Just a few miles off the coast of Miami Beach, Florida, is the exclusive Fisher Island, known as the residential retreat for wealthy Americans. Until the mid twentieth century this island belong to the Vanderbilt family, who used as a winter residence. Today the population of Fisher island has risen to five hundred people. Being in close proximity to the famous Miami beaches, Fisher Island enjoys the same exquisite weather and conditions, only with significantly less people. There are stunning beaches to enjoy as well as fantastic views of the ocean from the intriguing landscape. Arguably the main attraction on Fisher Island is the Fisher Island Club, which is an exclusive club boasting top class facilities including a golf course, tennis courts, a marina and a spa amongst various other features. The dining facilities here are five star quality, with the views from the restaurants truly incredible. Travel from Miami Beach to Fisher Island is only available via private boat or ferry. The ferry journey to Fisher Island from Miami Beach only takes seven minutes and runs twenty four hours a day. Departures occur every fifteen minutes from a specific terminal just down the road from Miami Beach. You will ...

South Beach in Miami has so much more to offer than the beaches and weather, and that includes the vintage shopping opportunities, for which the area is renowned. Miami is an absolute haven for shoppers, with street after street packed with stores of all different types to explore, including street markets, department stores and, of course, its famous vintage boutiques. A day shopping in the vintage boutiques in South beach is like spending a day traveling through time, with many shops specialising in past fashion-eras. Start your vintage journey at C. Madeleine's, a large vintage shop which sells items dating back to the 1920’s through to more modern eras. Then head for the shops on Bird Road and don't miss the famous Miami Twice that sells "everything and anything" and even does clothe rentals.Vintage shop Fly Boutique on Lincoln road has a great reputation for reproducing women wear from the 50s. Recycled Blues Inc on Washington Avenue has a great selection of classic men's vintage clothing (think Levis jeans). It is likely that you will have planned a jam packed itinerary for your visit to Miami, but the late opening hours of the majority of the vintage shops in ...

Hollywood is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the USA. From the Hollywood Boulevard to the Hollywood and Highland shopping mall over the many long-standing cinemas in Hollywood, this diverse neighborhood attracts every American at least once in their life-time. If you chose to spend a family holiday in a Los Angeles holiday rental make sure to experience these top family attractions in Hollywood! Hollywood Beach As far as family suitable beaches go, this is one of the very best in the entire USA. Aside from the obvious fun which can be had on the beach and in the sea, there are endless activities for the family to enjoy all along the beach. Crazy golf and open air music are complemented by children’s play areas, restaurants and space to roller skate. Madame Tussaud’s This is a world famous institution in which famous figures are recreated using wax. Walking amongst life size models of the world’s most famous people is a surreal experience at any time, but there is something special about doing it in Hollywood, a place that is synonymous with famous people. The figures are constantly changing in keeping with the new faces which pop all, although there are always ...

Hollywood is synonymous with fame, fortune and glamour. For decades it has been the place where aspiring actors have travelled to in search of work and where countless movies and TV programmes have been made in the shadow of the famous Hollywood sign. When you visit Hollywood and maybe stay in a Los Angeles holiday apartment don't just visit this diverse neighborhood for the Hollywood Boulevard or the Hollywood and Highland shopping mall.... make sure you catch a movie in one of the many theaters around. Here is our top 5 movie theaters in Hollywood, Los Angeles: Arclight Hollywood This is truly a theatre experience which challenges the standard expectations of a trip to the theatre. The films which are showing are displayed on a train station style departure board and are accompanied by a large station style clock. There are a selection of current and classic films to choose from, all of which can be enjoyed using state of the art sight and sound. Purchase your Arclight Hollywood Tickets online to avoid queuing. Cinespace This venue has the ultimate Hollywood feel to it. There is large nightclub, a restaurant and lounge. It is the only place in the city where you can have ...

Choose a Los Angeles apartment for rent in Beverly Hills to be staying in one of America’s most exclusive communities midway between downtown Los Angeles and the beaches of the Pacific Ocean. Beverly Hills is where many Hollywood’s movie stars live and it therefore offers a fantastic shopping scene (think Rodeo Drive) and of course incredible dining opportunities. Here is Holiday Velvet ‘s pick of the most fabulous restaurants with a view in Beverley Hills, Los Angeles: The Grill on Hollywood Address: 6800 Hollywood Blvd Ste 407 Phone: (323) 856-5530 Hollywood Boulevard is perhaps the most famous street in Beverly Hills, and this restaurant offers fantastic views of the Kodak theatre, the venue which plays host to the Oscars each year. Sitting in this restaurant enjoying a traditional burger you can pretend that you are preparing to go and collect you award, or you can just sit and watch the hoards of people and general activity which fill this street. Barneys Address: 9570 Wilshire Boulevard Phone Number: (310) 777-5877 This is a high quality restaurant which offers a variety of dishes falling into the categories of Kosher, Jewish and American which reflects the culturally diversity in the area. The seafood here is particularly good and is a perfect ...

The bus drew to a halt and wearily I opened my eyes to catch my first glimpse of San Francisco: an uninspiring view of a crowded bus station. The two weeks I had spent hiking in Yosemite and Sequoia national parks were already distant memories. I wished I could get straight on a plane and back home. But instead I had eleven hours to kill: eleven hours in the city. I had to at least see the Golden Gate Bridge, I told myself. It was 8am as I trekked through the financial district amidst a sea of designer suits and take-away coffees. The long hours I had to fill were an alien concept to the people marching by. I reached Union Square where a different kind of traveller ate breakfast in five star hotels. Moving quickly on, with my rucksack weighing heavily on my shoulders I followed the quaint tram up Powell Street. Now the expensive designer suits were far away. Golden archways welcomed me into a colourful world of dragons, laughing buddhas and waving ornamental cats. Signs for dim sum, noodles and acupuncture filled every possible space. Crossing a few streets I was transported round the world to Italy. The smell ...

It's the perfect city to explore with the added bonus of being the gateway to California's amazing coastline. It's been twenty years since I last visited and then I was newly pregnant with my first daughter, so it has particularly special significance. We stayed with friends who showed us parts of the city that tourists might miss, such as the boutiques and markets. Of course, there are tourist experiences that one cannot pass up, such as taking a boat to Alcatraz. Interestingly, the boat trip over to the island prison didn't make me queasy, but the damp, stark and slightly sinister atmosphere inside the walls left me uncomfortably breathless. I expected to see Burt Lancaster hugging the window bars at every turn! ">Reserve your boat trip to Alcatraz Back on terra firma, I found myself happily lolling in cafe bars and drinking in the bustling people and the view, or simply mooching about. San Francisco is a big vibrant city, but unlike New York I didn't feel that fast-paced urgency. It's a place where it's OK to go at your own speed. Our greatest discovery was Fisherman's Wharf and the best clam chowder I ...

Quite simply because it is a magical city and the six weeks I spent here in the summer of 2009 were the best ones in my life! Where else would you find roads resembling small hills with a beautiful bay on one side and majestic mountains on the other, trees (giant sequoias) higher than the skyscrapers in the business district and of course the most famous gay parade in the world? For me personally it was a coming of age trip. I was 18 and travelling alone for the first time, to a country miles away from home (India). It was an eye-opening experience. Some memories that will forever remain etched in my mind: Hiking Half Dome, Yosemite National Park A weekend in this beautiful national park was the highlight of my trip. A three hour journey by road from San Francisco with four others and all of us from different countries! The night sky was magnificent, covered with millions of stars. The Milky Way could also be seen clearly. The hike to the top of Half Dome though long (10 hours) and arduous, was definitely worth the effort. The view from the top was spectacular to say the ...

With an aversion to making plans, I tend to arrive in a new city unaware of how long I will be staying. My recent trip to San Francisco offers no exception. Not long after I arrived, I began to notice how transient the city appeared to be. In hindsight, I put this early observation down to booking into a youth hostel, where the average length of stay was three nights. In such surroundings, I felt a slight pressure to follow suit and ‘do’ the city quickly and then move onto the next. In truth, when it comes to discovering a new city, I’m more three months than three days. I like to live in a city, become comfortable with a routine and leave, just as the routine becomes too familiar and tedious. I like to sample a selection of coffee shops, weigh up their good and bad points and then, after much deliberation, offer one of them the prestigious title, ‘My Favourite’. I like to sit in said coffee shop and sip my chai latte, whilst watching familiar faces wander by. I like to know the city without a map or guidebook. I like to get to know its people, as ...

"I left my heart in San Francisco" is exactly right! In 2007, I was in San Francisco for 10 magical and delightful days and nights! This is the same city where many years ago my parents went on their wedding anniversary. They told me they had driven down in my father's black Lovebug and ate grapes all the way because they had no money then. They gained 10 pounds in two weeks but they said it was worth every pound and they were right! So guess what? I got married in 2007, and we went to San Francisco on our honeymoon! Not in a Lovebug but the Amtrak! Now that was an adventure in itself. As I have always loved train traveling I thought it would be the perfect way to see the spectacular scenery and meet interesting people on the train. I did meet very cosmopolitan, worldly and extremely nice and interesting people on the train and at the dinner table. The train trip took even longer than expected as I did not know the Amtrak stopped at so many places because of freighters, etc. To top it all we did not have a sleeping car ...