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The Best River Cruise Party: It's AmaWaterways' Vilshofenfest

7/21/2017

Oktoberfest embarkation for AmaWaterways in Vilshofen, Germany

Beers served up with a smile! That's a great way to launch your Danube cruise vacation.

By John Roberts

You're never going to start your cruise in finer fashion than when you board an AmaWaterways ship in Vilshofen, Germany.

In the heart of Bavaria, Vilshofen on the Danube River owns an important legacy in beer making. This is Germany, after all. Vilshofen played a key role in the creation of one of the most popular brewing styles in Europe and all the world: the pilsner. Josef Groll, The Father of the Pils, was born in Vilshofen and moved to the town of Pils in Bohemia (now the Czech Republic) where he brewed the world's first pale lager, Pilsner Urquell.

AmaWaterways gives you vouchers to enjoy Vilshofen's own pilsner beer, Wolfstetter.

Knowing that backstory is important so that you can fully appreciate the excitement and energy that cruisers see on display when they are treated to a type of Oktoberfest whenever they happen to cruise from Vilshofen. AmaWaterways' Vilshofensfest is the most fun I've ever had to start a river cruise.

When you embark in Vilshofen, you'll notice a tent set up shoreside next to the ship. This is where the fun happens.

A toast to the visitors -- and the music and party get under way.

Amawaterways AmaSonata in Vilshofen, Germany

Vilshofen is a quaint little town with a small main street shopping area and a few restaurants. Its top attraction is a Benedictine abbey in the hillside above the village. But for about two hours on evenings when an AmaWaterways cruise is scheduled to begin from the town, Vilshofen puts on a show.

Beer brewed in Vilshofen, Wolfstetter (a crisp pilsner, of course) flows, as people mix and mingle at picnic tables, chomping on big pretzels amid lively conversation and oompah music. The venue takes on a real beer-hall feel as pretty young ladies deliver trays full of the golden beverage to the tables. The town's beer queen addresses the crowd and wishes all a fun cruise, and the music performers break into dance and beckon their guests to the floor to join in. Soon, people are laughing and dancing together, slapping knees and stomping in true Bavarian style alongside their boisterous and lederhosen- and dirndl-adorned hosts.

Time flies, and it's soon time to go back onboard -- even if you won't want the party to end -- for your first dinner. Vilshofenfest helps break the ice and set the tone for a fun cruise on the Danube.

Not a bad way to start your vacation, huh?

Thanks for reading and happy travels!
JR

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Your Quick Guide to Banje Beach in Dubrovnik, Croatia

7/17/2017

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Banje Beach is a quick walk from Old Town Dubrovnik and a good spot to enjoy the cool, clear waters on a summer day.

By John Roberts

Did you know there is a beach right at the edge of the historic fortress city of Dubrovnik?
Banje Beach can be a pretty hopping scene, too. So, when you are done strolling the ramparts and gawking at the amazing views from high above the UNESCO World Heritage site that has gained fame in the past several years as the main setting for King's Landing in "Game of Thrones", you just might want to come down to sea level, grab a spot on the beach and take a refreshing dip in the crystal-clear waters of the Adriatic Sea that lap the rocky coastline.

This isn't a sugar-sand white-powder beach by any stretch. It's rocky and probably requires water shoes (the rocks are smooth) unless you are used to such surfaces.

Dubrovnik is a hugely popular stop on cruise ship itineraries in the Mediterranean, so you are likely to see swarms of people on the fortress ramparts and pulsing through the streets and alleys within the walls. So, plan to get to the beach early to snag a spot while all the others are taking their Game of Thrones tours and before they realize they could have been chilling out too.

Banje Beach gets busy when cruise ships are in port. The attached restaurant and nightclub bar offers beers and food (you pay full tourist prices), as well as a DJ blasting music. It can be a fun atmosphere or annoying depending on what type of experience you are looking for.

But it's a convenient nearby place to enjoy a couple hours in the sun and playing in the refreshing waters. We love stopping by for a couple beers and some swimming time after exploring the town, especially on the hot days that tend to be the rule along the Adriatic Coast in summertime.

Loungers cost about 100 kuna to rent. Yes, that's kuna, the Croatian currency. The bar takes credit cards. We don't rent loungers but instead buy the overpriced beers and sit at the outside area of the beach club in the shade and take turns heading out for a dip. This ends up being a better deal for the two hours we stay at the beach, which is plenty of time for us and a nice way to cap the day before heading back to the ship.

If you just want to come to swim, you can plop down on the beach for free with your own towel or set up on the concrete pier and join the kids who you'll see jumping in the water again and again and again. It's a blast.

Banje Beach restaurant beer in Dubrovnik, Croatia

Banje Beach, Dubrovnik, Croatia swimming

What: Banje Beach, Dubrovnik, Croatia
Where: Immediately to the west of Old Town Dubrovnik
Cost: Free, but you pay if you want a lounger/umbrella or use the bar's restroom
Hours: Banje Beach Restaurant and Nightclub is open 10 a.m. to 5 a.m. daily
Also: Croatian currency is kuna (several ATMs in port and one at bar); rocky beach, wear water shoes

For more info and cool things to do, check out this awesome Dubrovnik guide from our friends and OneDayItinerary.com.

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Visiting Fort Zachary Taylor State Park and Beach in Key West

7/12/2017

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A secluded small beach is a perfect spot to take a refreshing swim after a walk or run over to the park.

By John Roberts

When you arrive at Key West on a cruise, you have tons of things that you can easily do just steps from where your ship docks.

This includes shopping, restaurants and bars (at least one visit to Sloppy Joe's is a must), bike rentals and hop-on hop-off trolley tours of the historic district of Key West.

Other top Key West excursions include a look at the city's fascinating cemetery (free, self-guided), a visit to Hemingway House, the Key Butterfly and Nature Conservatory and a photo stop at the Southernmost Point in the United States, of course. You also can set off on snorkeling and fishing outings or just dive into some Key Lime pie.

But if you've already been there and done much of that, you might be up for what I think is an ideal way to spend a day in the Conch Republic. Granted, I love to explore a place by running -- and I also like finding out-of-the-way gems and ways to occupy myself that don't cost a dime.

So, let's call this "The Best Way to Spend a Day in Key West If You're a Runner and Cheap."

Key West is in the Caribbean, and hot and humid days are the norm, many with a chance of showers. I arrived on just such a day in June on Royal Caribbean's Enchantment of the Seas and waited until just after noon to head out for my planned run to Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park.

The park is located just 1.25 miles from the cruise pier and once you get there, you can run (or walk) the trails through the property. There are shaded trails and forested parts, too. A great stretch follows the water line of the Atlantic Ocean, and you can find a tiny beach spot at the end closest to the fort that quite likely will be unoccupied and give you an opportunity for a private swimming session.

Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park trail

After a spell on the trails and in the Key West sun, I was ready to hit the beach.

Tracing the trail away from the cruise pier that you can see in the distance, you will find the main beach areas, with plenty of picnic space under shade trees. A scenic point sits at the westernmost part of the park and creates a breakwater for the swimming areas.

I ran to the park, following Southard Street through the residential Truman Annex neighborhood. Continuing along the waterfront, you approach the facility by following signs to the park.

I noticed a fee is required as I approached. Bikers and walkers pay $2.50 to use the park. A cyclist arrived just after me. This kind fellow said he is a veteran and has a pass that allows him to get in free and that he would like to offer to get me in on his pass as well. I thanked him but said I would gladly pay to help provide for the park's maintenance and upkeep. Carloads cost more, and the rate depends on how many are in the vehicle.

Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park fortress

Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park fortress cannon

I spent a couple hours in Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park, which is a National Historic Landmark. I cooled off in the waters after my run in the oppressive heat, strolled the beaches and snapped a bunch of pics. Then, I explored the fortress.

The fort was constructed beginning in 1845 as a defense system after the War of 1812, and it was controlled by the federal government by means of 44 members of an artillery regiment throughout the Civil War even as Florida prepared to leave the Union. The site was excavated in the late 1960s and found to have the largest cache of Civil War-era seacoast cannons. It's a fascinating site to explore, and rangers lead fort tours, nature walks and reenactments throughout the year.

The park has a small eatery, The Cayo Hueso Cafe (open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.), where you can grab snacks, sodas, water or beers. I grabbed a cold drink, waited out a small rain shower and headed back to the ship. â€‹â€‹

Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park cayo hueso cafe

Also on the route:

The Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center (free; open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday). This center highlights the plants and animals native to the Keys, with more than 6,000 square feet of interactive exhibits. Included is a mock-up of Aquarius, the world's only undersea research lab, which is deployed 60 feet below the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

The Little White House. Formally named Harry S. Truman Little White House, this museum was once the winter residence of the U.S. president. Truman used the home for 175 days during his presidency between 1946 and 1952. The building dates to 1890 and was originally used as Navy housing. Other presidents have also utilized the property, including William H. Taft, Dwight Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy who used it while in office, and former presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton. The Little White House (fee; open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) is located at 111 Front Street.

Harry S. Truman Little White House in Key West

Thanks for reading, and happy travels!
JR

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The Best River Cruise Party: It's AmaWaterways' Vilshofenfest

Your Quick Guide to Banje Beach in Dubrovnik, Croatia

Visiting Fort Zachary Taylor State Park and Beach in Key West

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