Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Pittsburgh - the City

Throw away any preconceptions you may have of Pittsburgh! My trip here is allowing me to experience the metamorphosis of Steel Town into a world class city destination for travellers. Called "The San Fransisco of the East" for its hill studded location, its other name is "City of Bridges" as it features over 400 (top) - more than Venice! It's a city that takes its sports to heart from past heroes such as base ball star Roberto Clemente (middle) to current teams: Pirates, Penguins and Steelers. Downtown features beautifully restored 19th century buildings as well as soaring modern skyscrapers such as PPG Place (bottom).



Pittsburgh Attractions

I have been enjoying a whirlwind tour of Pittsburgh's huge number of attractions - and I have barely scraped the surface. Believe me; there's something for everyone in this city! I have walked across the bridge from my hotel to enjoy a Pirates game at PNC Park (top) and experienced the iconic images of the Prince of Pop Artists at the Andy Warhol Museum (middle). I visited the Cathedral where the new Bishop of Pittsburgh was being invested (bottom). I also met some wonderfully interesting people - I went behind the scenes at the National Aviary (thank you Erin!), interviewed Andy Masich, CEO at the impressive Heinz History Centre and Sean Brady, Executive Director of Venture Outdoors whose organization takes people out on the rivers and the hills of Pittsburgh.




Chihuly at Phipps - Gardens & Glass

Lush, steamy and exotic, the Tropical Forest Thailand exhibit at the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens is just one of the many reasons to visit. The star attraction currently, and for a few more weeks, is the glittering display ; "Chihuly at Phipps - Gardens and Glass". Artist Dale Chihuly has used the setting of the gardens to place a dazzling array of his glass sculptures that have to be seen to be believed.




Carnegie Museum of Natural History

The jewel (quite literally) for me of the many Pittsburgh museums is the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. This is a world class overview of five billion years of Earth history. The latest blockbusters are the "Dinosaurs in Their World" exhibit opening in November (top) and the sparkling Hillman Hall of Minerals and Gems (middle), which has just opened this year and includes treasures such as these calcite crystals (bottom).




Renaissance Pittsburgh Hotel

I am staying at one of the city's landmark hotels: the Renaissance Pittsburgh Hotel. This striking 1906 Fulton Building has been meticulously restored as Pittsburgh's only Four Diamond hotel. From the imposing exterior (top) to the sumptuous lobby (middle) and Opus the place-to-be-seen restaurant (bottom), I heartily recommend the Renaissance for your stay in Pittsburgh.




Top Class Restaurants

Pittsburgh is noted for its high quality and individualistic cuisine. I am sampling some of its notable restaurants on this trip. From the trendy Cafe Zoo on Penn Avenue to the filling Primanti sandwich at the Primanti Brothers (bottom) and from the renowned Lidia's Pittsburgh to the stunning views over the city at Bella Vista on Mt Washington (top) - dining here is a constant and delicious pleasure.



Pittsburgh - Thank You's

My trip to Pittsburgh has been faultlessly constructed by the first class team at Visit Pittsburgh - headed by the warm and wonderful Bev Morrow-Jones (top). I have been guided by the indefatigable Kristen Mitchell (middle) and our radio show broadcast was hosted by the good folks at KDKA Pittsburgh - the world's first commercial radio station (bottom).




Sunday, April 1, 2007

Arizona – Pure, Natural and Wonderful


My on-location radio Travel Shows in Southern Arizona are proving to be a stunning experience: gorgeous desert scenery and mountain landscapes combine with Western history, culture and some of the most characterful and friendly folk you are ever likely to meet!

Emblematic of the Sonoran Desert in which much of Cochise County and Tucson is situated, is the saguaro cactus as pictured here, which can grow to a height of over forty feet.

Arizona – Mountains and Hiking Everywhere!

The Santa Catalina Mountains frame Tucson’s northern boundary and are very accessible from the city. The first image is a view of these mountains from my hotel.

I hiked the Ventana Canyon Trail (2nd image) into the Santa Catalina Mountains at dawn yesterday: a beautiful hike through cactus-studded mountains and dry riverbeds to a breathtaking view over Tucson.

Another dawn hike at nearly 7,000 feet in the Chiricahua Mountains, where a forest of rock spires has been eroded from layers of ash deposited 27 million years ago in a cataclysmic explosion many times greater than Mount St Helens to form what is now the Chiricahua National Monument (3rd image)

Arizona – Flowers in the Desert

As I have been hiking through the desert scenery over the last few days I have been constantly amazed at the profusion of colourful flowers that dot even the most inhospitable of the Southern Arizona desert landscapes. Here are two images of these bright gems of the desert…

Arizona – Animals of the Desert

And it’s not just the desert flora that’s a wonder to behold: the animal life of the Sonoran Desert is magnificent too and the best place to get a sense of this is at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum near Saguaro National Park 20km west of Tucson. These images of a bobcat and bighorn sheep show the splendid natural setting of this must-see attraction.

Arizona – Very Wild, Very Western!

In 1881 the gunfight at the OK Corral took place in Tombstone Arizona and the lawless spirit of the Wild West has been celebrated I Southern Arizona ever since. In Tombstone itself (1st image) I was “lynched” by a vigilante gang of suitably attired locals and narrowly escaped a visit to Boot Hill Cemetery! Jay Gammons, one of my interviews for the radio show, has built a Western movie set at Gammons Gulch (2nd image) with over 7,500 artifacts of the West. And I met Bud Strom, Cowboy poet and another interviewee for my show, on his Single Star Ranch on the Mexican border.

Arizona – Accommodation Choices

One of the great discoveries I am making on this trip is the range of accommodations available to visitors to this part of the state. Here are some pictures of where I have enjoyed Arizonan hospitality so far on this trip.

Firstly, a casita at the Triangle T Guest Ranch in Dragoon (http://www.triangletguestranch.com/) where I enjoyed a succulent steak at their Mesquite Grill Restaurant. Secondly, the appropriately named Marie’s Engaging Bed & Breakfast in Tombstone (http://www.mariesb&b.com/) where the owner Terry Sullivan even dresses the part. And in Tucson, the overwhelming and award-winning luxurious Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa (http://www.westinlapalomaresort.com/) with its own golf course, spa, tennis, kids club, waterslides, gardens…and one of the most comfortable beds I’ve ever slept in!

Arizona – Thank You’s

My trip to this must-see part of Arizona was professionally arranged by three wonderfully warm representatives of Cochise County and Tucson CVB who have accompanied me on my travels in Southern Arizona and to whom I offer my sincere thanks. Here they are, from top to bottom: Luanne Mattson (on left), Jessica Fish and Kimberly Schmitz, who also was my guest on the radio shows.




Sunday, March 25, 2007

Britain, March 2007

England and Wales are wonderful destinations in the Spring. I look forward to the Travel Show on CFRB on April 7, 2007 when we will talk more about them. For more information about The Chris Robinson Travel Show check out http://www.chrisrobinsontravelshow.ca/

Here is a picture of Tilney Park, a beautiful English Country House and Gardens in Hampshire, England.


Here is my father's favourite salmon river - the River Cothi in Carmarthenshire, Wales.


Wednesday, February 14, 2007

Chris Talks Travel




Chris talks travel as he goes on location with The Chris Robinson Travel Show. Check out this blog site to travel with Chris as he experiences some of the destinations he brings you each week.