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An in-depth source for all serious travelers.

Bill Altaffer, Worlds Most Traveled Man

TRAVEL DREAMSSOLD HERE

Crafting An Extraordinary Vacation

Graydon Gig GwinThe Explorer Who Has VisitedEvery Country on Earth


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IvespentmanyhourstravelingwithGigGwinandevenmorehearingofhistravels,alwaysanentertainingandinformative

experience.Readersofthisbooknowgettoenjoyandlearn

fromthisworldgadyjustasIvebeenabletoforthelast38

years!Openit,andseetheworld! John Bottchen,ProjectManagerandTravelDirector

Travel Dreams Sold Hereisnotonlyafunread,butveryhelpful.

Havingalsotraveledextensivelyoverseas,Mr.Gwinsadvice

aboutattitudeisrightontarget:ahealthysenseofadventure

goesalongwaytomakinganenjoyabletrip.Gigtranslates

hisexperiencesintousefulinformation.Anicesurprisewas

hisextensiveuseofhumorousanecdotestoillustratethe

variousregionsoftheworld,andthequestionsregardingthe

typeofvacationyouwillenjoypointsyouintherightdirection

adventureisgreat,butasoftbedandaglassofwineare

evenbetter.Withgreatlistsofplacestogoonallcontinents,

sightstosee,andevencocktailstosample-whetheryouare

planningavacation,travelingforwork,orsimplywanttodream

aboutfar-offlands;Travel Dreams Sold Here isamust-read.

Ray Scott,VicePresident,SupplyChainManagement

What Others are Saying About Travel Dreams Sold Here


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Someonewhosbeentoeverycountryintheworld!Who

bettertogivetraveladviceandrecommendationsforthose

whoarealreadysophisticatedtravelersaswellasforthe

novicewithanitchandadesire.

Glenn Detrick,President,EducationalBenchmarkInc.

IhavetraveledwithGigtothecornersoftheworld,wehave

seenthebestandtheworst.Hisbookisfulloftravelfactsand

inspiringstories.

Dr. Alexander Gushansky,Traveledto300countries

GigGwinisthegotoguyforthebest,most-comprehensive

informationonanydestinationintheworld!Asahistory

teacherIcoulddependonGigtoknowtheculturaland

historicalsignicanceofsitesallovertheworld.Ididntneed

theinternetwithGigonmyspeed-dial!

Donna Picataggio,Educator31years


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TRAVEL DREAMSSOLD HERE

Crafting an ExtraordinaryVacation

Graydon Gig Gwin


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TRAVEL DREAMS SOLD HERE:Crafting an Extraordinary Vacation

Copyright 2011 by Graydon Gig Gwin. All rights reserved. Nopart of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form orby any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying,recording or by any information storage and retrieval system,without written permission from the author, except for the inclusion

of brief quotations in a review.

Disclaimer. The purpose of this book is to educate and enlightenthe readers. The author and Lyneildon Publishing shall have neitherliability nor responsibility to any person or entity with respect toany loss or damage caused, or alleged to have been caused directlyor indirectly by the information contained in this book. If you donot wish to be bound by the above, you may return this book to thepublisher for a full refund.

Unattributed quotations are by Graydon Gig Gwin

Cover Design: Todd Gwin

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Gwin, Graydon Gig

Travel Dreams Sold Here: Crafting an Extraordinary Vacation / by Graydon

Gig Gwin

p. cm.

Includes IndexISBN 9780615360133

1. TravelGuidebooks. I. Title

Library of Congress Control Number: 2010904106

FIRST EDITION Printed and bound in the U.S.A.

14 13 12 11 10 5 4 3 2 1

Published by:

Lyneildon Publishing111 N. Taylor Ave.

Kirkwood, MO 63122314-822-1993

www.gwins.com/gig


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This Book Is

FormyparentsHelenandJimmywhofosteredmyloveoftravel

FormywifeTerrieandsonsAaron,Kyle&Todd,whostoodwithme

FormycatSasha,whosteppedonmypapersandsleptnearbywhileIwrote.

Gig and Terrie Gwin on the Orient Express train.


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TravelMemories

The travel adventures in our lives are well-cherished

memories trips only once lived,

but many times remembered.

Yet, this earth will change

and with that change will be lost experiences

civilizations never discovered, gourmet dishes never

tasted, bargains never bought. Renew your spirit

see this world soon, for travel is the building block

of our memories.GigGwin


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7

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

1 Why We Travel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172 Tourism Through the Ages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 913 Travel Tips for the Mind & Spirit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1094 Grand Tours of the World. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129

5 Planes, Trains, Ships & Cars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1896 Lodging Made Memorable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2037 Americas National Parks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2218 Dining Around the World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243

9 Museums that Inspire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26510 Tourisms Shining Future . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273

Appendix:

All Countries Great and Small . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277

Bonus: Gigs Tips for Business Travel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289

About the Author: A Travel Explorers Global Quest . . . . 293

A c k n o w l e d g e m e n t s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 9 7

Index. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299

Itinerary Overview


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8 Gig GwinTravelDreamsSoldHere

Itinerary Details

Chapter 1: Why We Travel, 17Touring, 18Traveling with a Touch of Romance, 19The Art of Relaxing, 23Adventure Travel, 27Special Interest Travel, 46Golf, 52

Rodeos, 70Festivals and Fairs, 72Zoological Parks, 74Botanical Gardens, 77Performing Arts, 81Your Personal Travel Survey, 86

Chapter 2: Tourism Through the Ages, 91

The Early Dawn of Tourism, 91Old and NewSeven Wonders of the World, 93All Roads Lead to Rome, 96The Middle Ages and the Crusades, 98The Tales of Marco Polo, 99The Renaissance and the Age of Discovery, 101The Enlightenment the Origin of the Grand Tour, 102The Golden Age of Travel, 103The Rapid Growth of Tourism in the Twentieth Century, 104

Chapter 3: Travel Tips for the Mind & Spirit, 104Pre-trip Planning, 109Travelers Checklist, 116Enjoying Every Moment, 120Great Shopping, 122PhotographyCapturing the Memory, 125

Chapter 4: Grand Tours of the World, 129North America, 137 Caribbean, 149Central America, 151 South America, 152 Antarctica, 154 Atlantic Ocean, 154Europe, 155 Africa, 168 Middle East, 172 Asia, 175 Pacic Ocean, 183


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Itinerary 9

Chapter 5: Planes, Trains, Ships & Cars, 189

The Evolution of Railroads, 190Cruising and Crossings, 193Americas Love Affair with the Automobile, 196Traveling at Jet Speed, 198

Chapter 6: Lodging Made Memorable, 203

The A List of Memorable Lodging, 208

North America, 208 Caribbean, 211 Central America, 21 1South America, 212 Antarctica, 212 Atlantic Ocean, 212

Europe, 212 Africa , 215 Indian Ocean 217 Middle East, 217 Asia, 217 Pacic Ocean, 219

Chapter 7: Americas National Parks, 211

Chapter 8: Dining Around the World, 243Great Restaurants with Meals to Remember, 249North America, 250 Caribbean, 251 Central America, 251South America, 251 Atlantic Ocean, 252 Europe, 252 Africa , 253 Indian Ocean, 254 Asia, 254Pacic Ocean, 255Enjoying Local Beverages, 256List of Local Drinks around the World, 260

Chapter 9: Museums That Inspire, 265The Worlds Greatest Museum Treasures, 267List of Museums, 268

Transportation Museums, 270

Chapter 10: Tourisms Shining Future, 273Give the Gift of Exploration, 274

Appendix:

AllCountriesGreatandSmall,277

TCC list of Countries, 279

Bonus:GigsTipsforBusinessTravel,289

AbouttheAuthor:ATravelExplorersGlobalQuest,293

Acknowledgements,297

Index,299

NeedHelpCraftinganExtraordinaryVacation?,302

ContactInformation,303

KeynoteSpeakingforMeetings,Organizations&Clubs,304


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Far away places

with strange-soundin names,

Far away over the sea.Those far away places

with the strange-soundin names,

Are callin, callin me.

BingCrosby


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11

In September 1999, I stepped off a commuter plane ontoLampedusa. This tiny island in the Mediterranean Sea had re-cently been placed on the Travelers Century Club list of world

countries. Though it was one small step onto a runway, it was a

giant leap in my travel career. It signied the completion of a life-long goal of visiting every country on earth; at that time the listwas at 313.

Later in the afternoon I dug my feet into the sand at a beach-side Italian caf and, to celebrate, indulged in pasta and vino,kicked back and slipped into a spiritual calm. It was a time ofpeace and reection, interrupted only by European sunbathersstrutting past my table. Only a handful of travelers have touchedthem all, but now was not the time for high-ves just the inner

satisfaction of being there, completing my personal quest, over-coming eons of ight time, ghting jetlag, being denied entranceinto Third World countries, then sucking it up and slaying travel

dragons, just so I could check one more country off the list. Wasit worth the journey? Absolutely!

Fullling my own travel dreams makes it possible for me to helpfellow travelers fulll theirs. The creation of this book was devel-oped over 40 years of counseling clients. Granted, people have

different dreams, yet Ive noticed a curious phenomenon, a rep-etition of the same questions regarding planning vacations. As

a travel agent, my responsibility has been to ask questions, lis-ten to clients needs and share destination knowledge.

As a travel explorer and journalist, Ive wandered to exotic cit-ies and remote countriesalways taking notes and photos,

Introduction


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making word memory lists and indulging in the sights, cultures

and local cuisine.

After completing a lifetime goal of visiting all the countries of the

world, I settled into a comfortable chair and began putting factsand experiences into a keynote speechThe Top Ten GrandTours of the World. The recurring questions that followed myspeeches and travel counseling made it clear that I needed toget out of my chair and write a planning book for travelers

dedicated to answering the most often asked questions andhighlighting the great destinations of the world.

Travel Dreams Sold Here answers the most frequently askedquestions and hopefully shares knowledge through stories and

examples. Heres an overview:

Chapter One, Why We Travel, looks into the motivation that

calls people to explore this compelling planet. Learning moreabout the spectacular landmarks and gems expands your viewof the world. The survey I use for my travelers is included in therst chapter, to set a direction for your future trips.

Writing Chapter Two, Tourism Through the Ages, utilizesmy college history degree along with some storytelling and alittle tongue-in-cheek humor. The foundation of travel was set

by the early Greeks, Romans, European Crusaders, pilgrimsand adventurers. Marco Polo opened the eyes of the western

world, and soon seafaring explorers followed the four windsand the seven seas to unknown lands. Tourism began the pathof enlightenment and education that blossomed in the 20thcentury, thanks to new technology and forward thinkers likeLowell Thomas.

Chapter Three, Travel Tips for the Mind & Spirit, shares thetravel tips that Ive recorded over the years. Pre-trip planningsets the stage for an enjoyable trip full of lifelong memories. Forexample, shopping can be a great joy with just a little research.


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Introduction 13

Great photography can turn into a work of art, but you do not

need an easelyou can create a snapshot and hold a memoryin your hands.

Chapter Four, The Grand Tours of the World, is the nextnatural step to expand a persons mind; its a discussion ofthe best-of-the-best destinations ranked by travelers whohave visited most, if not all, 320 countries. Ive crafted this listtaking into consideration the components that bring joy and

fulllment into peoples lives. Yes, it is subjective, but manyexperienced eyes other than mine have reviewed and addedtheir advice. Let the Grand Tours stand as a solid reference inselecting upcoming travel.

Chapter Five covers Planes, Trains, Ships & Cars. If areader fancies the drop-dead beauty of any of these modes oftransportation, then this is your chapter.

Lodging is like a box of chocolatesyou never know whatyoure going to get. Chapter 6, Lodging Made Memorable,shares great places to rest your head. With multiple selections inmind, it is my resolve to clarify the many choices and present toyou some memorable properties where Ive stayed throughout

the world.

A good travel planning book should not exclude ourextraordinary US national parks. For Chapter 7, Americas

National Parks, Ive asked a true expert in the eld, BobHoelscher, to explain the parks and their recent improvements.Bob is the past president of the National Tour Association andin his 40 years in the travel business has traveled to 90 percentof the national parks.

One of the greatest experiences on any trip is enjoying the localfood and beverage. Chapter 8, Dining Around the World,describes many of the wonderful places where a traveler canexperience the joy of new foods and beverages in their local


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setting. The dining experience may start before your trip by

making reservations at a restaurant in your neighborhood thatspecializes in regional or international cuisine. Ive assembleda list of memorable restaurants in great locations, plus addednotable drinks from around the world. Relax and enjoy thischapterit should be fun, not a sobering experience.

Chapter 9, Museums That Inspire, opens the door to an areaof tourism that is sometimes overlooked and deserves more

attention, particularly for curious minds. Returning travelersgive high marks to these best-in-class museums.

Chapter 10, Tourisms Shining Future, closes the book withsome thoughts on giving the gift of travel.

Im always asked by clients about the total number of countriesin the world. The answer can be found in the appendix, AllCountries Great and Small, which includes the TravelersCentury Club list. Because Ive also traveled extensively forbusiness purposes, the appendix includes some road-warrior

tested tips in Gigs Tips for Business Travel.

To top off the book, Ive added a touch of quotations andmusical lyrics sprinkled throughout the chapters. Travel writing

is the ideal venue for great words of wisdom. Id like to thankMark Twain, Frank Sinatra and all the supporting cast for theirbrilliant thoughts and memorable music.

Knowledge is such a gift; I hope this book brings you joy and

inspiration, whether an armchair traveler or an adventuroustrekker.

Gig Gwin

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