Visiting Woodstock in the "Quiet Corner" of Connecticut

I had a chance a few weeks ago to revisit Woodstock, located in the "Quiet Corner" of Connecticut. Largely unspoiled and with quintessential New England elements intact, this beautiful little town best represents the "Quiet Corner" region with its downtown skyline being a tall white steeple, well kept old homes that never fail to make me say "Wow!" and an absence of commercial and industrial development that fly in the face of our modern world. I highly recommend visiting here is you like peace and solitude, a sense of historical preservation and memorable rural scenery of farms, forests and landscapes that seem virtually endless. It really feels like you're a million miles from civilization here. I'll now let the pictures do the talking to give you a taste of one of my favorite towns in New England...


The Roseland Cottage was once a summer home to a wealthy New York family and now can be toured between June 1 and October 15. As you can see, it's really a spectacular sight! touring the home, you'll see steep gables and stained glass, boxwood parterre garden, a bowling alley, garden house, aviary, carriage barn, ice house, various outbuildings and some beautiful landscaping.


The Town Cemetery has a beautiful rural look, further enhanced by scenic rolling hills in the distance.


No real New England town is complete without a stately, old church. Here in Woodstock, you can really feel that authentic New England presence.


The Inn at Woodstock Hill sits on a hill overlooking those amazing rolling hills. We've stayed here several times and consider this charming inn the ultimate getaway. I think even the most stressed out person would be forced to relax here.  You can read our full review on the Inn at Woodstock Hill here.

World Travel Guide: Experience The Wild Side of Emirates Mountains

If you are looking for more variety in your vacation to Dubai, why not try a trip to the Emirates mountains? Indeed, it can still come as a surprise to many that there are several activities in store for tourists who are in for adrenaline rush in this part of the world. Buckle up, for you are in for some wild ride! This world travel guide is going to take you for a ride to the wild side. You will kick off your tour to the mountain trails in the Emirates in the morning.

You are free to explore these mountains on your own. However, it would be best if you can get a tour package because you will have an established itinerary and you will be driven around in a four wheel drive vehicle. Thus, it should be easy for you to get around to some of the most notable tourist attractions as you traverse the Emirates mountains. Some tours also include pick-up from and drop-off to your hotel after the tour, which will add more to your convenience.

If you are in for a wild adventure at the mountains, this world travel guide suggests you check out the East Coast and Hatta. You will begin your journey by stopping along the Lehab sand dunes. Then, you are off to a very long tunnel carved straight to the Emirates mountains. Meanwhile, the rugged Hajar mountains is teeming with lush greenery all around it, so this one promises to be a meandering route that would suit any adventure seeker.

While you are in the midst of this breathtaking and adventurous mountain trail, it is best to stop for a moment and let everything sink in. Take time to admire the cliffs and watch the valleys. This is when a camera would come in handy, too. And if you're tempted, take a dip at the tempting cool and blue waters at the wadis. If you're that adventurous, why not go on a short trek along these mountain paths? Or, enjoy a picnic lunch as you marvel at the sights around you.

The scenic drive to and from the East Coast to experience the Emirates mountains up close is a truly unique experience. Most tours along the mountain trails of Dubai will feature a speaking guide so you can also have some glimpse into the culture and history of the place.

This world travel guide also recommends wearing the appropriate clothing for your trip along the Emirates mountains. For most part of the year, light summer clothing is good enough. But when you are visiting during the winter months, don't forget to bring your jacket or sweater as these mountain trails can be quite chilly.

World Travel Guide to Dubai Shopping Tour

Shopping is one of the most popular tourist activities in the city of Dubai. No wonder it is dubbed as the shopping capital of the Middle East! Indeed, Dubai shopping tours are famous for those who want to snag some great bargains and take advantage of what the shopping malls have to offer. If you are a true-blue shopaholic, you might want to take advantage of this world travel guide as it shows you how to make the most of this tour.

Dubai acts as the trading point for the East and West, which is why you can get great items for lesser price! Part of the appeal of Dubai as a shopping destination is the fact that there are no taxes and duty placed on the items you've bought. There is also a Dubai Shopping Festival held in January, so if you are planning to visit the city, make sure that you scheduled your vacation around this time. Aside from heading straight to the malls in search of a good purchase, you can also partake in various cultural activities designed to nod the city's heritage and watch some pyrotechnics display.

There are a ton of choices of shopping malls in Dubai; hence, even the most dedicated shoppers will find their hands full trying to explore them all. This world travel guide to Dubai will show you exactly what you can expect in a Dubai shopping tour and where you need to be headed to.

Depending on where you had purchased your tour packages from, the price for a shopping tour is at approximately $36. The tour starts in the morning and lasts for up to 3 or 4 hours, which will depend on the itinerary for the tour. This package will already include pick-up and drop off for all of the participants in the tour.

There are up to 40 different shopping malls around the city of Dubai. In this world travel guide to Dubai shopping tour, you can visit or shop at any one of them such as Deira City Centre, Al Ghurair City, Mercato Mall, and the Mall of the Emirates, to name a few. If you are shopping for textile products, you need to head to Bur Dubai located at the street of Electronics. Meanwhile, shoppers of handicraft items and other souvenirs will surely find the items you want at Karama. For more choices on electronic products and good quality carpets, you can check out Deira Al Nasr Square. These malls are glossy and fully air-conditioned, wherein some also offer services such as shoe shining or valet parking.

All of the shopping tours around Dubai are guided to help you save time, focus on shops that offer competitive pricing, and take full advantage of the tax-free rates in the city to uncover great bargains.