An Agent Abroad: Experience America
Eamonn Wilkinson of Stewart Travel lives the American Dream on the Holiday of a lifetime...
My American Dream F
OR several years I have been booking clients American multi- centre holidays, I had always wanted to do four cities, so I decided ‘let’s go for it’ and do it. At first, I was through maybe
I was setting expectations too high but after weeks of research and few training modules. I booked four cities with a local tour operator. I still remember the butterflies of booking this fabulous trip to this day. We began the first leg of the trip with the fabulous morning
flight from Belfast City to Los Angeles via London Heathrow, from the moment we arrived in Belfast City, check-in was seamless followed by breakfast in St George’s Restaurant and Deli, I would advise go early and enjoy this restaurant the food and local produce is beautiful. After almost an 11-hour flight from London Heathrow a few
movies and lots of wine later, we arrived in the city of angels, Los Angeles, we were met by our driver on arrival and taken to West Hollywood we will be based for four nights. We began our adventure around Los Angeles with a visit to the
Griffith observatory followed by a trek to the Hollywood (bring trainers and watch out for rattlesnakes). We then made our way to Santa Monica to see Venice beach and get a go on the world- famous Pacific Wheel on the boardwalk, this was just beautiful. We then finished the day with dinner in the celebrity hotspot
Craigs on Melrose Ave followed by cocktails in Pump, owned by Lisa Vander pump was hoping to see her but not on this occasion. The following day we then went to Universal Studios Hollywood
where I felt like Harry potter for the day which was amazing and a must-do if you are in Los Angeles. After being Harry Potter for the day, we then headed out to see the famous nightlife of Los Angeles which did not disappoint. After a night out in Los Angeles, the next day needs to be
relaxed or be chauffeured about, so we did just that with Star track tours we did a tour of Hollywood and Beverly Hills Celebrity Homes and Landmark Locations as well the Hollywood walk of fame. Our final day in Los Angeles I was reliving pretty woman with shopping in Rodeo drive, having coffee where clueless was filmed on the famous steps and of course, having lunch in the most iconic location of them all Beverly Wilshire. To finish our final night in style we seen Ariana Grande in the Los Angeles convention centre this was the cherry on the cake. After a quick flight from Los Angeles to San Francisco, I was
excited about San Francisco, We began by hiring bikes to cycle across the Golden Gate Bridge and Fishermans wharf as well as the guided tour this was simple progress and a once in a lifetime experience which it was, you will be given a map with all the locations on the way as well Helmets and locks. Now after 4 hours of cycling my poor legs were like Jelly, as well as a sore bum on the bike. After a stunning morning of Cycling over the Golden Gate
Bridge, we went on a mini-movie tour with San Francisco Movie Sights City Tour seeing over 70 clips from 55 different movies filmed in San Francisco, including “Mrs Doubtfire,” “Dirty Harry,” “Vertigo,” and “Bullitt” this was brilliant and funny. The following day we then went to Alcatraz, this was an experience we did a self-guided tour, the boat trip is about 20 minutes over and you can stay as long as you want, which we did, I don’t know how to describe the feeling you get when there. but worth a visit and prebook your ticket when booking your hotel and flights as on the day it is very unlikely you will get a ticket. Our last night in San Francisco was done by sampling the fantastic nightlife in and around Union Square this was a lovely way to say goodbye to San Francisco we only did three nights but I would advise doing four nights so you can see and plan more to do. We then flew to sin city Las Vegas, we arrived in Las Vegas in style where we had a limousine transfer with bubbly waiting on us with a 45-minute tour of the strip before we checked in to our hotel, what way to start. We started by seeing the world-class production of the Jersey
Boys in the Paris Hotel on the Strip, this was out of this world and left me on a high, after a fabulous night the following day we spent in the Bellagio hotel as they were showcasing their Japanese
garden this was just beautiful followed by lunch in the La Fontana Bellagio awaken your taste buds in this restaurant. The next day was an early start as we sent off for the Grand Canyon West Bus Tour of this well worth it, with the tour breakfast and lunch is included the views are incredible with breath-taking views. After an amazing day in the Grand Canyon, we spent following
day and night in Freemont, this place was lovely to go shopping, get some lunch and then in the evening, the area comes alive with live acts on the stage and well as doing the zipline. We then saw Cher in concert in the Park MGM, if I could turn
back time I would go back, after a fabulous performance we then headed to Caesars Palace for few rolls of the dice and cocktails. If you’re like me and like your food, head over to Bayside
Buffet in the Mandalay Bay for under 30 dollars you sample every dish known to man along unlimited cava or soft drinks. As it happened to be St Patrick’s day when we were in Las
Vegas. We began with Breakfast in the Nine fine Irishman in New York Hotel, where the Celtic Feis celebration with bagpipers and a concert on the strip, the rest of the day was blur. To finish in style, we did a 15-minute helicopter over the Las
Vegas strip, I was nearly not going to do this, but the instruction talked me around and I was so glad he did the experienced as it was just out of this world. We then fly over to big apple New York, again we arrived
in style with a Sedan pick up to our hotel in Time Square, we began by seeing Wicked the Musical on Broadway again what a performance, the following morning we got up at 6.30 am as we wanted to experience Ellen’s Stardust Diner which did not disappoint. We spent the following day shopping in Macy’s and 5th Avenue my credit card got a sore touch that day as did my partner’s blood pressure. We then took a Horse Carriage Rides around the central park which was just magical. We then went to the Statue of Liberty and 9/11 Museum again I can’t describe the feeling you get when here. We then visited a stunning a wee bar called don’t tell Mama on Broadway this was a beautiful experience I Tried my singing skills in Don’t Tell Mama, what a great feeling up there singing with some of the Broadway babies. We then did a wee mini-tour a few famous places, where Friends
and Sex and the city was filmed. I left like Carrie Bradshaw walking down the Avenue lol.
No visit would be complete without going on the Staten Island ferry and heading to the outlets for more shopping.
Our last day was spent by visiting the Empire State Building and Top of the rock what views we seen over New York
This TRULY was my American Dream!
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