Adventures with Carol – Paris to Normandy’s Landing Beaches

Have you ever dreamed of exploring culturally rich city of Paris? Seeing the romantic French countryside? Visiting the historic sights along the beaches of Normandy? You can do all of this and more when you go with Carol on her next adventure.

Who is Carol and why you should go on her adventure?

Carol is a regional manager with Boscov’s Travel and is based in our Neshaminy office. She has been in the travel business for 35 years and has escorted groups of 20 travelers-389 travelers to Alaska, Hawaii, Germany, the Caribbean. Many travelers in these groups have returned to go on more adventures with Carol. Her goal is always to make everyone feel excited about their journey and is always accessible  through out the trip. If you are looking for fun and excitement, an adventure with Carol is the way to go!

 Where is Carol’s next adventure heading?

Carol is off to France! More specifically, she is going on a Paris and Normandy river cruise. She chose this adventure for very special reasons. This cruise will be celebrating the 70th anniversary of the D-Day Landing and also, the 100th anniversary of WWI. Not a history buff? That’s alright, this cruise is also a culinary cruise offering wine tastings and special cooking presentations. Carol likes adventures that offer something for everybody.

This trip includes an overnight stay and half day guided excursion to the magnificent Palace of Versailles  in Paris before boarding your ship: the Avalon Creativity for your 7-night cruise. The Creativity offers unmatched service; first-class amenities such as Wi-Fi access, fitness center, hair salon and a whirlpool on the Sky Deck; and staterooms that are 15% larger than the industry standard. Each stateroom has floor-to-ceiling windows to give you a panoramic view of the French countryside as you cruise along.

Viking River Cruises – Viennesse Hot Chocolate

This recipe, courtesy of Viking River Cruises, comes to us from Reiner Marks, who prepared this drink aboard Viking River Cruises ships in Europe many times. Reiner has fond memories of how much our guests enjoyed the drink, which he says “tastes delicious.” Enjoy!

Ingredients:
Seven ounces premium dark chocolate, grated
Three cups of low-fat milk
One tablespoon granulated sugar
One cup heavy cream, chilled
One-half teaspoon vanilla paste (or vanilla extract, organic if possible)
One tablespoon confectioners’ sugar
Cocoa powder or chocolate shavings for garnish

Directions:
Gently heat one cup milk with the grated chocolate. Simmer in a saucepan over low heat until all chocolate has dissolved. Combine the remaining milk and the granulated sugar in another saucepan and whisk until all sugar has dissolved. Gently heat while stirring. Add the chocolate mix to the sugared milk and continue simmering over low heat. Whisk heavy cream and vanilla together on high speed and slowly add the confectioners’ sugar until peaks form. Remove hot chocolate from heat and divide into cups. Place a generous dollop of whipped cream on top of each. Garnish with a pinch of cocoa powder or sprinkle with chocolate shavings and serve.

Makes 4-6 servings, depending on mug size.

For more information on Viking River Cruises, contact your local Boscov’s Travel Specialist, call 800-755-8020 or email travelrequest@boscovs.com.

Cruise Show Spectacular 2013!

For the past four years, we have had the pleasure of hosting the biggest cruise show of the year in select Pennsylvania cities and, this year, we are back and bigger than ever with Cruise Show Spectacular!

Attending Cruise Show Spectacular is a great way to find out what’s new in the cruise industry, save big with great special offers and register to win fun door prizes. Our Cruise Line Representatives and Boscov’s Travel Specialists will be available to answer questions, so this is the perfect opportunity to start planning your dream cruise.

Check out our participating cruise lines:

• Avalon Waterways
• Celebrity Cruises
• Disney Cruise Line
• Holland America Line
• Norwegian Cruise Line
• Royal Caribbean International
• Viking River Cruises

Find your nearest Cruise Show Spectacular below! For a sneak preview, click here.

Sunday, January 27, 2013
The Crowne Plaza Hotel
Reading, PA
12:00pm-3:30pm
Registration begins at 11:30am

The Crowne Plaza is located just a few blocks from the Berkshire Mall at 1741 Papermill Road in Reading. Please contact Boscov’s Travel at the Reading Mall to reserve your seats. Call 610-779-8640 or email us
bostraveast@boscovs.com.

Sunday, February 17, 2013
The Sheraton Harrisburg-Hershey
Harrisburg, PA
1:00pm-4:00pm
Registration begins at 12:30pm

The Sheraton Harrisburg-Hershey is located at 4650 Lindle Road in Harrisburg. Please contact Boscov’s Travel at the Colonial Park Mall to reserve your seats. Call 717-540-4222 or email us bostravcolonialprk@boscovs.com.

Sunday, February 24, 2013
The Sheraton Bucks County
Langhorne, PA
12:00pm-3:30pm
Registration begins at 11:30am

The Sheraton Bucks County is located at 400 Oxford Valley Road in Langhorne. Please contact Boscov’s Travel at the Neshaminy Mall to reserve your seats. Call 215-355-3737 or email us bostravneshaminy@boscovs.com.

Sunday, March 3, 2013
The Ramada Inn
Wilkes-Barre, PA
12:00pm-3:30pm
Registration begins at 11:30am

The Ramada Inn is located at 20 public Square in Wilkes-Barre. Please contact Boscov’s Travel at 15 South Main Street, Wilkes-Barre to reserve your seats. Call 570-823-4141 or email us bostravwilkesbarre@boscovs.com.

Sunday, March 17, 2013
The Estonia adjacent to the Holiday Inn Express
Easton, PA
12:00pm-3:30pm
Registration begins at 11:30am

The Holiday Inn Express is located at 90 Kunkle Drive in Easton. Please contact Boscov’s Travel at Palmer Park Mall to reserve your seats. Call 610-250-2772 or email us bostraveaston@boscovs.com.

Viking River Cruises – Potstickers with Spicy Soy Dipping Sauce

Potstickers

Potstickers, or Chinese dumplings, consist of a meat or vegetable filling in a thin dough wrapper and can be steamed, boiled or fried. They are a traditional treat served during the Chinese New Year when families gather and make them together. You can double or triple the recipe below and freeze uncooked potstickers until ready to prepare and serve. Just one of the many treats you can enjoy on one of Viking River Cruises’ China itineraries.

Ingredients:

Filling:
One-half pound ground pork or ground turkey
Two green onions, minced
Two tablespoons minced bamboo shoots
One teaspoon minced ginger
One tablespoon cornstarch
Two teaspoons soy sauce
One-eighth teaspoon white pepper

Twenty-two round potsticker wrappers
Two tablespoons vegetable oil
Two-thirds cup water
One-third cup spicy soy dipping sauce

Spicy Soy Dipping Sauce:
Six tablespoons soy sauce
One-quarter cup Chinese black vinegar or balsamic vinegar
Two tablespoons sesame oil
Two teaspoons chili garlic sauce

Directions:

Combine all filling ingredients; mix well. Put one tablespoon of filling in the center of a potsticker wrapper. Brush edges of wrapper with water, fold in half and press edges to seal. Place potsticker on work surface and press lightly to form a flat bottom. Repeat for all 22 potstickers.

Heat nonstick frying pan to medium high and add one tablespoon of oil; swirl around to coat bottom. Add half the potstickers seam side up and cook until the bottoms are golden brown (about 3 minutes). Add one-third cup of water, cover and reduce heat; cook until water is absorbed (about 3 minutes) and remove from pan. Repeat with remaining potstickers. Serve with dipping sauce.

Makes 22 potstickers.

For more information on Viking River Cruises, contact your local Boscov’s Travel Specialist, call 800-755-8020 or email travelrequest@boscovs.com.

Viking River Cruises – Easy Apple Strudel

Making strudel dough from scratch is notoriously difficult and time-consuming. Here, Viking River Cruises has simplified this recipe using widely available frozen puff pastry dough so you can create a similar treat easily in your own kitchen. Strudels are a well-known central and eastern European treat; enjoy them on our Rhine and Danube cruises.

Ingredients:

One sheet (half box) frozen puff pastry dough, thawed
One-half cup sugar
One-quarter cup finely chopped walnuts
Five tablespoons raisins
One-half teaspoon freshly grated lemon peel
One teaspoon cinnamon
Two or three Pippin or Granny Smith apples (approximately three cups chopped)
One tablespoon toasted plain dry bread crumbs
Two tablespoons melted butter

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400°F. On a very lightly floured, plain-weave kitchen towel, lay out puff pastry dough. Lightly flour top and gently roll out to a thin rectangle about 14″ x 17″, sealing any tears in the dough. Dough will be quite thin; do not over-handle. Set aside, keeping dough on towel.

Peel, core and chop apples into small chunks. Toss with sugar, walnuts, raisins, lemon peel and cinnamon.

Lightly brush dough with one-quarter of the melted butter. Sprinkle with dry bread crumbs. Add apple mixture in the center of dough, leaving a 1″ margin around the filling. Fold in 1″ along three sides of the dough, leaving one long side unfolded. Moisten all folded edges and remaining flat dough edge lightly with water. Using the towel to assist you, roll the dough toward the unfolded edge, enclosing the filling. Press gently but firmly on bottom seam and sides to seal.

Using the towel as a sling, transfer strudel seam-side down to a cookie sheet; gently remove towel. Brush lightly with the remaining melted butter, and prick sparingly along the top with a fork. Bake about 30 minutes or until golden brown.

Cut crosswise into 12 pieces and serve warm with vanilla ice cream or a vanilla custard sauce.

Makes 12 servings.

For more information on Viking River Cruises, contact your local Boscov’s Travel Specialist, call 800-755-8020 or email travelrequest@boscovs.com.

Bucket List Travel Ideas

Bucket lists seem to be all the rage these days. Everybody is asking, “What’s on your bucket list?”, or saying, “There is another item checked off my bucket list!”

If you don’t have a bucket list, maybe it’s time to create one! Here are some travel ideas to help get you started or add to your current wish list of travel fun.

United States

• Take a helicopter tour over the Big Island in Hawaii. (Get an overhead look into an active volcano!)
  
  
• Experience the magic and pixie dust of Walt Disney World. (It is the land of dreams, after all!)
  
  
•  Visit Denali National Park in Alaska. (Have your camera at the ready, the sights are spectacular!)
  
  
• Watch the sunrise over the Grand Canyon. (See a national landmark at its most beautiful.)
  
  
• See the Bellagio fountain light show in Las Vegas! (You’ll feel luckier just by watching!)
  

Europe

• Climb the Eiffel Tower in Paris. (See the City of Lights from above the lights.)
  
  
• Take a Gondola ride in Venice. (Enjoy the romance of the city the way it was meant to be seen.)
  
  
• Sail down the Danube River in Europe. (See the elegance of Europe from the inside.)
  
  
• Stroll the Champs Elysées in Paris. (You’ll feel fancy just being there.)
  
  
• Make a wish in the Trevi Fountain in Rome. (Close your eyes, toss your change, change your life!)
  
  
• Kiss the Blarney Stone in Ireland. (Bend over backwards and gain the gift of eloquence.)
  
  

At Sea and Beyond

• Zip line above Royal Caribbean International’s Oasis of the Seas. (What a thrill! And what a view!)
  
  
• Swim with the dolphins in the Caribbean Sea. (Can you really name a better swimming partner?)
  
  
• See the pyramids of Egypt. (Take a trip into the desert and see the wonders of the world.)
  
  
• Find the “big five” on a safari in Africa. (Elephants, rhinoceros, buffalos, lions, and leopards, Oh My!)
  
  Live the dream! For help checking items off of your bucket list and other great vacation ideas, contact your local Boscov’s Travel Specialist, email travelrequest@boscovs.com or call 800-755-8020. 

9 Highlights Along the Nile River

While cruising along the longest river in the world, it can be very easy to become overwhelmed. Here is a short list of sights not to miss while you are there.

1. Kom Ombo
   Sailing north on the mighty Nile, the glimmering town of Kom Ombo beckons. Haggle for bargains in the local market before ascending to the bluff-top temple dedicated to the crocodile and falcon gods.
2. Temple of Horus
   Built in the time of Cleopatra around 2,000 years ago, the Temple of Horus is the pristinely-preserved pride of the city of Edfu. With its sheer vertical façade, elaborate hieroglyphics and stunning black stone statues, the temple is quintessential Egypt.
3. Luxor and Karnak
   Follow the Nile River to Luxor and Karnak, the grandest cities of ancient Egypt, with a combined population of more than a million. To walk among the pillars of the colossal Temple of Amon Ra and along the Avenue of the Sphinxes is an experience to treasure for a lifetime.
4. Valley of Kings and Valley of Queens
   Nearby the Valley of Kings and Valley of Queens on the west bank of the Nile, is the glorious final resting place for generations of pharaohs and royalty. Sixty-two royal tombs have been uncovered so far including the amazingly well-preserved visage of King Tutankhamun, discovered in 1922.
5. Cairo
   Heading north toward the lush Nile Delta, Cairo is the bustling capital of Egypt and Africa’s largest metropolis. Nicknamed “The City of a Thousand Minarets,” it’s filled with Islamic architecture and steeped in history.
6. Giza
   Nearby, Giza beckons with the iconic Sphinx, and the Great Pyramids, the oldest (and most intact) of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
7. Sakkara
   Travel on to Sakkara, with its extraordinary “Stairway to the Sky,” the oldest of all pyramids.
8. Memphis
   The archaeological playground of Memphis is next, boasting an immaculate 40-foot statue of Ramses II and the Alabaster Sphinx.
9. Alexandria
   In the fertile Nile Delta, the seaside resort town of Alexandria is a delightful ending to any Nile exploration. Founded by Alexander the Great in 331 B.C., this Mediterranean port city soon became one of the major centers of commerce and science of the Hellenistic world.

For more information on exploring these rivers in person with  Avalon Waterways click here.

For more information on a Nile River Cruise or other great Avalon Waterways vacations, contact your local Boscov’s Travel Specialist, email travelrequest@boscovs.com or call 800-755-8020.

The Nile River – 4,100 Intriguing Miles

The Nile River is the longest river in the world. So it follows that it would be long on enchantment, mystery and antiquity’s most intriguing relics. The lifeline of Egyptian civilization, the Nile basin is a cultivated oasis of green vegetation in a country which would otherwise be entirely desert. Measuring more than 4,100 miles–roughly the distance between Orlando and Juneau–the Nile has plenty of time to sail past rainforests, mountains, savannas, swamps, deserts and more than 5,000 years of history. Ancient temples, pyramids and other archaeological treasures stand in mesmerizing contrast to the Nile’s bustling cities, colorful bazaars and lively hospitality.

The Nile has been the cradle of Egyptian civilizations since the Stone Age. The thin, cultivated swath of the Nile valley is what most of today’s population and yesterday’s antiquities call home. Since the creation of the Sahara desert at the end of the most recent ice age more than 5,000 years ago, the Nile has been Egypt’s sole source of water, agriculture, commerce and power. Perhaps this is why the Greek historian Herodotus wrote that “Egypt was the gift of the Nile.”

Over the course of time, as the Nile would flood, silt deposits made the surrounding land extremely fertile. Ancient Egyptians were able to cultivate wheat and other crops in an otherwise hostile agricultural environment. The Nile’s water also attracted game such as water buffalo, elephants, antelopes and gazelles. But more than a vital source of sustenance, the Nile was also a critical transportation and trade route. In fact, trade was what secured Egypt’s diplomatic relationship with other countries and contributed to its economic stability.

The Nile was an important part of the ancient Egyptian spiritual life. The deity Hapy was the god of the annual floods, and both he and the pharaoh were thought to control the ebb and flow of the mighty river. Ancient Egyptian hunters prayed to god and goddess images of the animals they sought to ensure their and success of the hunt.

Crucial to Egyptian life, the Nile was considered to be the pathway from life to death and the afterlife. The east was thought of as a place of birth and growth, and the west was considered the place of death. The god Ra, the Sun, underwent birth, death, and resurrection each day as he crossed the sky. That is why all tombs are located west of the Nile, because Egyptians believed that in order to enter the afterlife, they must be buried on the side that symbolized death.

The Nile was, and still is, used to transport goods and people along its lengthy path. Winter winds in this area blow up river, so ships could travel up river effortlessly by using a sail, and down river using the high flow of the river. While most Egyptians still live in the Nile valley, the construction of the Aswan High Dam (completed in 1970) ended the summer floods and their renewal of the fertile soil.

For more information on a Nile River Cruise or other great Avalon Waterways vacations, contact your local Boscov’s Travel Specialist, email travelrequest@boscovs.com or call 800-755-8020.

The Rivers Seine and Rhone: A Brief History

The Seine River

The ancient Celtic Parisii tribe inhabited modern-day Paris near the Seine as earl as 250 B.C. They excelled in navigation and trading all the way down to the Mediterranean Sea, building quays and tow paths along the banks. The Romans conquered the Paris basin in 52 B.C., leaving a permanent settlement on the left bank of the Seine called Lutetia, and later, Lutèce. Over the course of the following centuries, the city eventually known as Paris became prosperous, boasting a forum, palaces, baths, temples and an ampitheatre. After the collapse of the Roman Empire, Paris was largely abandoned by its inhabitants and was little more than a ghost town.

While the Sein itself is a peaceful river with a gentle, meandering flow, it has set the stage for a number of tumultuous events in the history of France. In 885 A.D., the Vikings used the Seine to invade France, rowing hundreds of longboats and an army 40,000-strong inland to the heart of the country. And in the height of the Middle Ages, Joan of Arc was martyred in the shoreline city of Rouen after leading the French army in several important victories in the Hundred Years’ Wat. The Seine was a critical crossing in World War II, and the tragic final resting place of many victims of the Paris Massacre in 1961.

In recent years, the Seine River has been the subject of major conservation efforts in France dubbed “Operation Clean Seine.” In 1991, the banks of the Seine in Paris–the Rive Gauche and the Rive Droite–were added to UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites in Europe.

The Rhône River

The Rhône River has been an important lifeline for Western Civilization dating back to Greek and Roman times. It was the main trade route from the Mediterranean to the heart of ancient Gaul. As such, it helped convey Greek cultural influence to the people living along its banks.

Until the 20th century, navigation on the Rhône was difficult due to fierce currents, floods in the spring, and droughts in the late summer. Before the advent of the steam boat in the late 18th century, passengers traveled along the river in coches d’eau (water coaches) pulled my men or horses on shore. Trade flourished via giant barges which were pulled upstream by as many as 80 horses at a time.

One of the earliest experimental steamboats was built in Lyon in 1783, but regular services did not begin until 1829. Steam vessels strolled down the river at a leisurely 12 miles per hour, and could make the downstream trip from Lyon to Arles in a day.

In 1933, the French government established Compagnie Nationale du Rhône to increase the navigability of the river. Some progress was made, but World War II brought work to a halt. In 1942, Italian military forces occupied southeastern France up to the eastern banks of the Rhône.

After the war and liberation of France, the government started construction once again on a series of locks and canal cuts, improving the flow of the river and generating electricity. Today, about eight percent of France’s electricity is now supplied by the harnessed power of the Rhône.

For more information on exploring these rivers in person with  Avalon Waterways click here.

For more information on a Rhine-Moselle-Main River Cruise or other great Avalon Waterways vacations, contact your local Boscov’s Travel Specialist, email travelrequest@boscovs.com or call 800-755-8020.

16 Highlights Along the Rhine, Moselle, and Main Rivers

In such beautiful landscapes so rich in culture and history, it is easy to lose focus on which sites to see given an allotted amount of time so here are 16 sights you will not want to miss while traveling along the Rhine, Moselle, and Main Rivers.

1. Basel
   Located at the apex where Switzerland, France, and Germany meet, Basel, Switzerland is the first point of contact on the navigable portion of the Rhine River. With world-famous choirs, museums, and theaters, Basel is one of the most important cultural centers in Central Europe.
2. Breisach
   Continuing along the waterway on the French-German border, Breisach is nestled at the foot of Kaisertuhl Mountain and is the gateway to Germany’s Black Forest region. The fairytale castles and countryside of the region are as delightful to the eyes as the Black Forest cherry cake is to the taste.
3. Strasbourg
   Another mesmerizing border town, Strasbourg, France, is influenced by the culture of both Germany and France. It’s also the capital of the Alsace region known for its delectable wines. Admire the cobblestone streets, medieval architecture and winding canals of La Petite France in the heart of Strasbourg’s Old Town.
4. Speyer
   Farther along the River Rhine sits Speyer, Germany, an old imperial city boasting a Romanesque cathedral with six imposing towers and the finest and largest crypt in Germany. Four Holy Roman Emperors and four German Kings are buried in the impressive Royal Vault.
5. Mainz
   Mainz, Germany is situated on the left bank of the Rhine, opposite the mouth of the Main River. The Old Town has many interesting shops, tea rooms,  and restaurants, and a fountain on the Schillerplatz is decorated with scenes of the famous carnival held here every year. Johannes Gutenberg, the father of modern printing, was born here, so it’s fitting that a visit here would leave and indelible impression.
6. Rüdesheim
   The pretty little town of Rüdesheim is the perfect example of a Rhine Valley wine town. Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum with its collection of self-playing instruments is the quirky highlight of the quaint riverside village.
7. Metz
   One of the first outposts on the Moselle River is Metz, France. Here, the Palais du Gouverneur has a colorful, Disneyesque flair and is a fitting welcome to the fairytale land.
8. Remich
   The river continues on to Remich in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, a quaint town nestled among rolling, vineyard covered hills.