We arranged our own four-day stopover in Amsterdam to break up the long flight to Tanzania. …
Great Rivers of Europe Cruise Overview
… we thoroughly enjoyed the entire trip, with spectacular scenery, castles and cathedrals; a comfortable ship with 145 friendly fellow travelers and wonderful food; helpful and knowledgeable program leaders and guides; …
Amsterdam, Cologne & Koblenz
… we passed through one of the most picturesque sections of the Rhine in the dark, so the next morning we were bused back along the Rhine valley to see the many castles on the adjacent hills. …
Heidelberg, Wertheim & Würzburg
… After lunch we had a guided tour of the Heidelberg Castle built around 1300 on a hill overlooking the city. …
Rothenberg, Bamberg & RMD Canal
Our last stop before leaving the Main River was the city of Bamberg, founded in 902. With more than 2,000 listed historical buildings Bamberg is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. …
Nuremberg & Regensburg
…We then crossed the Stone Bridge and walked along the other side of the three arms of the Danube, enjoying beautiful parkland on our way back to the ship. …
Munich and the Oktoberfest
… After the walking tour we rode and walked to the 104-acre site of the Oktoberfest for the very crowded last day of the 16-day event. …
Melk Abbey & Vienna, Austria
… From Melk we continued on to Vienna, taking a longer route along the Danube through the beautiful Wachau Valley with terraced vineyards, small villages, and occasional castle ruins …
What to do in Amsterdam
In 2018 we visited Amsterdam twice, first as a four-day stopover to break up the long flight to Tanzania, and later on our Great Rivers of Europe river cruise. We found no shortage of things to do and see. …
Review of Overseas Adventure Travel (O.A.T.)
… Our program director and his two associates were very knowledgeable, friendly, and accommodating. They could spot distant wildlife that we could see only with binoculars or a telephoto lens, and would tell us all we wanted to know about every animal.
Review of Grand Circle Travel
Our first trip with Grand Circle was the Great Rivers of Europe river cruise from Amsterdam to Vienna, in September/October of 2018. We had not planned to do another overseas trip after our Tanzania-Serengeti safari trip in July, but Grand…
England, Scotland and Wales Overview
… the tour included London, Oxford, Bath, Stonehenge, Chester, York, Whitby, Lake District, Llangollen, Snowdonia, Carnavon, and Edinburgh …
London
… we arrived at our hotel next to both the Tower of London and the Tower Bridge. Our room overlooked the gilded Royal Rowbarge Gloriana in a Thames River marina …
Oxford, Bath & Stonehenge
On the day we visited Stonehenge the weather ranged intermittently from dull overcast to bright sunshine with heavy rainstorms passing nearby, all adding to the mystique …
Wales
In Llagollen we learned about the Welsh Love Spoon tradition dating from the 17th century …
Chester & York, England
We had a delicious lunch at another York institution, Betty’s Tea Rooms, before spending much of the afternoon at the National Rail Museum …
Whitby, Castle Howard, & Lake District
Towering above the town are the ruins of Whitby Abbey, inspiration for Bram Stoker’s novel Dracula.
Edinburgh
Dominated by Edinburgh Castle which sits atop 250-foot high cliffs on three sides, the old town developed on the gently sloping fourth side where residents could retreat quickly to the castle in times of attack.
Scotland Post-Tour
The next day we set off on an all-day drive through the highlands to Loch Ness, with rain on and off all day broken up by occasional bright sunshine.
Paris to Normandy River Cruise + Brittany
In addition to all the wonderful sights and experiences of Paris, a highlight of the trip was exploring the locations where Vincent Van Gogh and Claude Monet painted many of their masterpieces.
Three Days in Paris
Our time in Paris was short but magical. We enjoyed every minute of the guided bus, walking and boat tours, and our free time exploring the many attractions.
Paris to Honfleur on the Seine
Along the way we stopped in Conflans and Auvers for Van Gogh sites, Vernon and Giverny for Monet’s garden, Les Andelys for Richard the Lionheart’s Castle, and Rouen for a home-hosted visit.
The Beaches of Normandy
In the next phase of our journey we remembered and honored those who secured our freedom in World War II as we toured the beaches of Normandy.
Brittany & Mont Saint-Michel
Mont Saint-Michel was certainly the highlight of our time in Brittany. Dating from 1084 the magnificent Abbey sits atop a 250-foot high granite island.
Denmark, Norway & Finland – Overview
The fjord cruise and Lapland were certainly among the highlights, but the entire tour was outstanding and incredibly scenic.
Copenhagen, Denmark
Highlights included the Rosenborg Castle, Royal Palaces, Tivoli Gardens, the Viking Ship Museum in nearby Roskilde, and Freetown Christiana.
Oslo to Bergen, Norway
Norway highlights included the futuristic Oslo Opera House, the amazing Vigeland Sculpture Park, and the spectacular scenery of the Flåm Railway and Bergen.
Fjord Cruise
On the Hurtigruten fjord cruise the scenery while cruising and while ashore was spectacular…
Finland
From Lapland in the far north of Finland to Helsinki in the far south we learned about the Sámi people and culture, reindeer farming, and an amazing city library.