Travel | Best Places to Travel
When the Davenport's go on Holiday to get away, these are the best Places to Visit and the Best Vacation Spots
Those that know me, and know me well, know that I have a very high standard for everything: friends, family, restaurants, software, products, services, and locations, and most importantly entertainment — movies, music, shows, and such. So the wonderful hidden treasures we found while traveling on this page are places that we have been more than twice that have consistency of service, products, and environment that meet, or excede, my criteria for quality.
The issue with sharing these places with the world is: I always question people that have a secret they want to sell you. Well, if I had the answer to the best source of income, why would I share it and split it? Why would I tell others of my secret hiding place where I found the gold? This tells me the secret that they are selling is not worth what they are selling it for or anything at all — they pray on the weak.
So, when I share the following places with the world, I am not selling them, so you can guarantee that these places are so wonderful, I really do not want you to go, for they become too big and their quality deteriorates, but on the other hand, if no one goes there other than us, they will not be in business for long and we will have to find a replacement, which on one hand is an adventure, but it can also be frustrating and not very fun.
Roads & Weather
California Highway Condition
August 9, 2003
Weather Channel - Grass Valley, CA
August 9, 2003
California
If you are visiting California or you live there, we have some places we recommend. Now we have not visited everyone place, but these are places you should visit, when and if you are in California.
Folsom
Santa Cruz County
Anniversary July 1999 & 2000
Visited August 2002
Tamara’s Birthday October 2003
Cafe Cruz
We remember going there late at night and warming up to crepes and hot cocoa
November 20, 2013
Chardonnay Sailing Charters
Went on this in July of 1999 for our 12th anniversary
August 9, 2003 - checked June 11, 2018
Cliff Crest B&B Inn
We stayed one night July,16th 2000 for our Anniversary. Loved it.
August 9, 2003 - checked June 11, 2018
Crows Nests
August 11, 2002 - checked November 20, 2013
Made in Santa Cruz
August 9, 2003 - checked November 20, 2013
Rosie McCanns in Santa Cruz
A great Irish Pub. Went there July 18 1999, July 16, 2000, and August 11, 2002 (with Aria and Kyriè)
August 11, 2002 - checked November 20, 2013
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
August 11, 2002 - checked November 20, 2013
Shoreline Surf Shop
January 21, 2004
Studio City
Kyriè works at Universal Studios and we always drive through the area.
H.O.P.E. Restaurant
All I can say is WOW. Just awesome food and wonderful people. The parking and location is not exciting, but who cares once you are in and eating.
May 2018
KANSAS
Mcpherson County
Lindsborg Visiting Lindsborg
The Brick House Grill
While visiting Aria, he took us to Lindsborg — Little Sweden — and had a great time eating at The Brick House Grill. Wonderful people and food.
November 6, 2015
Aria took us to Conronado Heights Castle
Salina County
Salina
Auld Lang Syne, Antiques and Collectibles
While visiting Aria, Tamara and I took a drive and walked Downtown Salina and found this cool Antique Store in an old bank that was super huge.
November 7, 2015
Aria took us to Indian Rock Park and took a walk along Smokey Hill River.
Nevada
Clark County
Las Vegas
Margaritaville
Went April of 2008 twice, while I was there for the NAB show with Dan Nelson and Carny. Awesome food, awesome ambiance, and well, need I say more. I was truly wasting away in margaritaville.
April 16, 2008 & April 2012
Caribbean
Saint Lucia
Soufriere
Fond Doux Plantation & Resort
Went in July of 2019 for 12 days. We stayed in the Avocado Room. Everyone was awesome, nice, and wonderful
July 20, 2019
Europe
Tamara and Gerald went to Portugal, Spain, and France from July 13 - August 2, 2023 through Tamara's work. Proglass went to Portugal for training on Hyline's products that Proglass is going to be selling and installing.
The account of this European travels #1 will be done in order of visit, not in alphabetical order. We were not planning a second trip to Europe, or anywhere, after the flight home. But it has sunk in, and the experience was actually not bad. So yes, there may be a second trip abroad somewhere.
Sacramento International Airport
The flight to Dulles was schedule out of Sacramento & of us packed up in a car and a truck and headed down. On the way someone noticed that the flight was delayed (airline not to be named). When we got to Sacramento International Airport it was delayed even more. Tamara and Danny went to the ticket counter and came back saying we all need to get to San Francisco Airport. So we rolled everything back to the vehicles and headed on our way to SF.
San Francisco International Airport
Tamara had Danny Drive so she could book our car parking as SF does not have long-term parking for flights. She found one and we unpacked the car and loaded onto the shuttle to get to the airport.
Dulles International Airport
Arrived 45 minutes before the flight to Portugal took off and high-tailed it to the gate. Some of the group ate something before loading. Good thing we were group 6 to get on, the less time sitting, the better it is.
Portugal
Aéroport de Paris-Charles de Gaulle
This airport is 32.38 square kilometers (12.5 square miles). Okay, only the 14 largest in size, but I have only flown from or to Sacramento international 9.38 square miles (24.3 square kilometers), San Francisco 8.15 square miles (21.1 square kilometers), Los Angeles International, Hollywood Burbank, John Wayne International, San Diego, and Chicago 11.24 square miles (29.1 square kilometers) and went outside. Transferring flights at Miami and Dulles 20.31 square miles (52.6 square kilometers), I was unable to see the size of the airports since I never went outside of those two, just ran to catch my flight. 32.38 square kilometers (12.5 square miles) for Aéroport de Paris-Charles de Gaulle is pretty big for me to see up close and personal. It is difficult not to get lost in the busy chaos of Charles de Gaulle, which happens to be Europe's largest airport. It acts as a central hub for travelers coming to the world's most visited country as well as for people connecting to flights all over the planet.
When we arrived, we were looking where to go for pick up from lifts and ubers. We passed by the taxi door and a man asked in broken english “Do you need a taxi?” We said no. Not being able to read some signs and find where to the uber pickup location was, we decided to take a taxi since the price would roughly be about 60 Euros for both. We started walking toward the taxi area when the same guy asked us again “Do you need a taxi?” We said yes. He said, “I am a taxi driver, follow me.” And walked away from where the taxi's were located by the signs in the airport. That seemed odd.
Tamara asked him how much? He said it was by meter and showed us a meter on his phone. She then asked what was the rate and he said “The standard rate.” We were following him up stairs and in an elevator as we got off the elevator, I stopped Tamara and whispered “this is not right, he could charge us 100 Euros or more for the trip.” He stopped and turned around and asked us again, “Do you need a taxi?” We said, “No. We are trying to figure out where we need to go first. Merci.” He walked off in a huff and I heard some French curse words from him. I knew then, we got out of a really bad situation.
Calling a uber and finding the uber area which was outside where we could breath fresh air we relaxed a bit until the uber driver could not find us at first. Finally in the car we were leaving the airport, or so we thought as I mentioned before, 10 minutes of actual driving, and not stop and go, but driving, we were still at the airport. I said in French, “C'est un énorme aéroport.” He replied, “Yes, it is a huge airport.” and then said nothing the rest of the trip until we got close to our destination and could not find it, but actually drove passed it. We asked him to “Laissez-nous sortir ici, s'il vous plaît.”
Just an FYI. We found that Frence people are not rude, they are just not friendly. Not all of them are, just most. If you think that is being rude then, Okay. But they are not rude, they are just not friendly.
France
Aéroport de Paris-Charles de Gaulle
This airport is 32.38 square kilometers (12.5 square miles). Okay, only the 14 largest in size, but I have only flown from or to Sacramento international 9.38 square miles (24.3 square kilometers), San Francisco 8.15 square miles (21.1 square kilometers), Los Angeles International, Hollywood Burbank, John Wayne International, San Diego, and Chicago 11.24 square miles (29.1 square kilometers) and went outside. Transferring flights at Miami and Dulles 20.31 square miles (52.6 square kilometers), I was unable to see the size of the airports since I never went outside of those two, just ran to catch my flight. 32.38 square kilometers (12.5 square miles) for Aéroport de Paris-Charles de Gaulle is pretty big for me to see up close and personal. It is difficult not to get lost in the busy chaos of Charles de Gaulle, which happens to be Europe's largest airport. It acts as a central hub for travelers coming to the world's most visited country as well as for people connecting to flights all over the planet.
When we arrived, we were looking where to go for pick up from lifts and ubers. We passed by the taxi door and a man asked in broken english “Do you need a taxi?” We said no. Not being able to read some signs and find where to the uber pickup location was, we decided to take a taxi since the price would roughly be about 60 Euros for both. We started walking toward the taxi area when the same guy asked us again “Do you need a taxi?” We said yes. He said, “I am a taxi driver, follow me.” And walked away from where the taxi's were located by the signs in the airport. That seemed odd.
Tamara asked him how much? He said it was by meter and showed us a meter on his phone. She then asked what was the rate and he said “The standard rate.” We were following him up stairs and in an elevator as we got off the elevator, I stopped Tamara and whispered “this is not right, he could charge us 100 Euros or more for the trip.” He stopped and turned around and asked us again, “Do you need a taxi?” We said, “No. We are trying to figure out where we need to go first. Merci.” He walked off in a huff and I heard some French curse words from him. I knew then, we got out of a really bad situation.
Calling a uber and finding the uber area which was outside where we could breath fresh air we relaxed a bit until the uber driver could not find us at first. Finally in the car we were leaving the airport, or so we thought as I mentioned before, 10 minutes of actual driving, and not stop and go, but driving, we were still at the airport. I said in French, “C'est un énorme aéroport.” He replied, “Yes, it is a huge airport.” and then said nothing the rest of the trip until we got close to our destination and could not find it, but actually drove passed it. We asked him to “Laissez-nous sortir ici, s'il vous plaît.”
Just an FYI. We found that Frence people are not rude, they are just not friendly. Not all of them are, just most. If you think that is being rude then, Okay. But they are not rude, they are just not friendly.
Montévrain
Résidence Du Parc
Arriving at the Résidence Du Parc where we stayed for two nights. The bed was small and uncomfortable. The window at least opened, but every now and then smoke came in. You know they smoke like crazy in Europe, and not vapes, but actual tobacco.
The neighborhood was a mix of nice looking homes, newer looking apartments, and older, run down apartments. This was the only place in our European travels that we did not feel safe or comfortable walking around. We were not hassled even when we went into Le marché d’à côté, a very tiny 6 person convenience store, when we were searching for water and snacks. We also went up Rue Julien le Pahun to CocciMarket to find what the other place did not have, and we did. We bought a pastry at Ô Gourmet and sat watching it poor while eating the pastry. Wanting some real food, we found Kitchen Kulture on Avenue de la Société des Nations, a restaurant bar that looked very basic from the onset, but the food came as though they were a high end classy place. The food was good and the service was awesome.
July 27 - 28, 2023
Chessy
Disneyland Paris
The next morning we took this path on the public bus that cost 2 and a half Euros to Disneyland Paris. The bus trip was interesting riding with locals. Most riders were not going to Disneyland, just half a handful. The park did not open until 9:30 am and we got the at 8:15 AM thinking we could get something to eat, but nothing was open at that time.
We walked around before heading to the front gate where there were a few lines as we sat down right in front of the entrance.
Concrete seat in front of Disneyland Paris front gate.
As we sat comfortably and civilized, unlike the other unchecked people who were frantically trying to find their place in line as far front as they could while the Disney park staff help them in check, the crowds made it back to where we were causing us to melt into the chaotic lines and standing inside, underneath the building in an area that had nothing much to see for 45 minutes crammed together waiting for the park to open.
The first thing that I turned to go on was the train. Tamara questioned the move. I just looked at her. We were third in line and it was quite away from all the crowds. We were not the first group on, the train came back and emptied all its passengers. So we go up front. When we returned, the waiting area was jammed and the line went down the stairs into the street. I looked at Tamara and smiled.
July 27 - 28, 2023