Destinations Archives - Page 2 of 5

Getaway for aviation buffs

Already discovered by a few other Aviation bloggers, the Hotel Costa Verde in Costa Rica offers two unique attractions for aviation buffs. The first attraction is the El Avion restaurant and bar which is housed in a Fairchild C-123 left over from CIA efforts to supply the Contras with weapons (In fact, the plane was one of two C-123 used to supply the Contras with the other plane having been shot down and its pilot captured by the Sandinistas – beginning the chain of events that lead to the Iran-Contra scandal). The aircraft was purchased for US$3,000 in 2000 and had to be disassembled and hauled in pieces to the hotel site on top of a mountain.

The hotel’s other attraction is the 727 Fuselage Home – a two bedroom suite housed in a vintage 1965 Boeing 727 airframe that previously flew for South Africa Air and Avianca Airlines (Colombia). Rates for the Fuselage Home are US$300.00 daily plus tax until November 17, 2009.

Combined with beautiful white sand beaches, sports fishing and unique ecotourism type activities – the Hotel Costa Verde is the perfect holiday retreat for aviation buffs.

Deauville (LFRG)

I flew to Deauville yesterday with the missus and a couple of friends. It was a lovely, blue-sky day.

Deauville airport (LFRG) is small and friendly. It has an ILS and a long runway so it’s easy to get into. Sea fogs can cause problems, as with many airports in northern France. In the summer, visitors park on the grass but yesterday I parked on the main apron. Customs and landing fees take minutes and every time I have been there a taxi has always been waiting outside. The only frustration is that it can take a while to get a clearance and taxi instructions to get airborne (20 minutes yesterday).

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Honfleur, a 15-minute cab ride, is a beautiful harbour town. It reminds me a little of Brixham and Dartmouth, near where I grew up.

Avoid the harbour-side tourist cafes and walk a minute or two into the town for lunch at L’Homme De Bois (30, Rue Homme de Bois). It’s quieter and quainter with a great (mainly) seafood menu.

There is also an excellent ice cream parlour right by the harbour.

National Air and Space Museum

On a three day trip to the Baltimore-Washington area this past week, I took the opportunity, upon our arrival at Washington-Dulles International Airport, to jump in the rental car, head back down to the approach end of runway 1R and visit the National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. [Read more…] about National Air and Space Museum

$100 Hamburger top 10

For those of you flying across the pond in the near future, the author of “The $100 Hamburger: A Guide to Pilot’s Favorite Fly-In Restaurants” has just announced his best of the best list for 2009. After a review of 1,675 airport friendly restaurants in the USA, subscribers to the $100 Hamburger voted the Southern Flyer Diner in Brenham, Texas (11R) as the winner while the following restaurants were voted as the 2009 runner ups:

The $100 Hamburger 1. Final Approach Sheboygan, WI (SBM )
2. Gaston’s Lakeview, AR (3M0)
3. Hard Eight BBQ Stephenville, TX (SEP)
4. Harris Ranch Coalinga, CA (3O8)
5. Matthew’s Paseo Robles, CA (PRB)
6. Pilot Pete’s Schaumburg, IL (06C)
7. Rick’s Café Boatyard Indianapolis, IN (EYE)
8. Sky Galley Cincinnati, OH (LUK)
9. The Downwind Café Port Orange, FL (7FL6)
10. We-B-Smokin’ Paola, KS (K81)

A presentation team will be formed to make an in-person visit to each of the restaurants to confer the award. In addition, another 15 restaurants were given Best of the Best status.

Things to do in Florida

Florida Dawn

Florida is growing out of its reputation as a low-rent destination for families and retirees. It is sprouting exclusive luxury resorts. Its cities are growing more sophisticated and European and nestled among its inlets and islands there are hidden oases with quiet beaches and small, discreet hotels. [Read more…] about Things to do in Florida

Zero-G flying

Floating in Zero G

Weightlessness isn’t just for spacemen any more. It’s become the latest extreme sport. For years NASA, the European Space Agency and the Russians have used converted airliners to simulate microgravity but the experience was only available to scientists and astronauts. Now, thanks to a few pioneering space entrepreneurs, anyone can do it. [Read more…] about Zero-G flying