Travel Lightbulb

What's the difference between street art and graffiti? I believe graffiti has a bad reputation because it can be seen as destructive and a form of vandalism. Street artists want people to be engaged by their work, and to have an emotional response to it.  I took this photo when travelling in Portugal, and love how it seems to totally transform a building that has seen better days. Have you photographed street art on your travels? If so why not share it with me. I'd love to see it!

In 1986 ice cream was made in a Cheshire farmhouse kitchen, and today over 200,000 now visit Snugbury's ice cream shop in Nantwich each year. One of the reasons people visit is because of the amazing sculptures in the nearby field. For over 10 years, the ice cream company has teamed up with a friend to build these incredible sculptures which can be a real distraction when you drive along the A51!  2016 marked 150 years since the birth of Beatrix Potter, one of the world's best loved children's authors. To mark the occasion, who better to dedicate this years straw sculpture to than Peter Rabbit. He's 38 feet tall, and the carrot and his ears are both 10 feet! Peter is a great excuse to visit, and before you wander over to see him - pick up an ice cream at the shop! I can highly recommend honeycomb and mint choc chip!

For years, Santiago has been thought of by many as a place to catch a connecting flight to somewhere else, but there's much more to Chile's capital city than that. It was founded in 1541 by the Spanish, and is home to 40 per cent of Chileans. There are plenty of things to see in the city, and the hub of it all is Plaza de Armas. The cathedral is in this square, and admission is free. If you love history, then the national history museum is worth a visit and if you're into dancing, then don't miss the live salsa shows! As you can see by the photo below, Santiago is surrounded by mountains - the Andes to the east, and the Chilean Coastal Rage to the west, which makes it one of the world's most spectacular cities. You shouldn't miss the view from Cerro San Cristobal. It also has a wonderful climate, with almost no rain between October and May. As I previously mentioned Santiago is a real travel hub, so this could be the perfect place from whi...

I know, I know, it's only November, but I wanted to give those living in the North West of England a little heads up about an event taking place soon that will get you in the mood for food....and Christmas! For the very first time, Foodies Festival kicks off the festive season at Tatton Park on the 17-19th of November.  If you're a food fan, you'll love picking up top tips from MasterChef winners and top local chefs who'll be cooking up their festive favourites in the Chef's Theatre. If you've got a sweet tooth, then what better than to watch Great British Bake Off winners and top patisserie chefs baking up treats in the Cakes and Desserts Theatre. The festive season wouldn't be the same without a drinkypoo (or two!), and you can get merry with Craft Beer, Wine and Champagne masterclasses in the Drinks theatre, or enjoy a tipple at Gin Alley! There will also be an artisan market at the festival, so you can get your Christmas shopping done too....

With Halloween just around the corner, I thought it was the perfect time to flashback to an eerie place to visit. If you're going to the Algarve, then head to Alcantarilha for a spooky experience in the 15th century chapel which dominates the village.  If you want to find out more, then read my original post by clicking here .

As the saying goes, you can't have a rainbow without a little rain! Don't you love it when clouds clear after a rainstorm and a beautiful rainbow appears? That happened to me on a recent trip - and I was lucky enough to capture it on camera. Rainbows don't stay around for long, so I had to get my camera out quickly and snap away! Sadly I didn't find the pot of gold at the end of it, but rainbows always make me smile anyway, so it was a lovely moment. Have you ever managed to get a photo of something beautiful in nature? If so why not send it to me - details on my contact page.

New York can be an expensive place to visit, but there are plenty of things to do on a budget, and here is one you may not have heard of before. The Roosevelt Island Tramway is an aerial tramway that connects Roosevelt Island to the Upper East side of Manhattan and if you look closely at the photo below, you can see the tram approaching!    This is a great thing for adults and kids alike. You get great views of the river and a totally different perspective of the streets from height. You can either have a wander round Roosevelt Island, or just right the tram over and straight back again. If you do that, you have to change trams at the other side.  This is not an official attraction, but for visitors it is a fun thing to do. It is transportation for the locals, so you're best to avoid taking the tram in the morning and evening rush hour.  If you keep your eyes peeled when crossing, you can spot the Empire State Building, and my own favourite i...

Today I'm featuring one of the most iconic places in Scotland and one of the most visited attractions in the Scottish Highlands. Eilean Donan castle is on an island surrounded by majestic scenery, and I'm sure most of you have seen it before. So why would I feature it on my blog, which is all about going off the beaten track? Well I decided to feature it, because you may not know about the possibility of staying in this stunning location. Not in the castle itself, but in Eilean Donan Cottage or Eilean Donan Apartments. Can you imagine waking up, and seeing this view first thing in the morning - simply stunning! If you want more information, click here . A very big thanks to Fiona Ritchie for the photo - what a great dramatic shot of one of the most beautiful places in the world!