Big Bus pleasures: wonderful worldwide way to hit a city's high spots

 

Photographer and Big Bus fans, Bruce Keller and Christene Meyers enjoy a return to Sydney, Australia. They used Big Bus Tours to reacquaint themselves with the city's top stops and architectural wonders.

BIG BUS TOURS FILL THE BILL WHEN YOU WANT TO SEE A FAMILIAR OR NEW CITY  

STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS 

Tokyo's splendid cherry blossoms, on a hop on-hop off
Big Bus Tours expedition. Easy to hop off for photos.

PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER 

BIG BUS means large fun, wherever in the world you step aboard.

We enjoy this inventive tour option in many cities around the globe and heartily recommend it. It's great for both newcomers to a place and those returning to a familiar town and simply wanting a refresher course on its high points. Either way, it's enjoyable and you're sure to learn something new.

THE MEETING places to board are always near familiar landmarks-- hotels, parks and gardens, markets, museums, government

Barcelona is a beautiful city served by Big Bus. 

buildings, cruise terminals, stadiums, castles, cathedrals, concert halls. These are determined by careful research of the places tourists frequent.

The tours can help you tick off your bucket list -- whether it's Barcelona's Sagrada Familia cathedral you want to see, Big Ben in London or the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Tall buildings, centuries old castles and monuments, modern shopping centers, famed concert halls, museums -- Big Bus hits them all. 

ONE HOPS on to the bus -- always in a central location in many major cities worldwide. Keep the ticket for future boardings. There are several pass options; the two-day ticket is our favorite. We've walked a couple short blocks from our hotels to board 
Big Bus in Sydney, Singapore, New York, Paris,

Radio City from the second story of Big Bus.

Barcelona and London-- favorite familiar cities. Big Bus covers the world-- from Darwin, Dubai and Dublin to Las Vegas, Prague and San Francisco.

If you love a city and are returning, it's a great
option.  If you're new to a city, Big Bus is even more important in giving you grounding. It is a wonderful tool to help orient you so you can decide where you want to spend time or return. If you have only a couple days, Big Bus helps you hit the high spots.

DRIVERS ARE courteous and helpful, the buses are kept clean, WiFi is free, and a lively narrative unfolds in many languages. Just plug in your complimentary headphones or bring your own, select the language channel and you're in business.

The buses wind through a city, stopping at a variety of well known places. A map allows passengers to hop on and off, see the nearby attractions, grab a bite or a beverage to recharge and reboard from the same stop at specific intervals. Usually, we've waited less than 15 minutes.

Keller and his nephew, James Ganner, hop off
to enjoy San Francisco's Vaillancourt Fountain,
and a stroll around the Embarcadero. 

IN SINGAPORE, we hop off at the magnificent Botanic  Gardens. In Sydney, we hop off at Bondi Beach and the Opera House, or in San Francisco, Fisherman's Wharf and the Embarcadero. However, you don't have to hop off at all. Many people simply stay on the bus and enjoy the loop -- usually a couple fun  hours. Often there are two loops -- distinguished by different colors.  Well designed maps help you make choices for your hopping off.

It's a great way to people watch, and enjoy the city's neighborhoods, landscape, shops.  You'll cross major bridges, glide past government buildings, explore ethnic neighborhoods and learn colorful detail.

Big Bus Tours officially goes back more than 13 years to 2011. But its history in tourism dates back further than its founding. The merger of two popular companies resulted in worldwide expansion as Big Bus Company of London and Les Cars Rouges of Paris blended. Both are proud of their longer histories: Les Cars Rouges dates to the late 20th Century and Big Bus has decades of history in the bus and sightseeing tour business.

BESIDES THE CITIES mentioned here, many more cities are served by Big Bus Tours, including such diverse tourist destinations as Abu Dhabi, Chicago and Vienna. 

Tourists hop off Big Bus to see Marina Bay Sands,
 a Singapore landmark-- casino, parkway and more.

In the United States, besides hitting the famous spots of the Big Apple, Big Bus Tours operates in Boston, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., and many other cities. Big Bus is our preferred bus tour. It's user friendly, comprehensive, reliable, and you're sure to meet like minded fellow travelers. We've met folks on Big Bus who've become longtime friends, and fellow travelers. 

 www.bigbustours.com/

To book a tour or for more, click here:

Photographer Bruce Keller smiles as a young kid
munches on the flowers of his shirt. Hard to resist.

 UP NEXT: Goats galore in Maui. We explore a unique and fascinating enterprise, the Surfing Goat Dairy. Meet the charming kids, the elderly lady goats, the big daddy who has dozens of girlfriends. Learn how a Canadian man's desire to do something different developed into a flourishing enterprise. And check out the fabulous goat cheese and truffles created by the milk of these healthy, adorable and affectionate creatures. In the coming weeks, we'll explore a delectable food tour in Brisbane, and mingle with koalas and kangaroos in more rural parts of Australia.  Meanwhile, remember to explore, learn and live and catch us weekly for a fresh spin on travel, performance, nature, family and more at www.whereiscookie.com

For a taste of the goat story, here's a link:

Preview of Maui's goat dairy, click here 

Ships sail California's southern shores for education, entertainment

 

Sailing on American Pride is an experience of bonding with the crew and fellow passengers, while
enjoying the splendors of sailing on a classic vessel.  Here captain Jeremy Schmich, right,
gives a hearty thumbs up with sailor and photographer Bruce Keller on a Long Beach sail. 

STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS
PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER

THERE ARE MANY pleasures in stepping aboard the American Pride and her "twin brigantines." Chiefly, these three vessels keep the old-time sailing spirit afloat and are educating youth on the importance of our oceans.

Adrian Cerna is a devoted student of
pirates and shares his knowledge in
 stories about the colorful sea bandits.

The ships have the look and feel of that colorful bygone era when clippers and windjammers sailed the sea, vying for dominance in global trade, defending their turf with warfare. They are classic beauties and those who step aboard become part of a legacy of learning and wonder.
One hears the sounds of the sails as they unfurl, and watches enraptured as the shoreline fades. There's an exciting rush followed by a feeling of serenity as these ships cut cleanly through the waters off Long Beach, California. Being on board is a memorable experience for lovers of the sea and sailing.

AMERICAN PRIDE, the official tall ship of Long Beach, is a 129' three-masted schooner berthed in the city's picturesque Rainbow Harbor. The vessel serves as a marine education platform for youth, a floating classroom providing education and opportunities.

At the moment she is on hiatus, being refurbished. She'll be back. Meanwhile two other ships continue her mission of education and public participation. Twin brigantines - Irving Johnson and Exy Johnson -- were designed and built in San Pedro as educational sailing vessels. At their launch in 2004, they were named the Official Tall Ships of the City of

Los Angeles, an important collaborator.

Lifelong sailor Bruce Keller was invited to the helm where he
 took the wheel for a few special moments, a thrill for him. 

LONG BEACH and San Pedro have long boasted an enthusiastic sailing community. The sailing bug hit the area big time in 2018 when Los Angeles Maritime Institute acquired American Pride, already named the official Tall Ship of the city. Soon, the Children's Maritime Institute was formed as their Long Beach division to educate students on man's crucial connection to the sea.

Shortly before American Pride went in for repair, we were invited aboard with an enthusiastic group of fellow sailors, mainly adults. Young people sail her  on special outings sponsored by the non-profit Institute, which owns and operates the vessel.

The thrill of sailing shows on the faces of
school children, learning the ropes of sailing.
--photo courtesy of Children's Maritime Institute

An excited crew member said she's witnessed impressive growth in children as they immerse themselves in the sailing field trips. "They step aboard as complete novices, and you see the confidence grow as they literally learn the ropes." 

So while they enjoy a fun outing, it is also a serious learning experience as young sailors study marine biology, environmental science, navigation, teamwork, and, naturally, the art of sailing.

On our shoreline sail, everyone on board was passionate -- from the captain to crew to us lucky passengers.  We met a recently engaged couple from Los Angeles, checking the boat out for their wedding reception.

ONE LONG married couple from Long Beach were out for a regular Sunday sail.  The wife said, "We come to celebrate being alive on these ships."  They held hands, smiled and relaxed, enjoying time together on a lovely afternoon. 

Twin brigantines, Irving Johnson & Exy Johnson
 were built in San Pedro as educational sailing
vessels. They are official tall ships of Los Angeles.
                        --photo courtesy of Children's Maritime Institute

Each year, hundreds of school kids come aboard. Says Liz Reinhardt, director of development and a devoted backer, "As a non-profit, we are dependent upon our wonderful community support." Grants and corporate support help the Institute and the older Los Angeles Maritime Institute insure that no child be turned away because of lack of funding. 

Captain Jeremy Schmich observed, "These popular sailing field trips are important. We teach young sailors marine biology, environmental science, navigation, teamwork, and how to sail. So many benefits..."

THERE IS still time to register for or inquire about this summer's activities. On tap are a day camp out of Rainbow Harbor, and both five and 12-day sleepaway camps departing from downtown San Pedro.

On a breezy day, deckhands and passengers collaborate on
hoisting the sails. It's good to bring layers on any sail.

Monthly Sunset Sails continue, too, inviting the community to "come aboard our tall ships, sit back and relax or take part in helping the crew set the sails," says Reinhardt. 

Tickets must be purchased in advance for two  upcoming sails: Father's Day Sunset Sail on Sunday, June 15, 6-8:30 p.m., ($60 and $30 for children 12 and under) and a special July Fireworks Sail on Saturday, July 5,  7-10 p.m. ($75 and $30.) 

 Private charters may also be booked, offering a relaxing venue for team building, Reinhardt says. "We happily book  corporate events, family celebrations, photo and video shoots and more."

American Pride in her glory at full sail. She can hold 100
passengers and six crew;59 passengers can overnight on her.

Volunteers are welcome and can be trained as deckhands and earn sea time, she explained.   

FOR LIFELONG sailor Bruce Keller, an afternoon on American Pride provided "a satisfying and peaceful sailing experience that promotes love of the sea. What a thrill to help set the sails. A top notch time." 

Public weekend sailings help fund and promote the youth education arm. The program's focus is to foster a love of sailing and personal confidence building in young sailors.  "For me, as a kid, sailing changed my life and gave me confidence both on land and sea," said Keller.

Free deck tours, hands on activities and more shoreline sails are planned. The Long Beach and Los Angeles ports and institutes collaborate on myriad events. Their unique sailing programs are enjoyed by tourists and residents from all over southern California and beyond. The people we met emphasized twin pleasures: relaxation for sailors and the opening of doors for youth. Reinhardt is proud that under-resourced schools and communities in the Los Angeles area benefit from the generosity of donors who support the program.
"Some of these kids have never been on the sea, so it's

Lovely sunset view from American Pride.

 mind opening," said a woman who sponsors her grandkids for summer programs. "It teaches them so much: not just sailing but self reliance, co-operation, learning about the environment and doing their bit to save our precious oceans."

A CAPSULE OF the colorful history of American Pride: She was built as a two-masted "schooner-dragger" -- an eastern rigged trawler known as Virginia -- and spent 40 years as a commercial fishing vessel. She was completely restored in 1986, when she acquired her third mast, renamed Natalie Todd and operated as a charter boat out of Bar Harbor, Maine. In October 1996, the American Heritage Maritime Institute purchased her. She transited the Panama Canal to her new home in California. She operates under Children's Maritime Institute, the Long Beach division of Los Angeles Maritime Institute. The mission: sailing training, maritime education and living history sharing.

More information on scheduling , tours, rental options, summer camps, and the two upcoming weekend sails June 15 and July 5:

https://lamitopsail.org

www.childrensmaritime.org

Bruce Keller and Christene "Cookie" Meyers on a stop with
Big Bus Tours in Sydney, Australia, a recent trek for the two.

UP NEXT: Big Bus beckons.  We take Big Bus Tours on our worldwide jaunts. The time honored agency operates out of many major U.S. and other famous cities.  We enjoy lively narratives, friendly drivers, easy "hop on and hop off" options, free WiFi and more in both a new city or cities we know and love and are revisiting.  Come along to explore in Sydney, Singapore, San Francisco, Tokyo, New York and more, hopping on and off in as we explore, learn and live. Join us weekly for a fresh spin on travel, nature, family, performance and more:

www.whereiscookie.com

More on Big Bus Tours, click below

City Cruises offers smooth sailing, tasty fare, elegance, beautiful sights

"Endless Dreams" offers endless pleasures, when one enjoys a City Cruises/Hornblower occasion.
A variety of options are available to celebrate a birthday, holiday or just a lovely time on the water in many locations.  Pictured is a popular yacht about to leave for a festive Sunday brunch in Newport.

STEP ABOARD CITY CRUISES, FORGET YOUR TROUBLES, DINE, DRINK, BE HAPPY ON A SPECIAL DAY OR JUST BECAUSE

STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS

PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER

Lifelong sailor Bruce Keller and Christene
"Cookie" Meyers on Endless Dreams.

WE LOVE City Cruises. What a delight to step aboard an immaculate vessel, be greeted with a glass of champagne, enjoy a leisurely meal, live music and fabulous scenery.

If you're a devotee of all things ocean related, you know that the venerable Hornblower Cruises was rebranded a few years ago as City Cruises/City Experiences.

Rest assured, Hornblower's superb service and time honored classiness still exist. We recently verified that, celebrating an anniversary with friends in Newport.

As we boarded Endless Dreams, the sun was shining and spirits were high. More than 100 fellow revelers booked an entire deck of this classy ship for their private birthday party. We checked in -- next to John Wayne's famous Wild Goose -- enjoying the festive decor of gifts, flowers and balloons. Everyone was dressed to the nines as we hopped upstairs to find our table.  Live music greeted us as we surveyed the picturesque harbor with lively company. The gifted guitarist took requests, keeping the party mood going. 

The Newport shoreline is a wonderland of yachts,
lovely homes, condos, people enjoying the water.

CHAMPAGNE and mimosas in hand, we lingered over our appetizers -- tasty shrimp cocktail for me, perfect, rare ahi with aioli for Keller. We strolled the deck to admire the yachts and homes on the shore before sampling an elegant buffet, a bountiful selection of hot and cold entrees. Highlights were lovely rare beef, succulent salmon, artful salads, appealing side dishes. After another stroll, we approached a lavish dessert table of truffles, mousse and more delightful decadence. Friendly waiters kept everything pristine and fresh. The operation showcases quality produce, seafood, meats and desserts, with special regional touches by each city's chef.

One may leave the pretty table at any time to view
 scenery on the open decks, then return at leisure.

Setting the scene for the repast is important, too. The operation is equally proud of its beautifully kept, state-of-the-art luxury yachts, each with its own features and emphasis on pampering. 

HORNBLOWER Cruises is a familiar name to lovers of the yachting experience for dinner and harbor tours. We've been Hornblower fans for decades and the operation's rebranding to City Cruises/City Experiences encompasses many of the same cities with loyal Hornblower loyalists: San Francisco, New York, and other cities where dining cruises and ferry services exist and operated long before the 2021 rebranding. 

Whale watching delights on City Cruises

San Francisco on a perfect City Cruises evening, lights aglow.

Hornblower/City Experiences has grown to provide a sea loving variety of  services in 18 cities with over 100 sophisticated vessels. "City Experiences by Hornblower" offers myriad water and land based experiences, even overnight cruise opportunities, and ferry services including a delightful history-based trip to Battery Park and Liberty Island in New York. We've done that twice.

The view topside is a splendid one, with pillows
and libations, a pleasant breeze and conversation.

WE CHOSE our latest journey in Newport from many offerings and several ports near us, deciding on the festive brunch. We can highly recommend the operation's offerings in New York, San Francisco, Sacramento, Chicago and southern California cities including our San Diego base. We joined Illinois friends for a lovely evening cruise along the Chicago River, and in the Bay Area, we've cruised past Alcatraz Island and the Golden Gate Bridge, dancing to a jazz trio. Highlights of our New York forays include a dinner cruise with the Statue of Liberty and Tower One as our backdrop. In Washington, D.C., we chose a river outing as the perfect way to view the iconic monuments.

LUNCH AND dinner cruises are typically three hours. We've enjoyed them in New York and San Francisco, as well as in southern California ports. With each experience, we're made to feel special, served with courtesy, enthusiasm and impeccable manners.  Staff are carefully chosen for professionalism and personality. When I accidentally left my new prescription glasses on a deck table, our waitress and the booking manager tracked them down.  A crew member had thoughtfully rescued them.

ALL PARTY sizes and a range of budgets are available. Guests may book a section of tables, a full deck or a private charter, as our birthday celebrants did in Newport. Father's Day specials are available in several cities to treat a special dad,  grandpa, husband, brother or friend.

To book click here: https://www.cityexperiences.com/city-cruises/

cityexperiences.com

CLICK HERE FOR MORE


 

Christene "Cookie" Meyers and Bruce
Keller enjoy a shoreline sail on American Pride,
the official tall ship of Long Beach, Calif.

CCOMING UP: Ahoy from Long Beach and San Pedro, where three stately tall ships are keeping old-fashioned sailing alive and well, sharing the wonders of sailing with children of all ages. Both pleasure crafts and sailing classrooms, two twin brigantines in San Pedro and a three-masted schooner in Rainbow Harbor in Long Beach, California, serve as a marine education platform for the youth of southern California and offer special "sunset sails" for the public. You can book a Father's Day sail June 15, and a July Fireworks Sail Saturday, July 5. Find out more about these classic vessels and see how they keep afloat and provide children with unforgettable learning time at sea.

Twin Brigantines are continuing educational
sailings and public events, including two for
Father's Day and the July Fourth holiday.

Remember to explore, learn and live and catch us weekly for a fresh spin on travel, performance, nature and more. Please share this column with like minded people. Below is a link for more on Los Angeles Maritime Institute's work in schools and the public: 

 

Click here for more on the above