Travel – Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC

Posted on September 9, 2013 by barbara

Moving to the Midwest gave us the opportunity to visit so many wonderful new places … and we love to travel!! One of those places on our “must see list” was the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina. We decided to go in January 2008 with plans that grew to include 14 family members from 4 different states. Everybody was responsible for their own transportation and hotel reservations. It turned out to be a wonderful extended weekend not only visiting the Biltmore but we also got to spend some quality time with three generations of family members.

HISTORY OF THE BILTMORE ESTATE

In 1880, at a time known as the Gilded Age, George Vanderbilt and his mother made regular visits to Asheville, North Carolina. George loved the area and the climate so much that he wanted to build a summer home there, his “little mountain escape”. The idea was to create a working estate similar to the ones found in Europe. Construction of the main building began in 1889 and was finally completed in 1895. It is the largest privately owned home in the United States at 175,000 square feet with 250 rooms. Vanderbilt commissioned Richard Morris Hunt, a New York architect, to design the house in a Chateausque style. Vanderbilt also hired landscape architect Frederick Olmstead to design the gardens which are bordered by a natural forest.

Vanderbilt intended for the estate to be self-supporting and he set-up several different farms involving poultry, cattle, hogs and also a dairy to provide milk and cheese products for the Biltmore kitchens. In 1901, Vanderbilt established Biltmore Industries which made furniture inspired by those furnishings found on the estate and this provided local employment in the community.

At the time of Vanderbilt’s death in 1914, it is believed that his inheritance and personal wealth was significantly depleted due to the construction, maintenance and lavish entertaining expenses of the Biltmore Estate. Edith was forced to sell 85,000 of the original 125,000 acres to the federal government as stipulated in her husband’s will with the provision that the land remain unaltered and eventually this property became the Pisqah National Forest. Vanderbilt’s only child, Cornelia, opened the Biltmore House to the public in 1930 and family members continued to live there until 1956. In 1964, the Biltmore was designated a National Historic Landmark. Currently, the Biltmore Estate is still controlled by the Vanderbilt family and managed under the name of the Biltmore Company.

BRIEF TOUR OF THE BILTMORE ESTATE

Over one million visitors annually come to visit this major tourist attraction in Western North Carolina that includes the Biltmore House with 75 acres of formal gardens, several restaurants and gift shops, a winery and a 213 room hotel, the Inn on Biltmore Estate.

Upon entering the Biltmore House, visitors are immediately impressed by the elegant design of the Entrance Hall with the soaring limestone arches and limestone floors, the Victorian-style glass roofed Winter Garden room and the Grand Staircase. Other rooms on the first floor include: The Library which is filled with Vanderbilt’s massive book collection of more than 23,000 books; he was an avid reader and began acquiring books at the age of 11. The Banquet Hall which is the largest room in the house with a 70 foot high barrel vaulted ceiling, a massive oak dining table with 64 chairs and a unique triple fireplace. Additional rooms on this floor are the Salon with adjoining Music Room on the left and Breakfast room on the right. The Billiard Room also leads into an area known as the Bachelor’s Wing with a Smoking Room and Gun Room.

Ascending the Grand Staircase, rooms located on the second floor of the house are centered on a formal sitting area where guests would meet prior to meals or other activities hosted by the Vanderbilts at the Biltmore Estate. This is an area for guests to socialize, play games, read or write letters. Located nearby is the Vanderbilt’s private suite of rooms that included: Mr. Vanderbilt’s bedroom which is filled with carved walnut furnishings, 17th century engravings and 19th century French bronze sculptures. Mrs. Vanderbilt’s oval-shaped bedroom is a very feminine room designed with silk wall coverings, cut-velvet drapes and bedding. Additional elegantly decorated and spacious guests’ rooms are also located on the second and third floors with equally elegant names such as: the Sheraton Room, the Chippendale Room, Van Dyck Room and the Madonna Room.

The Downstairs area is mainly the work space of the house with several kitchens, pantries, laundry rooms and servants’ bedrooms. Also located on this floor are several recreational rooms for the Vanderbilts’ guests, such as the swimming pool, gymnasium, bowling and several dressing rooms. In a former storage area that became known as the Halloween Room, this room was later used by the Vanderbilt’s daughter, Cornelia and her husband, for hosting lively parties where guests were known to paint imaginative murals on the walls.

TRAVEL TIPS AND SUGGESTIONS

Arrive early to the Biltmore Estate. We stayed in Asheville, NC at the Marriott Courtyard and arrived the day before to rest and relax from the 6 hour drive from our home. The next day we were able to be there when the box office opened to start the house tour before it became too crowded.
Allow plenty of time at the Biltmore Estate. I recommended at least two days touring not only the Biltmore house and gardens, but also wine tasting at the winery and the restaurants and shops at the Biltmore Village. There are other things to do in Asheville, such as: biking, hiking, horseback riding, antique shopping, etc. We also made a quick visit to the Thomas Wolfe house and museum located in Asheville which was very interesting.
Generally a visit during Sunday to Thursday is less crowded. Also, consider getting tickets in advance and make reservations online or by phone. Guests who arrive without reservations are not guaranteed tickets during busy weekends or the holiday season.
Dress in comfortable clothes and shoes, dress in layers because the mountain weather can be very unpredictable. When we visited in late January the weather was comfortable in Asheville, but at the top of the mountain at the Biltmore Estate the wind was very cold and we were glad to have our warm jackets!
Parking is free and shuttle buses take you from the parking lot to the Biltmore House. In order to see the other areas of the Estate, such as the beautiful gardens, the Deerpark restaurant, the winery or the Biltmore Village for shopping, you will need your car to drive to those separate areas.
Even though a tour of the Biltmore House is self-guided, we highly recommend the audio tour which provides interesting historical and architectural information that enhanced our visit.
The night before our visit to the Biltmore House we a delicious buffet and attentive service at the Deerpark restaurant. “The Restaurant is housed in a historic barn original to the estate. Enjoy prepared-to-order specialties in addition to classic favorites like hand-carved prime rib. The delightful courtyard restaurant specializes in Southern family-style dishes.” We highly recommend making a reservation.

Travel – Clinton Presidential Library in Little Rock, AR

Posted on August 19, 2013 by barbara

Today is President William Jefferson Clinton’s birthday, he was born on August 19, 1946, and I thought it was a good time to share our trip to the Clinton Presidential Library and Museum located in Little Rock, Arkansas. On our annual road trip back from California, we took the southern route across the United States and made stops at the Grand Canyon, Tucson, Little Rock and Memphis before heading north to go home. When traveling across the country we always love to stop at the presidential libraries along the way and we have been to several of them – it doesn’t matter if the president was a democrat or republican – it is always a little history lesson!! We loved Little Rock and the people were extremely friendly and very proud of this revitalized area of Little Rock. (If you are interested, please check the January 2013 Travel post on Elvis Presley’s Graceland – Memphis, TN from the same road trip!)

The William J. Clinton Presidential Center is located in Little Rock near the Arkansas River and is home to the Clinton Presidential Library and Museum, the Little Rock offices of the Clinton Foundation and the University of Arkansas Clinton School Of Public Service. When the Center opened in 2004, it brought more than $2.5 billion in economic development and renovations to the area located hear the historic River Market district. The Presidential Library has the largest archival collection of any American President and features 20,000 square feet of museum exhibit space including a recreation of the White House Cabinet Room and a full scale replica of the Oval Office. In speaking with the docent at the Library he told us that President Clinton visits the facility frequently when he is in Little Rock, in fact we missed seeing him there by only a few days!

After entering the Library there is usually a small revolving exhibit on the ground floor, when we visited it had several of Elvis Presley’s cars which was great because our next stop on our trip after Little Rock was Graceland – Memphis, TN. On the ground floor there is a permanent exhibit of the Presidential limousine used during the Clinton Administration.

Before proceeding to the second floor we purchased audio guides for each member in our group for a small fee, $3. The audio tour is narrated by President Clinton and there are numbered stations throughout the Library and visitors simply enter the corresponding number to hear the information regarding a specific exhibit. Also available for visitors are free one-hour “An American Presidency” tours offered three times a day with a paid admission, no reservations are required and check at the ticket counter for more information regarding the specific times. Volunteers are also stationed throughout the Library to answer any questions. While we were at the Special Services counter we also picked up the “Ideas Matter Youth Scavenger Hunt” which is a special self-guided children’s tour where they learn about the Library and search for areas marked by gold eagle coins, it was a fun activity for our 12 year old daughter and keep her busy during our visit.

In a small theater on the second floor there is an orientation film about President Clinton’s years in office. Behind the theater is a large exhibit hall which has different changing exhibits, check ahead on the Library’s website to see what will be on exhibit at the time of your visit. In front of the theater is an area with a recreation of the White House Cabinet Room. This room in the West Wing of White House has been used since 1902 as the place where the President, Vice-President, the various cabinet secretaries and other officials gather to make the choices that affect our country’s future. In a position of honor at the center of the table is the tallest chair, with a brass plaque marked “Mr. President”. (Of course everyone has to sit in the President’s chair!) On the walls surrounding the room, President Clinton had selected portraits of Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt and, his personal favorite, George Washington.

My favorite section of the Library was the 110 foot freestanding interactive timeline panels, starting from 1993 to 2001 representing the years of the Clinton administration. Each individual year panel gives information regarding the events of that particular year ranging from natural disaster, scientific breakthroughs and military conflicts as well as events regarding sports to music. Also in this section are 13 “policy alcoves” which explain specific policies of the Clinton administration. Architecturally and visually this area of the Library is very well-done and extremely informative.

On the third floor of the Library is a section with exhibits that explain the Clinton’s life in the White House and displays concerning special state events and holiday celebrations throughout the years. Also included in this section are several rotating exhibits displaying state gifts received during the Presidential years and personal memorabilia of the Clinton family.

The highlight of the third floor is the full-sized replica of Clinton’s Oval Office; this room is decorated with the furnishings and decorations that were used during the years of his administration. The original Oval Office in the White House was created in 1909 when President Taft built the West Wing. In 1934 President Franklin Roosevelt had the room moved to its present location in the southwest corner of the West Wing. My favorite piece of furniture in the room is the Resolute desk which is a 19th century desk used by many past presidents. Originally it was a gift from Queen Victoria given to President Rutherford Hayes in 1880 and is built from the timbers of the British Arctic Explorations ship the “Resolute”. Since them many presidents have used the desk at various locations in the White House and President Franklin Roosevelt added a small door built to prevent people from seeing his wheelchair. It was first brought to the Oval Office in 1961 for President Kennedy and after his assassination it was used in a traveling exhibition to raise funds for the Kennedy Presidential Library and then put on display at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C. President Jimmy Carter brought the desk back to the Oval Office where every president has used it since then. (My memory of the Resolute desk is the iconic photo of little John-John Kennedy peeking out underneath from the door of the desk. Of course, if you have see the 2007 movie “National Treasures 2 – Book of Secrets, you will remember the famous scene where Nicolas Gage searching for a hidden treasure in the desk!)

When plans where first being discussed for the Clinton Presidential Library the first choice was to build it in Little Rock, Arkansas. The building’s architects took inspiration from the six bridges over the Arkansas River; expanded on the Clinton administration “a bridge to the future” theme used in the 2000 millennium celebration and built the bridge-like building concept that fits in beautifully with the scenic river view at the site. Clinton also wanted the building to be an example of the green building design concept of sustainable construction and operation. The Clinton Presidential Center has received the Platinum LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Certification and presently is the only federally maintained facility to receive this prestigious recognition.

Travel – Neuschwanstein Castle

Posted on August 15, 2013 by barbara

My son and I were fortunate to see Neuschwanstein Castle when we were on a trip to Germany in 1998. King Ludwig’s Neuschwanstein is a 19th century fairytale castle located on the hill above the small village of Hohenschwangau, near Fussen in southern Germany. We were on a bus tour of this beautiful region known as Bavaria that originated from Munich. The tour took us first to Linderhof, one of King Ludwig’s smaller palaces, then on to a brief shopping visit to Oberammergau which is famous for their woodcraving, beautifully painted houses and the Passion Play. The final stop and the highlight of the tour was Neuschwanstein Castle and it was an enchanting experience and very exciting for this Disney fan to see the actual castle that was the inspiration for Disneyland’s Sleeping Beauty Castle in Anaheim, CA.

A Brief Histoy of Neuschwanstein Castle

In the Middle Ages there were three castles near the village of Hohenschwangau, which is located at 2,620 feet elevation near the border of Germany and Austria. Schwanstein Castle was located nearest the village and on the hill overlooking were twin castles known as Vorderhohenschwangau Castle and Hinterhohenschwangau Castle. Over the centuries all three castle fell into ruins. Then, in 1832 King Maximilian II began to build a new castle known as Hohenschwangau Castle near the ruins of the Schwanstein Castle. By 1837 the palace was completed and became the summer residence of the King and his family. In 1864 King Maximillian died and his eldest son became King Ludwig II. Ludwig was only 19 years old when he became king of Bavaria and he was a very shy and introverted man who spent his childhood exploring this area of southern Germany.

Several years later, Ludwig wanted to build a secluded personal refuge and he decided on the area where the twin castles once stood. The building design was drafted by the stage designer Christian Jank and the King insisted on control over all aspects of the palace and is largely regarded as his own creation rather that the architects involved. The foundation stone for Neuschwanstein Castle was laid in 1869. Over 200 craftsmen were employed with additional 100 workers at different times in order to meet the King’s specific deadlines for the construction of the palace. The materials used for the construction of the palace were approximately white limestone for the exterior walls, sandstone for the portals and Salzburg marble for the arched window frames and columns. Transportation of these materials was difficult due to the site located on the steep hill, cranes and scaffolds were also needed during the construction. In 1884, the King moved into the still unfinished palace to oversee the completion of the construction and the final interior details. Ludwig only spent six months at his beloved Neuschwanstein before he died under mysterious circumstances in the water of Lake Stanberg new Berg Castle in 1886 at the age of 40 years old.

The exterior of Neuschwanstein Castle is designed in the Romanesque style of architecture and the building has numerous towers, turrets, gables and balconies. Built on the hill above the village of Hohenschwangau with the Pollat Gorge to the south and the foothills of the Alpine mountains and lakes to the north, the palace’s setting offers many picturesque views in all directions. Neuschwanstein was intended to be King Ludwig’s private residence and the interior design is based on the German legend of Lohengrin or the Swan Knight as immortalized in the operas of Richard Wagner and his music was very inspirational in the design of the palace.

At the time of Ludwig’s death, only 14 finished rooms of the palace were completed and furnished. The original 65,000 square feet floor plan was designed with more than 200 rooms with the majority of those rooms intended as guest and servant accommodations. The largest room of the palace is the Hall of Singer’s which is 89 feet by 33 feet and is located in the east wing of the palace. The Hall was designed with a stage at the far end but was never intended for court entertainment of the reclusive King. No performance was held in the room until 1933 when there was a concert performed to commemorating the 50th anniversary of Richard Wagner’s death, he never lived to Neuschwanstein.

The Throne Room measures 66 feet by 39 feet with a 43 feet high ceiling takes up the space of the third and fourth floors and is located in the west wing of the palace. At the request of King Ludwig, this Byzantine style room is designed to incorporate the symbols of unrestricted sovereign power and the divine right of kings. Hanging overhead is a chandelier in the shape of a Byzantine crown and at the far end of the room is a dais but is without a throne since King Ludwig’s throne was not finished at the time of his death. The walls surrounding the dais have paintings of Jesus and the twelve apostles and also portraits of six canonized kings: Saint Louis of France, Saint Stephen of Hungry, Saint Edward the Confessor of England, Saint Wenceslaus of Bohemia, Saint Olaf of Norway and Saint Henry the Holy Roman Emperor.

King Ludwig’s bedroom suite is in contrast to the other rooms in the palace and is decorated in a Neo-Gothic style. It took 14 woodcarvers 41/2 years to complete this room; the bed is crowned with the intricate woodcarvings and covered with embroidered draperies. The wall painting is “Tristian and Isolde” a story from one of Wagner’s operas. The adjacent dressing room is completely paneling in oak and the painted trellis on the ceiling gives the impression that the room is open to the sky.

The Living Room is completely inspired by the legend of the Swan Knight, Lohengrin, which had significant meaning and held great importance to Ludwig. In this room there is a mural called “The Miracle of the Grail”, the Grail King was a medieval legend of a pauper that had risen to become King because of his pure soul and he achieved this success by overcoming sin and winning his inner battles. Ludwig’s obsession with the Grail King is very understandable when looking at his diaries indicate that he also suffered with deep inner turmoil in repressing his homosexuality. Another mural in the room is called “The Arrival of Lohengrin in Antwerp” is important given that the young prince Ludwig was so overwhelmed by Wagner’s opera Lohengrin that he considered the opera a form of enlightenment. Ludwig was a recluse and completely identified himself with the Swan Knight whose tragic downfall was his overwhelming loneliness that he frequently dressed as the character. Neuschwanstein means “New Swan Stone” and King Ludwig II is still thought of today as the “Swan King”.

Travel tips for visiting Neuschwanstein Castle

Before ascending the hill, purchase castle tour tickets at the ticket center in Hohenschwangau or tour tickets are also available for a small additional reservation fee on the Neuschwanstein website, www.neuschwanstein.de

TRAVEL NOTE: The tour ticket is valid only for a specific date and time and be advised that it takes awhile to reach the castle at the top of the hill. If you have purchased tickets online, please arrive at least 1½ hours before your reserved time to allow for travel up to the castle entrance.

There are various options to get to the top of the hill and the castle entrance. The price for the bus and the horse-carriage ride will variety from one fee for the uphill trip and another fee for the downhill trip. (When we visited Neuschwanstein, we took the bus to the top of the hill to the castle entrance and then after the castle tour we walked back down to the village).

Walk: A strenuous hike from the village at the bottom on the hill up to the castle at the top can takes about 45 minutes to an hour. A hike down the hill after the tour is a great way to see the beautiful views across the way to Hohenschwangau Castle with the village down below and also Alpsee Schansee, a picturesque lake located on the other side of the castle.

Bus: There is fee for the bus and will depart from in front of the Schlosshotel in the village. Visitors will ride up the hill to a stop near Jugend lookout and Marienbrucke. From the bus stop there is still a strenuous and steep path which will take visitors about 15 minutes to reach the castle entrance.

TRAVEL TIP: Be sure to take a moment to look at the lovely view of Neuschwanstein and the Pollat Gorge before walking to the castle entrance. The location at the Maienbrucke (or Mary’s Bridge) is a wonderful vantage point for pictures of Nesuchwanstein and the waterfall below the bridge.

Horse-drawn carriage: There is a fee for the carriage ride and will depart from in front Hotel Muller in the village, then from the carriage stop it is a shorter walk to the castle entrance. (If you can afford this mode of transportation is can be a wonderful way to travel up the hill to the castle)

Guided tours of the interior of the castle take about 35 minutes and are held in German and English, other languages are available as audio guides.

TRAVEL NOTE: The castle tour can be strenuous for visitors, please be advised the tour will covers 5 floors of the castle, 165 stair steps upstairs and 181 stair steps downstairs. Call ahead to inquire about special arrangements made for the disabled persons using a wheelchair or walker.

Neuschwanstein has more than 1 million visitors every year and in the busy summer months of July, August and September there can be 6,000 visitors per day. Arrive early in the day to purchase castle tour tickets at the ticket center in Hohenschwangau or pick up pre-arranged tour tickets at the will call window.

Photography is not allowed inside the castle.

For more information regarding times, prices, etc check out the Neuschwanstein website, www.neuschwanstein.de

Neuschwanstein Castle and the Disney connection

When Walt started the construction of the Disneyland theme park in Anaheim, CA he wanted something at the end of Main Street to draw his guests into the park. At the time the Disney animated film “Sleeping Beauty” was about to be released and Walt thought a fairytale castle would be the perfect solution. The castle they built as the entrance to Fantasyland is called the Sleeping Beauty Castle and it was one of the first buildings to be completed for the new theme park that opened July 17, 1955.

Sleeping Beauty Castle has been noted to be a composite of the architecture of French and Bavarian castles which were originally built during the Middle Ages. But in actuality the inspiration for the Disneyland castle is a place Walt Disney and his wife Lillian visited many years before on a European vacation, Neuschswanstein Castle in Germany. The resemblance between the two castles is uncanny and the architectural features are undeniable.

Travel – Buckingham Palace

Posted on August 7, 2013 by barbara

My family and I were fortunate to visit London, England back in 1998. There are so many wonderful places to see when you visit London, such as the Tower of London with the Crown Jewels, the Victoria and Albert Museum with their fascinating exhibits, the Parliament building with Big Ben or Kensington Palace where Princess Diana lived and where William and Kate are now making their London residence. Of course, no trip to London would be complete without a visit to Harrods Department Store for lunch in the famous food court or afternoon tea upstairs in the elegant Georgian Restaurant. In this Travel post I will be sharing our visit to Buckingham Palace and the most iconic building in England.

A Brief History of Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace is actually located in the City of Westminster and it is the official London residence and administrative offices of the current British monarch. Originally known as Buckingham House, a large townhouse was built on the site for the first Duke of Buckingham in 1705. In 1761, King George III acquired it as a private retreat for Queen Charlotte and during that time it was known as the Queen’s House. In 1820, King George IV, quickly decided that Buckingham House, as it was now known as, would be the perfect location for his new London home. John Nash, the famous architect, was chosen to design and he built two new wing additions to the building which was now being referred to as Buckingham Palace. The renovations were still far from completion when George IV died and his brother became King William IV. The new king had no interest in moving from Clarence House into the unfinished palace. Nash was fired due to his massive overspending and Edward Blore was brought in as the new architect to complete the project. Finally in 1837, on the accession of Queen Victoria to the British throne, she moved from Kensington Palace into Buckingham Palace and it became the official royal palace of the British monarch since that time.

After the marriage of Queen Victoria to Prince Albert and with the birth of their nine children, Buckingham Palace went through further expansion to accommodate the large British Royal family. Blore was brought in again as the architect to design the fourth wing which added the east façade to the front of palace. After the death of her husband, Queen Victoria rarely occupied her London residence and preferred the seclusion of their other homes of Balmoral, Osborne House and Windsor Castle. Upon her death in 1901, King Edward VII moved in and extensively redecorated Buckingham Palace with a classic white and gold theme which still remains in many areas of the palace, such as the Grand Entrance and Staircase and the Grand Ballroom. During this time to honor his mother and the beloved British Monarch, the Victoria Memorial was erected in front of the palace.

Until the Second World War, there were very few changes made to Buckingham Palace. Then, during the German bombing of London Queen Victoria’s private chapel At Buckingham Palace received a direct hit and was destroyed. Years after the war ended, the chapel was rebuilt and Queen Elizabeth decided that the space would be used for royal exhibits and this area of the palace was opened to the public. The funding received was used to construct the Queen’s Gallery which now houses art pieces from the Royal Collection. Then in 1993, while the Queen was in Balmoral and not in residence at Buckingham Palace during the summer months, the State Rooms were open for public tours. This was initially done to raise funds for the rebuilding and repair of Windsor Castle which had undergone serious damage after a fire in 1992. Since then Buckingham Palace and several other royal palaces have been opened during specific times of the year and the funds now continue to maintain the Royal Collection, including the buildings, art and other objects of historical importance which are held in trust by the Monarch for Britain.

1998 – My son, Chris, at the gates to Buckingham Palace

A Tour of Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace has 775 rooms, which include 19 State rooms, 52 Royal and guest bedrooms, 188 staff bedrooms, 92 offices and 78 bathrooms. The building is just over 118 yards long across the front, over 131 yards deep including the central quadrangle and over 26 yards high. Buckingham Palace has been the setting for many royal ceremonies, State visits from foreign leaders, Investitures and even the Queen’s Garden party. This is the place in London were the British people come to celebrate joyous occasions such as the end of World War II on VE day in 1945, the Queen’s coronation in 1953, and most recently the Diamond Jubilee in 2013.

Visitors with pre-arranged tour tickets will enter through a Buckingham Palace side entrance after passing through a security check. The first area after entering the State Room wing of the palace is the Grand Hall with the lovely Grand Staircase. Designed by the architect John Nash at the request of King George IV, the Grand Staircase has a balustrade with intricate patterns of acanthus, oak and laurel leaves. As visitors ascend the curved marble staircase the upper walls are lined with portraits of Queen Victoria and her family.

As visitors pass into the Guard Room there are white marble statues of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. The next room is the Green Drawing Room which serves as a huge reception area before entering the Throne Room. The Green Drawing Room is decorated with a patterned red carpet and the walls are lined in green and gold silk.

As you walk through the Green Drawing Room, visitor will then enter the Throne Room. This beautiful State Room was designed for ceremonial receptions and at one end of the room there is a raised platform with two red thrones embroidered with the initials of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip and overhead is a red canopy trimmed in gold. The upper portions of the walls and the ceiling are lined with the heraldic shields representing England, Scotland, Ireland and Hanover.

Customarily formal wedding portraits are taken in the Throne Room after a Royal Wedding ceremony. Shown below are the wedding portrait of the then Princess Elizabeth to Prince Phillip in 1947, the wedding portrait of Prince Charles and Princess Diana in 1981 and most recently the wedding portrait of Prince William to Kate Middleton in 2011.

After the Throne Room, visitors will exit into the Picture Gallery which displays an ever changing exhibit of paintings from the Royal Collection. The four marble chimneypieces in this room have female figures holding paint brushes and artist palettes; in the center of the room is a ceiling medallion of four famous painters: Titian, Leonardo de Vinci, Durer and Van Dyck. This room is used for the investiture recipients who assemble here before entering the Ballroom to receive their awards for achievement.

The next room on the tour is the Ballroom, which is one of the largest rooms in Buckingham Palace. The Ballroom was originally decorated by King Edward VII in 1906 in white and gold with a large organ at one end and six beautiful crystal chandeliers overhead. The Ballroom is used for State Dinners such as the one held in May 2011 for President Barack Obama. It is also frequently used for investitures that are held throughout the year performed by Queen Elizabeth and the recipients are awarded British honors and sometimes knighthoods.

Exiting the Ballroom, visitors will walk through the West Gallery before entering the State Dining Room. The State Dining Room is decorated with red damask walls and a matching red with white and gold plasterwork on the ceiling. Many dignitaries from presidents to prime ministers have attended smaller dinner parties in this lovely room in the palace.

The next room on the tour is the Blue Drawing Room which is decorated with blue flock wallpaper and portraits of King Georg V and Queen Mary which hang on either side of the fireplace. This was John Nash’s original Ballroom and the first State Ball was held here on May 1838 as part of the celebrations leading up to Queen Victoria’s Coronation.

Exiting the Blue Drawing Room, visitors enter the large doomed Music Room. The room is decorated with white and gold frieze, two large chandeliers hang overhead and along the edge of the room there are sixteen blue columns. This is the room where the British Royal families’ babies are christened by the Archbishop of Canterbury. (Please check out tomorrow’s Celebration post, A Royal Christening, for details about these special British Royal ceremonies)

The final State room on the tour is the White Drawing Room, which is decorated in white and gold with four smaller chandeliers and one large chandelier in the center of the room. Along a wall are mirrors and cabinets that conceal secret doors that allow members of the Royal family to enter the room. This room serves as a Royal reception room for the Queen and members of the Royal family gather in before State and official occasions.

From here visitors exit down to the next floor and into the Marble Hall which opens into the Grand Hall. From there visitors enter the Bow Room, which is the last room on the tour before exiting through the palace gardens.

1998 – Me at the gates to Buckingham Palace

Travel – The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Posted on July 31, 2013 by barbara

Today is J.K. Rowling’s birthday, she is the world famous author of the Harry Potter series of books, and in her honor I would like to share this Travel post on the Wizarding World of Harry Potter located at the Universal Orlando Resort in Florida. So, at the beginning of summer we finally left for a one week road trip to Florida. We had planned stops in Charleston, SC and the Kennedy Space Center before arriving at the Universal Orlando Resort.

The morning after we arrived in Orlando; we woke early, had a quick breakfast at our hotel and then headed to the Universal Island of Adventure Theme Park. We were lucky that our hotel had a shuttle bus and after a short ride we were dropped off at the entrance to the Universal Orlando Resort. (This worked out great for us because during our entire stay in Orlando we never had to move our car from the hotel parking lot!) TRAVEL TIP: We were allowed entrance into the Islands of Adventure Park one hour early; this is available for guests that book their hotel reservations/park tickets through the Universal website. If you have this opportunity, take advantage of the chance because this area of the park can get very crowded especially during the summer months!

Upon entering the Islands of Adventure Park, we quickly headed to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter to begin our adventure. This magical area is truly enchanting and once you walk through the arched gates, guests will leave the “muggle” world behind and entered into the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. The sign above the entrance reads, “Please respect the spell limits” and as guests walk through the entrance the entire village of Hogsmeade appears complete with a light touch of snow. TRAVEL TIP: After riding all the rides in the Wizarding World, take the time to stroll through the village of Hogsmeade. Look at the shop window displays and then go into the shops to look around because the attention to all the details is absolutely amazing.

Immediately on the right of the entrance stands a fiberglass replica of the Hogwarts Express sitting at the Hogsmeade train station. We stopped to take a quick photo in front of this iconic steam train from the Harry Potter books and movies, it makes a great photo! TRAVEL TIP: If you are lucky and the train conductor is there, ask to see his pocket watch. This one-of-a-kind item is a golden pocket watch with the crest of Hogwarts on one side and the Hogwarts Express engine numbers on the other side. The unique watch not only tells the conductor the time but also where the train is located and if the train is on schedule.

Our first stop was the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey attraction (with the early admission access we were hoping to limit our wait time, so we wanted to go there first). The ride is located inside the Hogwarts Castle and as guests walk through the corridors they will see the gallery of talking portraits, the office of Headmaster Dumbledore and the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom with Harry, Hermione and Ron appearing on the balcony. Before you reach the boarding area of the ride, muggles like me that can’t ride because of motion sickness can exit here (which was fine with me because part of the enjoyment of this ride is walking through the queue area and seeing the interior of Hogwarts). After boarding the “magical benches”, the braver guests will experience a simulated flight that starts with them feeling like they are flying around the outside of the castle, and then there is an encounter with the Whomping Willow, several dementors, some giant spiders, a Hungarian Horntail Dragon and finally a Quidditch match. Both my husband and daughter enjoyed this ride and rode it several times during our stay at the Universal Orlando Resort! TRAVEL TIP: If you are riding again for the second or more times, consider the single rider line, especially if the regular wait line is too long!

Next, my husband and daughter went on the Flight of the Hippogriff, of course I passed on this ride, too! This ride is a steel roller coaster designed for families (OK, please don’t call me a wimp!!). The story of this ride is that the Hogwart’s Care of Magical Creatures, Professor Hagrid, is teaching young wizards how to fly on a Hippogriff by using a wicker replica of the creature. My husband and daughter rode this ride twice, but when we returned later in the day the wait time was just too long to ride again! TRAVEL NOTE: Look for the nest with a baby Hippogriff and Hagrid’s Hut which can also be seen from the Dragon’s Challenge ride.

By this time, we had a breakfast reservation at the Three Broomstick restaurant, the design of the building is based on the inn & pub from the Harry Potter series. After ordering our food, a waitress will conveniently help you to your table by carrying your food tray. Breakfast was very good, tasted great and the portions were generous and we even ordered a single pumpkin juice so we all could take a taste, it is definitely unusual! Then, while we were eating our meal, we looked up at the rafters and to our surprise we saw the shadows of owls flying, house elves working and even magical brooms cleaning, it was very cool! TRAVEL NOTE: The Three Broomsticks serves not only breakfast, but later in the day a full menu of traditional British food such as Shepherd’s pie and fish & chips, in addition you can get a strawberry-peanut butter ice cream which was seen in the “Harry Potter and Chamber of Secrets” movie.

TRAVEL NOTE: Just next door to the Three Broomsticks is the Hog’s Head. It is based on the pub from the Harry Potter series which is owned by Aberforth Dumbledore, he is the younger brother of Albus Dumbledore who is the Headmaster at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The featured drink in the pub is the Hog’s Head Brew, a dark amber Scottish ale which is brewed exclusively for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Tip the bartender to see the Hog’s Head behind the bar come snorting to life! TRAVEL TIP: Here is my advice from someone who does not ride the attractions at the Wizarding World, is that just outside the door of the pub is a covered area with very limited seating and it is the best place to wait during a hot summer afternoon or during one of Florida’s sudden rain showers. Most guests sit and wait at the Owlery across the way, it is a larger area but I found it to be very crowded and after awhile the noise of the clock gets very irritating!!

After breakfast, my husband and daughter went on the Dragon Challenge ride (OK, don’t say it … but I know you are thinking it!!) The Dragon Challenge ride is the only simultaneous two track inverted roller coaster in the world. The ride is named for the first task in the Triwizard Tournament from the Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. As guests enter the queue there are tournament banners, then you pass by the Wesley’s crashed flying Ford Anglia and Hagrid’s hut. As you enter the Champions Tent, guests will see the Triwizard Cup on a pedestal, then after emerging from several dark tunnels the guests have to decide – the red Chinese Fireball dragon on the left or the blue Hungarian Horntail on the right. My husband and daughter absolutely loved this ride!! TRAVEL NOTE: When you are in the boarding area look up at the ceiling for the projection of the dragons.

After riding all the rides (or should I say after my husband and daughter road all the rides) we decided to explore the village of Hogsmead. Each of the shops feature wonderful window displays, so take the time to take a look before going into the shops.

Here is a list of some of the shops we visited at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter:

Ollivanders Wand Shop – this is the most popular destination for those wishing to purchase a wand. (Remember this is not only a branch of Ollivanders, the original shop in located in Diagon Alley) This shop is unlike any other shop in Hogsmead because it admits only small groups of 20 at a time into the shop for a short inactive experience in which the wand keeper will select one special person to test out several different wands. Just like in the original Harry Potter book, “the wand will choose the wizard”.
The Owl Post – this store is adjacent to the Ollivanders Wand shop and where souvenir wands can be purchased as well as stationery, writing pens, stamps and even stuffed owls. TRAVEL NOTE: At the time of our visit, just outside the door was a small stand that will stamp a postcard or letter with the authentic Hogsmeade postmark. We had a postcard stamped and it makes a very cool and inexpensive souvenir!

Honeydukes – this store is based on the sweetshop in the Harry Potter series and it sells many of the items mentioned in the books and movies. Look for an assortment of candies such as: Chocolate Frogs, Bertie Bott’s Every-Flavour Beans, Fizzing Whizzbees and Cauldron Cakes but the Exploding Bonbons are no longer available for purchase. TRAVEL TIP: This shop is great for taking photos of the family holding all the different crazy selections of candy!
Zonko’s Joke Shop – This shop sells toys and joke items and it is also based on a store from the Harry Potter series. The shop is usually very crowded but if it quiet enough try to listen for the whispering from the Extendable ears hanging from the ceiling near the checkout registers, this unusual item is available for purchase. Also, available for purchase are the pygmy puffs and if you choose to “adopt” one of these creatures the clerk will ring the bell and announce the pygmy puff’s name to the whole store.
Flinch’s Emporium of Confiscated Goods – located at the exit of the Forbidden Journey ride, this store sells a variety of Harry Potter themed merchandise and is also the place where guests can purchase their Forbidden Journey ride photos. TRAVEL NOTE: In a glass case in the store, look for the Marauder’s Map which actually shows the names the students and their footprints as they wander the corridors of Hogwarts.

Other shops in the village of Hogsmead include: The Dogweed and Deathcap shop which features a potted mandrake in the shop window that comes to life every few minutes. The Dervish and Banges shop which sells Hogwarts school robes and other items of clothing, copies of Advanced Potion making book and be sure to look for the Monster Book of Monsters in a special locked cage because it comes to life every few minutes. The Spintwitches shop sells all types of Quidditch and broom merchandise, look for a holographic snitch that has escaped from the Quidditch trunk and flies around. The Tomes and Scrolls bookshop sells Gilderoy Lockhart’s books “Magical Me” and “Travel with Trolls”.

TRAVEL NOTE: Before leaving the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, be sure to try the Butterbeer. This non-alcoholic beverage is available in several different locations in Hogsmeade, look for it at the Butterbeer carts, the Three Broomsticks restaurant or the Hog’s Head pub. Butterbeer comes in both a regular and a frozen drink and can be purchased in a souvenir mug which can be refilled for a discounted price. We thought the drink was delicious! The first time we tried the drink we only bought one to sample between the three of us, but later when we went back we purchase three individual drinks because it was so good!!

Brief History of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

On May 3, 2007 Universal (in partnership with Warner Bros.) announced plans that the Islands of Adventure Park area known as the Lost Continent was going to be re-themed into a 20 acre addition that would recreate Hogwarts and Hogsmeade from the popular children’s books, the Harry Potter series. By this time, five of the seven books had been made into successful Warner Bros. movies. Construction of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter began in January of 2008. The previous attraction, the Flying Unicorn, took almost two years of refurbishment to transform it into the new ride, the Flight of the Hippogriff. As the Hogwarts Castle started slowly taking form during construction, and a bridge was built to join the Jurassic Park area of the Islands of Adventure Park. Inside Hogwarts is the ride attraction, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. Also, the previous Dueling Dragons attraction was moved to make room for the construction of the village of Hogsmeade. By early 2010, the former ride had now been transformed into the Dragon Challenge with theming based on the Harry Potter books and movies.

The private opening of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter took place on June 16, 2010 and was reserved only for the cast and crew of the Harry Potter films, including J.K. Rowling the author of the world famous books. Then a few days later on June 18, the Wizarding World opened for the public and quickly proved to be a very successful addition to the Islands of Adventure Park.

Recently a second phase was announced on December 6, 2011 which will be constructed in the adjacent Universal Studios Florida in an area previously occupied by the Jaws ride attraction. This new Harry Potter themed addition will connect the two parks with a train ride on the Hogwarts Express. There will be a roller coaster themed ride based on the Gringotts Wizarding Bank and the remaining attractions will be themed around London and Diagon Alley. The Diagon Alley will feature the Leaky Cauldron restaurant and the shops will include the original Ollivanders Wand Shop, the Wesleys Wizard Wheezes, Madam Malkin’s Robes for All Occasion shop and the Wiseacre’s Wizarding Equipement store. This new addition of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is expected to open in 2014.

The Enchanted Manor

a lifestyle blog by Barbara Jones

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