience in itself.
You have had a romantic experience above the bridge and watched the sun set. Now, how about one beneath the bridge with the sun rising? That’s the Sydney sunrise kayaking experience for ya!
Kayaking tours in Sydney begin with an early-morning guided kayak journey through the harbour, sometimes as early as 4am. A dedicated guide accompanies just the two of you, making it a far more intimate experience than a standard group tour. As you kayak, barista-made coffee is served on the water, followed by sparkling non-alcoholic champagne, fresh orange juice, pastries, fruit and yoghurt. The tour concludes with a sit-down breakfast at a partner café or premium hotel.
The Blue Mountains is only two hours from Sydney and is a favourite destination among tourists for their stunning sandstone cliffs, eucalyptus forests, breathtaking lookouts and challenging hikes. While most visitors attempt a day trip, couples can elevate the experience by staying overnight in a cosy cabin or mountain retreat in villages such as Blackheath or Leura.
Popular attractions include Echo Point Lookout, with views of the iconic Three Sisters rock formation, Scenic World rides— with its steep railway and cableway experiences— and the walking trails around Wentworth Falls and Leura. Leura Village also offers boutique shops, cafés and gardens, making it the perfect place for a romantic afternoon stroll.
From ancient times, as far back as the Romans, wine has always been associated with love and passion, and perhaps that is one reason why the Hunter Valley remains so popular among couples. Located around three hours from Sydney, the Hunter Valley has been producing wine since the 1820s and has rightfully earned the title of Australia’s oldest wine region.
An exclusive couple’s Hunter Valley wine tour typically includes visits to several wineries where the couple can sample a variety of wines while learning about the winemaking process directly from local producers. Many tours also include gourmet food tastings of artisan cheeses, chocolates and regional produce. Beyond the wine itself, the region offers picturesque vineyard landscapes, rolling countryside views and charming cellar doors that are often difficult to access independently.
So, these experiences are not the kind that sit neatly inside a photo album. They become part of the relationship itself. For couples visiting Sydney for the first time, the city offers far more than a collection of attractions. It offers opportunities to slow down, reconnect and create memories together. Pick one, pick all five or start an argument about which one to do first. Either way, Sydney will take care of the rest.
Author Bio – Amanda Clark
A Sydney-based travel writer who loves chasing experiences that defy expectations – especially when great food and entertainment are part of the mix. From unforgettable hits to unexpected flops, I share real stories to keep the adventure honest and fun for everyone!
