Recommend September 2013 - (Page 52)

Adventures by Disney guests visit Eilean Donan Castle. ambiance and its central location in the capital city. It’s the perfect setting for the ﬁrst evening’s welcome reception and dinner, in fact, with its banquet rooms that have ﬂoor-to-ceiling windows that look out onto Edinburgh Castle (there’s also a magical evening in the castle itself, but we’ll get to that a little later). “There are three or four hotels,” says Austin, “that would’ve ﬁt the ticket in terms of meeting the expectations of our brand, but there is something unique about The Balmoral—its historic presence in the middle of the city; the fact that it was built in the late19th century as a hotel to service the brand-new train that brought people from London to Edinburgh for the ﬁrst time, and the fact that it’s really the nicest hotel to walk into of all the hotels we visited as we were going through the process to make our selection.” Clients spend the next day exploring Edinburgh (the last day of the tour is also spent in Edinburgh), including visiting the renowned 100-year-old Dovecot tapestry studio. A tapestry studio for kids? Really? Indeed. First off, this tapestry studio had never welcomed tourists, so this is a unique experience for ABD clients. And if you’re familiar with “Brave” you’ll know that there’s a tapestry the mother is weaving that’s a focal point of the movie. Inside this remarkable studio, where the artistic tapestries and blazingly colorful yarns are a feast for the eyes, the ABD guests get to try their hand at weaving a tapestry that’s a replica of the one from the movie. With each ABD tour that passes through the doors of this studio, a little bit more of the tapestry gets done, and it’s all created by the tour participants—talk about a unique experience. Best part? These unique experiences don’t end there. Here are some of the one-of-a-kind delights your clients can expect on this itinerary that we enjoyed on our journey: Having lunch in a castle. Now how many people can say they’ve had lunch in the same castle that the Queen Mum grew up in? And then throw in some archery to complete the package. Well, archery is one thing, but on castle grounds, no less. Here at picturesque Glamis Castle, your clients will also have the opportunity to tour with a guide and hear intriguing tales that include ghosts and bridal contraptions. In fact, the castle’s grim history was the inspiration for Shakespeare’s “Macbeth.” Wandering through Dunnottar Castle, once the defender of the Scottish crown jewels and fortress against the armies of Oliver Cromwell. It’s perched on cliffs rising high above the sea, and just 52 september 2013 50-55 EU Scotland.indd 52 climbing the stairs to get to the ruins of the castle is an adventure in itself. The scenery here is spectacular and truly breathtaking. One can’t believe that they are walking through what were once the fortress’ barracks, lodgings, stables and storehouses and the less-ruinous chapel and drawing room. Driving from Edinburgh to Inverness in the Scottish Highlands, and taking in the stunning landscape that is dominated by mountain ranges (all blanketed in snow when we drove through). In Inverness, incidentally, accommodations are at the Kingsclub Hotel & Spa, which is not very close to the city-center, but offers great contemporary accommodations, and from some guestrooms, gorgeous views of a golf course (very Scottish indeed). Canoeing or trying one’s hand at driving a motor launch on Loch Ness, that most famous of Scottish lakes. Looking out at the vast dark-colored lake in search of that legendary creature that is said to live in these waters—all the kids in our group swore they saw those famous humps—is mind-blowing, and the landscape, with its forested shores, is extraordinary. We recommend clients opt for the canoeing because, as Austin notes, “ABD was given unique access to stage our canoeing experience from the shores of the lake right at the foot of the castle, so it provides an amazingly dramatic setting.” Here, there’s also the Loch Ness Centre & Exhibition, which charts the history of the monster, Nessie, by exploring the country’s geological past, its folklore and the various research projects carried out on the loch. After exploring both the loch and the museum, guests get to sit down for lunch while listening to naturalist Adrian Shine, who knows a thing or two about Loch Ness. Stomping through the famous Urquhart Castle, overlooking Loch Ness, will leave any client in awe, and viewing the lake from the castle is just as inspiring. This has got to be one of the most magical moments of the trip—Loch Ness in the background and standing amidst the ruins of this castle with its long, long history is truly incomparable. The castle, which was built on the remains of an ancient burial cairn, was captured numerous times over the centuries by warring forces contending for the throne of Scotland. Here, the history books come alive, and what better classroom than something like this for the kids. Going horseback riding on Highland ponies and mountain biking in Rothiemurchus in the Scottish Highlands—clients will have to pinch themselves when they see this scenery and take in all the outdoor activities. The Highland ponies are just the right height for the little ones (and those of us who aren’t too conﬁdent around horses), and if clients aren’t ready to ride through the forest on a mountain bike, the ABD tour guides go out of their way to ﬁgure out another activity that might interest your clients. My junior reporter wasn’t too conﬁdent on the bikes, so we went over to the Tree Zone Aerial Adventure Course, which leads kids, or adults, on an adventure through the tree canopy via balance beams, Tarzan swings, and zip wires. After that it was time for some hot chocolate at the Rothiemurchus Estate Farm Shop, and a picnic on the estate farm that included sandwiches made with locally grown meats and produce. Whisky tasting. All adults and kids need some time for themselves, right? So on this itinerary, ABD has an evening set aside for an adults-only dinner and some whisky tasting (they’ll get the nitty-gritty on which Scotch whisky to take back home), while the kids are off on their junior adventure dinner and enjoying a Disney movie night. recommend.com 8/22/13 8:51 AM C 1 S http://www.recommend.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend September 2013

Editor's Notes
Hotel Desk: Aston Hotels & Resorts
Tour Talk: Learning Journeys
Norwegian Breakaway
Family-Friendly Cruise Options
Moon Palace Golf & Spa Resort
Top Family Resorts
Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo
Panama Travel Planner
Adventures by Disney's Scotland: A Brave Adventure
Club Med Punta Cana
Top Family Resorts
Hawks Cay Resort, Florida Keys
New Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom
Globus Bridges Generation Gap With Exciting China Tours
Far-Flung, Family-Friendly Destinations

Recommend September 2013