MSN’s 10 Places to Get Spooked

by Adrienne Wilson on

BOO! Halloween is now only a week away and it is time for some real trip planning if you have yet to begin. If you’re too embarrassed to go cruise your home digs in costume with a begging bag in hand consider some of these ghostly destinations provided by MSN. Start with a trip down to the legendary Bermuda Triangle known for making many a vessel disappear while sailing the sea span between Miami, Bermuda and San Juan, P.R. If taking to the seas on one of the creepiest nights of the year doesn’t give you goose-pimples try a visit to the city of Salem, Mass., where the famous witch trials took place in 1692. All month long Salem makes the most of its utterly gruesome past by hosting several ghost tours, street fairs and costume balls. In all honesty Salem looks like one of the best places to head too if you’re really wrapped into this stuff. Other stops include Roswell, London’s Ghost Walk and Transylvania of course. Having been to Transylvania before, I say skip the expensive plane ride over and again, head to Salem.

See MSN for the spooky rest.

Notting Hill Gone Hollywood

by Iva Skoch on

Thanks to Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant, the entire world now knows where Notting Hill is. Not so sure it is that great for Notting Hill…

During my recent trip to London, I went to Notting Hill and could not believe the number of tourists and shops that cater to them. The truth is that nowadays, Hugh would not be able to casually stroll on Portobello Road contemplating his love life because he could simply not make his way through the wall of tourists.

Notting Hill is still one of London’s most fun, hip, colorful neighborhood although its cost is pushing the eclectic types out. Here is a virtual tour. Try to avoid going over the weekend, no matter what the guide books tell you. Sure, the weekend Portobello Road market is nice, but unless you enjoy pre-Christmas shopping crowds, you won’t enjoy this either.

Brick Lane: Best Indian Food Outside of Bangladesh

by Iva Skoch on

Contrary to popular belief, not all food in London is bad. Indian food is, in fact, excellent. The best way to sample it is to head over to Brick Lane, a street in the East Side of London, just steps away from Liverpool Street or Aldgate East tube stops.

Brick Lane (also known as Banglatown) is actually the center of the Bangladeshi community, nonetheless, this is where people go to satisfy their Indian food craving. It is one of the few things in London which won’t make you go broke in two hours. You can get a meal here for 5 GBP.

I come here every time I am in London and I try a different place every time. I went again this past Saturday night and was not disappointed. Remember that some of the restaurants have no liquor license, so you have to bring your own booze. Make sure to try the sweet, coconut nan. It complements the super-spicy vindaloo (or “vindy”) dishes very nicely.

Tour Prince Charles’ London Home

by Adrienne Wilson on

After the chaos caused by the gang of knuckle-headed terrorists (I’m being kind) cools off over in London, it may tickle your fancy to take a walk up to the Clarence House. For those that follow royalty as if were a part of their very own family heritage, the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall are allowing visitors to tour their London digs. The 19th century stucco mansion will have tours up until October 8 and by appointment only. Admission for adults is somewhere around $13 and children must give up $7 of their monthly allowance to be able to step inside.

In addition to forking over their hard-earned change children must be clean; clothing pressed – without a wrinkle; hair-slicked back – extra gel; well-mannered and delightful little souls to say the least. Oops, so the last few requirements were some of my own, but if I were Princess of Duchess allowing the general public to view my residence I’d have rules more strict than the most uppity of nightclubs and two doors men named Brutus and Fidel. Just so no one gets any ideas.

It should be a pretty cool tour for those who make it there in time to see the Clarence House.

via USA Today

Indoor Skydiving with SkyVenture

by Adrienne Wilson on


Giving my stomach a reason to flip over and inside out or shooting my heart rate up at lightning fast speed isn’t necessarily my idea of a grand yee-haw time. So whether it’s indoors or outdoors skydiving wouldn’t be the first thing I’m signing up for, but if you’re a nut when it comes to diving with or without the sky you’ll probably dig SkyVentures. To sum it up like the in-the-know bloggers at CoolHunting, SkyVenture is a vertical wind tunnel that safely and realistically simulates the experience of jumping out of a plane. Developed more so for training purposes, visitors can flip, swoosh, dive and land safely at over 15 locations worldwide. Some locations up and running presently include: London, Malaysia, Arizona, and Orlando. Others in the works are Manhattan, Hollywood, Abu Dhabi, Alcanteria, Silicon Valley, and New Hampshire. See SkyVenture for additional details.