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Popular Bucket List RV Trips

Discover the most popular rv destinations with fantasy rv tours. from the mississippi river road to the beautiful canadian maritimes, from alaska to the united states lower 48... we take you there.

Explore Alaska on our expertly guided RV tours & caravans. Stress-free and safe travel on a pre-planned itinerary with the best RV parks and excursions.

Discover the easiest and safest way to travel in Canada on our professionally guided caravan to the Maritime Provinces – New Brunswick, Nova Scotia & PEI.

From the headwaters in Minnesota to the delta in Mississippi, enjoy scenic river cruises, Mark Twain sites, magnificent waterfalls & more.

From hundreds of balloons floating over our RV sites to a private tent for catered meals & events... see what makes our Rally just so special!

Experience a Whole New World of RV Travel

Imagine a world where you don't have to do any of the planning for your next RV vacation. You just show up and everything is already organized for you – the campground reservations, the best destinations and excursions, and the most suitable routes for RV travel. How much time and stress do you think that would save you?

Picture this… you arrive at the campground, and someone is there to greet you at the entrance to give you directions to your campsite. You're given printed turn-by-turn directions for the entire trip, and before each driving day, you're briefed on recommended fuel stops, the best places to stop along the way, and expected road conditions.

You can completely relax knowing you’re traveling with professionals who are there to assist you in times of need – whether mechanical, personal, or health. If you encounter any challenge on the road, you can count on them to assist you in resolving issues and providing the best services available.

Now what about the days you're not driving? You get to experience a refreshing lineup of sightseeing, leisure, culture, and adventure with like-minded individuals – a lot of which are “best-kept-secrets” that independent RVers are sure to miss. Transportation will be provided to most of the activities, so you don't have to worry about driving in an unfamiliar city or country.

All of those benefits and more are included when you book your next guided RV vacation with Fantasy RV Tours.

By traveling with Fantasy RV Tours, you’ll instantly grow close with fellow travelers and form friendships that will last a lifetime. At the end of each day, you can socialize with your new friends around a campfire and share stories of your recent travels. But if that’s not your thing, that’s okay! Maybe you want to go look for wildlife with a couple of new friends from the tour, or maybe you’re tired and you just want to relax with your traveling companion in your RV.

It’s your vacation, after all, so we want you to have the freedom to do and see the things that interest you. Additionally, our Travel Ambassadors are there to assist you with optional activities in the area that are not included in the itinerary in order to make the most of your vacation.

Life is short and time is precious, so instead of spending hours upon hours planning your next vacation, go spend that precious time with your family and let Fantasy RV Tours do the work for you. We'll take care of everything, so you can relax and experience a stress-free trip of a lifetime, just like we have with 75,000+ other RVers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an rv caravan.

Fantasy RV Tours offers two different types of RV vacations: Caravans and Rallies. An RV Caravan is a group of independent RV Travelers who travel on a professionally-guided route with a pre-planned travel itinerary, including reservations for camping, events, excursions and selected meals. A Caravan is led by expert leaders – WagonMasters & TailGunners – which we collectively call Travel Ambassadors. The WagonMasters lead the tour and are the first to leave the campground in the morning, while the TailGunners are the last to leave. Our guests typically travel in between, knowing the TailGunner is the last traveler and will stop to assist anyone along the route that needs it. You can relax knowing you’re accompanied by professionals who are there to assist you in times of need – whether mechanical, personal or health. To learn more, click here .

What is an RV Rally?

A Rally is a group of RVers who meet and stay in one location to celebrate an event or explore a geographical area, e.g. Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta, Rose Parade, Calgary Stampede. Similar to Caravans, all of the planning and transportation to and from events are taken care of and included in the price of the Rally. To learn more, click here .

Do I need to own an RV?

Yes and no. Caravans require an RV; whether owned or rented. Some of our rallies have an option to stay in a cabin or hotel, which is indicated in the tour information. If traveling in an Overseas caravan, an RV rental will be provided.

What does a Travel Ambassador do?

On each of our RV Caravans, you’ll be accompanied by expert guides – WagonMasters (RallyMasters for Rallies) and TailGunners – which we collectively call Travel Ambassadors. Our professional leaders receive annual classroom recertification training in addition to ongoing practical training in the field. They are problem solvers who orchestrate the flow of events on tour and are soon to be your traveling friends. Our WagonMasters lead the tour and are the first to leave the campground in the morning, while the TailGunners are the last to leave. Our guests typically travel in between, knowing the TailGunner is the last traveler and will stop to assist anyone along the route that needs it. You can relax knowing you’re accompanied by professionals who are there to assist you in times of need – whether mechanical, personal or health.

Will we travel caravan/convoy style or independent travel?

We often suggest scattered travel during a caravan with groups of 2 to 4 RVs traveling at a safe distance apart who may enjoy similar points of interest. Of course, you may travel independently at your own pace – enjoying sites and side trips. You are welcome to follow the WagonMaster, but it’s not necessary. Your Travel Ambassadors are there to ensure safety for the entire group. It’s your vacation, so we offer options – we want you to enjoy safety, comfort and freedom.

Do you limit the number of RVs?

Yes. You’ll want to make reservations early to reserve your space. Reservations are prioritized in the order received. Most of our caravans are limited to 22 RVs, while rallies are determined individually.

What does the price of an RV tour include?

Our tour prices include all RV site accommodations, meals, events and activities as listed on the itineraries. To see a full list of what’s included in all tours, click here .

Are your RV Tours pet-friendly?

YES! We are a pet friendly company. However, it is your responsibility to care for your pet. 

Do you offer different payment options?

We have various payment options including pay by check (receive a deep discount) and interest-free, monthly payment plans. For more details,  click here .

Do you offer discounts?

We have various ways you can maximize the value of your next RV vacation, including payment options with discounts, RV club and manufacturer discounts (FMCA, Good Sam Club & Winnebago), frequent traveler credits, referrals and special offers. For more details, click here .

FEATURED TOUR

7 Day Smoky Mountain Rally

START DATE: Sep 30, 2024 END DATE: Oct 06, 2024

Visit the Smoky Mountains like never before! Located in the Appalachian Mountain system in western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee, the beauty of the area is incomparable. We’ll delve into the rich history of the Cherokee Indians and tour the rebuilt Indian villages and settler’s farmsteads that are woven into drives up the mountains among the beautiful colors of fall. With a visit to Dollywood, award-winning musical shows and a tour of the Biltmore Estate and Winery, what more could you want?

Only a few spots available!

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Welcome to Bigfoot RV

Explore our Truck Campers & Travel Trailers here on our site. Choose the right model for your adventuring plans, whether your dream vacation is lounging around an RV Resort or exploring a road less traveled.

Be assured that Bigfoot's quality is consistent in all units, from the choice of high standard construction materials to the finest finishing touches. Through a lifetime of four-season, adventure fun, there’s a Bigfoot RV perfect for you.

This site is your best direct link to discovering why a Bigfoot Travel Trailer or Truck Camper is meant for you. It’s also the best way we can show you what we are currently doing and how we are accomplishing the standard of perfection enjoyed by Bigfoot RV owners. Right here you will have a comprehensive detailed look at our latest improvements to a product that stands alone in the RV world.

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Since 1985, RVs Northwest has helped campers have SMORE FUN by continuing to specialize in campers, travel trailers, fifth wheels, and toy haulers built in the Northwest for the Northwest.

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The Glass Secret: Under the Bigfoot Shell

TCM explores the Bigfoot Industries campus in Armstrong, British Columbia and discovers what Grant Bilodeau, President of Bigfoot, meant when he said, “It’s either a Bigfoot, or it’s not”.  Hint: You can hit it with a hammer, and fit it without gimp.  And it’s a secret.

Grant Bilodeau, President of Bigfoot Industries, made quite a stir in Truck Camper Magazine last July when he stated, “It’s either a Bigfoot, or it’s not.”  He added, “If I see something on the production line or on a unit that isn’t fitting to the Bigfoot name, that’s the phrase I use with the team.   It’s either right or it isn’t.   There is no middle ground with me.”

That’s a bold statement in an industry that’s notorious for paying more attention to the bottom line than the production line.  We’ve also heard comments like this before.  Unfortunately, elements of the RV industry are known for talking the talk, but not walking the walk.

That said, there was something different about Grant’s comment; a conviction that compelled us to schedule a drive to Bigfoot headquarters in western Canada.  Exactly what was Grant talking about?

Bigfoot Industries is located in Armstrong, British Columbia about three hours or 125 miles (200 kilometers) from the border in Washington State.  The drive on Route 97 is nothing less than spectacular as you wind through mountainside shorelines of deep blue lakes.  Do your best to not be in a hurry as you pass dozens of tempting fruit orchards, vineyards, wineries, and roadside stands overflowing with delicious apples, pears, peaches, apricots, cherries and plums.

This was our fourth visit to Bigfoot Industries having visited in 2007, 2010, 2015, and now 2018.  As we chronicled in, “ Bigfoot On the Move ”, the original Bigfoot Industries was struck down during the Great Recession of 2008, and then methodically relaunched in 2010 by Grant and a devoted A-list team from the original company.

Without a doubt, Bigfoot’s inspiring return is one of the most triumphant stories of any RV manufacturer from that dreadful time period, and an absolute must read for anyone who cares about truck campers and the power of the human spirit.

This photograph shows the entire Bigfoot Industries manufacturing complex including the main offices (left center), fiberglass shop (top center), production line (center with open bay door), and inventory warehouse (center far right).  If you look closely you can spot our camper parked in front of the main offices.  It’s a huge facility; easily one of the biggest in the truck camper industry.

Bigfoot’s fiberglass shop is an extraordinary and purpose-built building. The inside of this building is even more impressive.

Towards the rear of the fiberglass shop are four large, enclosed and ventilated JBI spray booths.  Manufactured in Osseo, Wisconsin, these spray booths feature advanced ventilation systems designed to keep the fiberglass technicians safe and fiberglass production as clean as possible.

Immediately behind the spray booths is where Bigfoot stores their fiberglass camper shell, trailer, and shower stall molds.  After each use, these molds are carefully inspected and maintained.

Fiberglass shells are produced by teams of two.  One operator is responsible for gel coat and chopped fiberglass application.  The other rolls the applied fiberglass, installs additional fiberglass and shell-strengthening materials, and monitors the quality and tolerances.

The cart holds three rolls of Owens Corning fiberglass, the same premium material used to manufacture Ranger Boats.  The cart also carries the resin and anchors the pneumatic fiberglass gun system; hose, mast, and boom.

The majority of a Bigfoot fiberglass shell is built up from sprayed layers of chopped fiberglass and resin.  For increased strength in key areas, additional layers of woven fiberglass are installed.

In the above photograph you can see two of the woven fiberglass types used during this process.  The result is a lightweight, strong, and highly weather-resistant clamshell fiberglass exterior.  No frame required.

The chop gun operator has the critical job of applying the fiberglass and resin as evenly as possible for a uniform shell thickness.  A uniform thickness is essential for proper structural integrity.

Talking to the Bigfoot production and management team gave us a profound appreciation for the skill and experience that goes into this effort.  Suffice it to say there are many decades of experience going into every Bigfoot fiberglass shell.

Once the fiberglass and resin has been applied, it’s rolled to remove air pockets, fully saturate the fiberglass with resin, and evenly spread the resin for optimum strength and quality.  In the above photo you can see the team working with small hand rollers in the tighter areas of the mold.

As the fiberglass and resin is applied to the sidewalls of the mold, the second operator uses a larger roller.  This was performed with the same steady motion as the gel coat and fiberglass application.

Every few minutes the second operator also verified the thickness of the rolled fiberglass and resin with a gel coat thickness gauge.  The teeth on this tool are designed to measure the wet thickness of the fiberglass and resin for repeatable results.

THE GLASS SECRET

The title of this article is, “The Glass Secret”.  That secret is contained within the lower mold of Bigfoot’s fiberglass shells.

What’s the secret?  We were asked not to reveal the exact nature of the undisclosed materials and process, but we can explain exactly what it does; dramatically strengthens the basement, floor and tie-down structure of a Bigfoot truck camper.  As Grant explains it, they essentially put an I-beam into their basement structure, and that’s just one part of the secret sauce.

The result is a time-tested and proven molded fiberglass camper shell designed for off-road use and longevity.  To the best of our knowledge, no other fiberglass RV company uses this combination of materials and techniques to strengthen their shells.  It’s Bigfoot’s glass secret.

The interior wall and closed cell insulation panels are assembled in the fiberglass shop.  The yellow and pink colors are from the different adhesives used during this process.

Once the fiberglass team has completed spraying a mold and it has properly set, the mold is brought into an adjacent spray booth.  Then the insulated interior wall panels are coated with adhesive and prepped for installation into the mold.

The insulated interior wall panels are light enough to be picked up and positioned by a two person team.  Here you see the driver’s side insulated wall panel being inserted into the mold.  The passenger’s side and ceiling panels have already been installed.

After the panels are positioned, they are pressed to ensure proper contact and adhesion with the fiberglass shell.  This includes carefully hitting the panels with a rubber mallet and wood panel to evenly distribute the pressure.  The Bigfoot team calls this process, “pounding”.

When the bottom fiberglass shell, panels and floor are completed and fully cured, it’s time to release the shell from the mold.  This begins by introducing compressed air into a series of holes on the back side of the mold.  The compressed air pops the fiberglass shell away from the mold.

While the compressed air is being introduced, the rubber mallet returns to carefully separate inside edges from the mold using a wedge.  With the mold blocking their ability to see one another, the team calls back and forth to communicate which parts of the shell have released and which need additional compressed air and mallet strikes.

When the shell has fully separated from the mold, the team levers the shell further away from the mold.  This step brings the shell out about six-inches.

Three more team members join the crew to pull the shell onto a set of stands.

When the shell is far enough from the mold, the team of five tilts the shell down and onto its base.

It may be old hat for the Bigfoot team, but we can’t get enough of the stunning beauty of a completed fiberglass camper shell.  The entire underside of this fiberglass shell has no seams or screws.  Not one.  And it’s 100-percent impermeable to water.  It could probably float on the nearby Okanagan Lake.

Having experienced, tested, and worked with every truck camper type on the planet, molded fiberglass is the best way to build a truck camper for ultimate longevity.  Period.  End of story.  This is it.

A few moments after the shell was separated, it was inspected by Rob Ferroux, Production Manager for Bigfoot Industries.  Rob has been with the company since 1984 and started inspecting Bigfoot campers and trailers in the late 1990s.  During our three days at Bigfoot, we watched Rob inspect every aspect of the production line and final product.

Rob marked any imperfections in the gel coat with a grease pencil to be buffed out.  Most of the imperfections had to be pointed out to be noticeable.  Grant, Rob and the Bigfoot production team are unwavering in their commitment to quality.

The top shell separation begins with the same compressed air and mallet/wedge process as the bottom shell, but that’s where the similarities end.

When the top shell is popped away from its mold, over a dozen Bigfoot team members from the production line join the effort.  The shell is then tilted down and lifted up from all sides.

The top shell is then literally walked over to the bottom shell.

The front nose was held up with wood beam as the team checked and rechecked the alignment back to front.  The entire shell marriage took about five minutes.

Some folks might be wondering if they needed over a dozen team members from the production line for this ceremony.  After all, the bottom shell was moved by just five people.  Grant explained that here there were a number of extra Bigfoot team members who wanted to be part of the Truck Camper Magazine photography.  Hey, they read TCM too!

Before we move on, there’s another important detail about molded fiberglass truck campers that warrants attention.  Here you see a fiberglass shell cut-out for a rear compartment on the production line.  Note the thickness of the gel coat, fiberglass and closed cell high-density foam insulation.

When we first visited Bigfoot Industries back in 2007, Wolf Ernst, then the Sales Manager for the company, insisted that we take a steel claw hammer to a section of Bigfoot’s fiberglass wall.  We did, but not to Wolf’s satisfaction who proceeded to hammer the living heck out of the wall.  Only when he hit the wall on the hammer edge at full force did he manage to make a mark.  We were gobsmacked.

Eleven years later, Grant was back with the steel claw hammer.  Grant tried to send the poor wall panel through the concrete floor.  As it was in 2007, the only mark Grant could muster was on the hammer’s edge.  To say this is an impressive demonstration of the incredible strength of a Bigfoot’s fiberglass shell is an understatement.  Do not try this with any other type of truck camper, or truck for that matter.

In a building connected to the main production line, one sawyer prepares all of the wood, aluminum honeycomb core, and closed cell foam insulation materials for the fiberglass, cabinetry, and production teams.

Another stand out memory from our visit to Bigfoot Industries in 2007 was the CNC cut closed cell foam insulation.  Where every other truck camper manufacturer was cutting their closed cell foam with utility knives and hot wires, Bigfoot was using a CNC machine.

At the time, this practice was way ahead of every truck camper manufacturer in North America.  Even today, very few RV manufacturers employ CNC equipment to cut their insulation and wire traces. Utility knives and hot wires are still the norm in most plants.

That same CNC machine is still in use at Bigfoot Industries.  The computer and software have been completely updated, but the table and CNC machine itself are the same.  And they’re still ahead.

Once the wood, honeycomb core, and closed cell insulation materials have been prepared, they are bundled, labeled, and carted.  This particular set is for a Bigfoot 25C10.6E truck camper.

The aluminum honeycomb core is incredibly strong and lightweight.  The material does not take a screw, but it’s ideal for floors and other structural elements.  It’s also cut on the same table saw as the wood products.

Bigfoot Industries has an entire building devoted to parts and material inventory for the production line and service.  This photograph was taken from the center of the inventory building and only shows half of the parts and materials on hand.

Turning around we discovered plywood, awnings, holding tanks, Heki vents, cabinetry doors and a myriad of other parts, components, and materials.  Essentially, everything that’s needed to build a Bigfoot truck camper after the shells are completed is here.

The most impressive aspect of the inventory building is the organization. Every item is in a designated area on a clearly labeled shelf.  Which turns our wayback machine on yet again…

12 years ago Bigfoot Industries was the only truck camper manufacturer seriously pursing Lean Manufacturing (aka The Toyota Way).  Other truck camper companies had adopted various aspects of Lean Manufacturing, but Bigfoot had sent its leadership team for extensive training and executed Lean Manufacturing company wide in 2007.

Lean Manufacturing at Bigfoot Industries continues today under Grant’s leadership.  Grant himself was Lean Blackbelt Certified in 2005.  As President of the company, Grant continues to weave the concepts of Lean Manufacturing into the cultural fabric of the business.  Lean is evident everywhere you look at Bigfoot, including the inventory building.

Bigfoot Industries currently has one production line for both truck campers and travel trailer products. Here you see truck campers and trailers alternating down the line.

The alternating of campers and trailers was just how the production line was stacked during our visit.  Bigfoot schedules and builds campers and trailers as they are ordered by their dealer network.

Immediately off to the side of the production line is where the wiring harnesses, plumbing harnesses, cabinetry and other production components are assembled and prepared.

These copper gas lines are being assembled on the other side of where the wiring harnesses are made.  All of Bigfoot’s wiring harnesses and copper gas lines are manufactured in-house.

Completed top and bottom camper shells are delivered from the fiberglass shop to the production line for finishing.  Finishing includes cutting out the windows and compartment door openings and affixing the two shells with sealant and belt molding.

Before the sealant is applied, the two shells are separated with a Happijac camper jack set inside the unit.  This allows the shell seam to be cleaned and prepared before the sealant is applied and the two halves are permanently affixed.

Part of the prep work includes applying painter’s tape to avoid excess sealant from oozing onto the lower shell.  This is one of the final fiberglass shell steps before the camper interior begins to take shape.

With the fiberglass shell completed, the production line team kicks into overdrive.  Here you see the wiring and plumbing systems being installed at the first station.

We were very interested to see how Bigfoot applies the Plasti-Cote roof sealant on the production line.  Where nearly the entire RV industry uses Dicor self-leveling roof sealant, Plasti-Cote is designed for fiberglass surfaces and is applied with a 2-inch brush.

For clean lines, Bigfoot tapes off the roof surface.  When the tape is removed, it leaves a perfectly straight line of Plasti-Cote material.  Grant explained that Bigfoot has been using Plasti-Cote for many years and that it has proven to be highly reliable.

It’s not unusual for refrigerators to be installed into truck campers before the side walls and entry door are completed.  In many truck camper designs, there is simply no other way to get the refrigerator into the unit.

Bigfoot installs refrigerators though the entry door opening before the door is installed. This means refrigerators can be removed and replaced in a Bigfoot truck camper by first removing the entry door.  This would not be a minor effort, but it’s more than possible.

The majority number of Bigfoot team members have been with the company for decades.  This traces back to Grant’s keen decision to seek out and hire the best of the best from the original Bigfoot company when he brought the company back eight years ago.

The first people on his list were the folks with the most experience and the highest dedication to the business.  When you ask when people first started with Bigfoot, the answer often starts in the 1980s.  Simply incredible.

Now you might think that workers with that many years into the business could build the campers blindfolded, with one arm tied behind their back, while wearing a Bigfoot suit.  While that is probably true, they all follow and refer to build sheets; even the most senior staff.  This practice comes from Lean Manufacturing principals and is actively modeled for new recruits to this day (see above).

Speaking of sheets, every unit has a set of rider sheets that describe the exact options and interior the dealer and/or customer has ordered.  The rider sheets are accompanied by a set of build sheets that detail what needs to happen at each station and exactly how many hours are allocated to the task.  More Lean.

Of everything we saw at Bigfoot that impressed us (and there many things), what impressed us the most was how each and every element of a camper’s interior was painstakingly finessed for a perfect fit – unit by unit.

As an example, Bigfoot cabinetry is built in sets for each camper and set off to the side of the production line.  Look closely and you’ll notice there is no plastic gimp (aka welt molding trim) anywhere on this finished cabinetry.  Bigfoot does not use gimp.

This is particularly impressive because molded fiberglass truck campers are not perfectly formed with identical wall thicknesses.  Hand sprayed, the fiberglass shells vary slightly.  This tiny variation makes standardized production cabinetry impossible – without gimp.

And that’s where skill, experience, Bigfoot’s unrelenting cultural attitude about quality steps in.  As each internal component is brought into the camper and installed, it’s checked, measured and adjusted to fit perfectly.

In the case of the 25C10.4 shown above, it starts with the bathroom shower stall.  Once that’s installed, checked, measured and adjusted to fit perfectly, the bathroom cabinets are brought in and checked, measured, and adjusted to fit perfectly with it.  This continues element by element until every cabinet and component in a unit fits perfectly.

As we watched, pieces were brought out of the unit and shaved a hair here or there before being set into place.  This takes a great deal of time, but the results are unmistakable.  After seeing so many manufacturers build and install cabinets with gimp to hide tolerance issues, this was stunning to witness.

Another over the top example of Bigfoot’s obsession with quality is their steam bent counter and table trims.  Starting with a handmade jig, wood banding material is steamed in a steam box (shown center right).

Once the wood trim is brought out of the steam box, it’s quickly set into a custom jig.  This process must be done quickly as the freshly steamed wood begins to lose its elasticity in less than a minute.  Once installed into the jig, the trim is allowed to set for a full week.

The results of this work are smooth forms ready to make Bigfoot tables and countertop trims the highest quality possible.  In all of the truck camper and RV factories we have toured and studied over the past 12 years, we have never encountered steam bent trims.

Oh how we love to see the front decal installed on a truck camper.  Here the Bigfoot “ape” is revealed for the first time on a 1500-series truck camper.  He sure looks happy to be free!

After emerging as a freshly completed Bigfoot from the production line, each camper is water tested for leaks.  This involves dousing the unit in water and checking every window, seal, and compartment for signs of water intrusion.  In the unlikely event that there’s a leak on a Bigfoot truck camper, the team wants to catch it before it leaves the factory.

The final inspection for every Bigfoot is performed by Rob.  He goes through every cabinet, looks at every plumbing and electrical connection, checks every material and finish, and generally goes through the entire unit with his flashlight – and 30-plus years of Bigfoot manufacturing experience.  Did we mention that this team is fanatical about quality?

On the final day of our visit, we gathered the entire Bigfoot Industries team together for a group shot; fiberglass, inventory, production, and management.

“It’s either a Bigfoot, or it’s not.”

We now understand what Grant meant by his bold statement.  There is an unmistakable dedication at Bigfoot – not just to quality, but a level of quality we truly haven’t seen before.

Grant has made a conscious decision to prioritize quality over volume and profits.  Put bluntly, most manufacturers would never create or enforce Bigfoot’s extreme quality standards at the expense of production.  For Grant, it’s the only way he wants to run the company.

Bigfoot truck campers and trailers cost more than the competition.  All we can say after our time with the Bigfoot team is that you definitely get what you pay for.

For more information on Bigfoot Industries, visit their website at bigfootrv.com .  Click here to request a free Bigfoot camper brochure .

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Big Island Campers is the perfect way to explore the Hawaiian islands in a fun and unique way. We offer a variety of camper vans that are perfectly suited for island life. I, personally, am a full-time camper van resident on the island and I know what is important to make island life in a van comfortable and efficient. I've thought of everything and our camper vans come fully equipped with the amenities you need to make your travels on the islands comfortable and hassle-free. Book your camper van today and let us help you create memories that will last a lifetime. …

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We shopped around campervan companies on the Big Island and we are very happy with our choice! Dug outfits his vans very well, gives renters a nice digital map of spots, and is very generous, flexible, and responsive. We would totally rent from him again!

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May 2, 2024

Thank you for choosing one of my vans. I take pride in building them and trying to make the best experience possible for my guests. See you next time! Aloha!

If you want a VIP experience that's what you can expect with Big Island Campers and Dug. You can tell that the campers are designed with the client in mind. They come equipped with cooking capabilities, running hot water for showers and beach gear. It is the perfect way to tour the island. Great opportunity to find that remote beach and be the only one there in the morning. I highly recommend! Aloha

See all photos from Stacey Y. for Big Island Campers

Thank you Stacey! Such good memories! Much Aloha!

Lil Honu van was fantastic. It has everything one could need. The beautiful wood details made the van feel super unique. Dug was great and had a lot of wonderful recommendations for Big Island sights and camping. Would use again.

Thank you Christina! Next time you will have to try Da Dolphin!

Sunlight On Water

2.6 miles away from Big Island Campers

Stephanie K. said "There are a lot of companies that do the same thing so do your research! I chose this company because the price was the cheapest I could find, they provide free photo souvenirs, no manta refund policy, they go to different locations…" read more

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Jun’s Taxi  Airport, Hotels & Tours

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Home » Europe » Moscow

EPIC MOSCOW Itinerary! (2024)

Moscow is the heart of Mother Russia. Just the mention of this city conjures images of colorful bulbous pointed domes, crisp temperatures, and a uniquely original spirit!

Moscow has an incredibly turbulent history, a seemingly resilient culture, and a unique enchantment that pulls countless tourists to the city each year! Although the warmer months make exploring Moscow’s attractions more favorable, there’s just something about a fresh snowfall that only enhances the appearance of the city’s iconic sites!

If you’re a first-time visitor to Moscow, or simply wanting to see as much of the city as possible, this Moscow itinerary will help you do just that!

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Best Time To Visit Moscow

Where to stay in moscow, moscow itinerary, day 1 itinerary in moscow, day 2 itinerary in moscow, day 3 and beyond, staying safe in moscow, day trips from moscow, faq on moscow itinerary.

Here is a quick look at the seasons so you can decide when to visit Moscow!

The summer months (June-August) are a great time to travel to Moscow to take advantage of the enjoyable mild temperatures. This is considered peak travel season. Bear in mind that hotel prices rise along with the temperatures!

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If you’re planning a trip to Moscow during fall (September-November) try to plan for early fall. This way the temperatures will still be pleasant and winter won’t be threatening.

Russian winters (December-February) are not for the faint of heart as Napoleon learned to his peril. Some days the sun will be out for less than an hour, and snow is guaranteed. Although winters are exceptionally cold, this is when you’ll get a true glimpse of the Moscow experience!

The best time to visit Moscow is during spring  (March-May). The temperatures will begin to creep up and the sun begins to shine for significant portions of the day. Hotel rates will also have yet to skyrocket into peak ranges!

With a Moscow City Pass , you can experience the best of Moscow at the CHEAPEST prices. Discounts, attractions, tickets, and even public transport are all standards in any good city pass – be sure invest now and save them $$$ when you arrive!

Moscow is a large city with many accommodation options to choose from. Staying in a location that fits with your travel plans will only enhance your Moscow itinerary. Here is a brief introduction to a few great areas of the city we recommend checking out!

The best place to stay in Moscow to be close to all the action is Kitay-Gorod. This charming neighborhood will put you within walking distance to Moscow’s famous Red Square, thus cutting down on travel time. This will allow you to see more of the city in a shorter amount of time!

It’s surrounded by restaurants, cafes, bars, and shops. If you’re a first-time visitor to Moscow, or just planning a quick weekend in Moscow, then this area is perfect for you!

Another great area to consider is the Zamoskvorechye district. This area of the city offers a blend of new and old Moscow. It has an artsy vibe and there are plenty of fun sites you can explore outside of the main touristy areas of Moscow.

Of course, as in all areas of Moscow, it’s close to public transportation that will quickly connect you with the rest of the city and make your Moscow itinerary super accessible!

Best Airbnb in Moscow – Exclusive Apartment in Old Moscow

Modern and cozy, this apartment is in the heart of Old Moscow. Bordering the Basmanny and Kitay-Gorod districts, this two-bedroom flat is walking distance to the Kremlin and Red Square. Safe, quiet, and comfortable, this is the best Airbnb in Moscow, no question!

Best Budget Hotel in Moscow – Izmailovo Alfa Hotel

The Izmailovo Alfa Hotel is a very highly rated accommodation that provides all the components necessary for a comfortable trip to Moscow. There is an on-site restaurant, bar, fitness center, and an airport shuttle service. The rooms are modern and spacious and are equipped with a TV, heating/air conditioning, minibar, and more!

Best Luxury Hotel in Moscow – Crowne Plaza Moscow World Trade Centre

If you’re touring Moscow in luxury, the Crowne Plaza Moscow World Trade Centre is the hotel for you! Elegantly furnished rooms are equipped with a minibar, flat-screen TV,  in-room safes, as well as tea and coffee making facilities! Bathrooms come with bathrobes, slippers, and free toiletries. There is also an onsite restaurant, bar, and fitness center.

Best Hostel in Moscow – Godzillas Hostel

Godzillas Hostel is located in the center of Moscow, just a short walk from all the major tourist attractions and the metro station. Guests will enjoy all the usual hostel perks such as self-catering facilities, 24-hour reception, Free Wi-Fi, and security lockers. This is one of the best hostels in Moscow and its wonderful social atmosphere and will make your vacation in Moscow extra special!

An important aspect of planning any trip is figuring out the transportation situation. You’re probably wondering how you’re going to get to all of your Moscow points of interest right? Luckily, this sprawling city has an excellent network of public transportation that will make traveling a breeze!

The underground metro system is the quickest and most efficient way to travel around Moscow. Most visitors rely exclusively on this super-efficient transportation system, which allows you to get to pretty much anywhere in the city! It’s also a great option if you’re planning a Moscow itinerary during the colder months, as you’ll be sheltered from the snow and freezing temperatures!

If you prefer above-ground transportation, buses, trams, and trolleybuses, run throughout the city and provide a rather comfortable alternative to the metro.

Moscow’s metro, buses, trams, and trolleybuses are all accessible with a ‘Troika’ card. This card can be topped up with any sum of money at a metro cash desk. The ticket is simple, convenient, and even refundable upon return to a cashier!

No matter which method you choose, you’ll never find yourself without an easy means of getting from point A to point B!

Red Square | Moscow Kremlin | Lenin’s Mausoleum | St. Basil’s Cathedral  | GUM Department Store

Spend the first day of your itinerary taking your own self guided Moscow walking tour around the historic Red Square! This is Moscow’s compact city center and every stop on this list is within easy walking distance to the next! Get ready to see all of the top Moscow landmarks!

Day 1 / Stop 1 – The Red Square

• Why it’s awesome: The Red Square is the most recognizable area in Moscow, it has mesmerizing architecture and centuries worth of history attached to its name.
• Cost: Free to walk around, individual attractions in the square have separate fees. 
• Food nearby: Check out Bar BQ Cafe for friendly service and good food in a great location! The atmosphere is upbeat and they’re open 24/7!

The Red Square is Moscow’s historic fortress and the center of the Russian government. The origins of the square date back to the late 15th century, when Ivan the Great decided to expand the Kremlin to reflect Moscow’s growing power and prestige!

During the 20th century, the square became famous as the site for demonstrations designed to showcase Soviet strength. Visiting the Red Square today, you’ll find it teeming with tourists, who come to witness its magical architecture up close!

The square is the picture postcard of Russian tourism, so make sure to bring your camera when you visit! No matter the season, or the time of day, it’s delightfully photogenic! 

It’s also home to some of Russia’s most distinguishing and important landmarks, which we’ve made sure to include further down in this itinerary. It’s an important center of Russia’s cultural life and one of the top places to visit in Moscow!

In 1990, UNESCO designated Russia’s Red Square as a World Heritage site. Visiting this historic site is a true bucket-list event and essential addition to your itinerary for Moscow!

Day 1 / Stop 2 – The Moscow Kremlin

• Why it’s awesome: The Moscow Kremlin complex includes several palaces and cathedrals and is surrounded by the Kremlin wall. It also houses the principal museum of Russia (the Kremlin Armory).
• Cost: USD $15.00
• Food nearby: Bosco Cafe is a charming place to grat a casual bite to eat. They have excellent coffee and wonderful views of the Red Square and the Moscow Kremlin!

The iconic Moscow Kremlin , also known as the Kremlin museum complex, sits on Borovitsky Hill, rising above the Moscow River. It is a fortified complex in the center of the city, overlooking several iconic buildings in the Red Square!

It’s the best known of the Russian Kremlins – citadels or fortress’ protecting and dominating a city. During the early decades of the Soviet era, the Kremlin was a private enclave where the state’s governing elite lived and worked.

The Kremlin is outlined by an irregularly shaped triangular wall that encloses an area of 68 acres! The existing walls and towers were built from 1485 to 1495. Inside the Kremlin museum complex, there are five palaces, four cathedrals, and the enclosing Kremlin Wall with Kremlin towers.

The Armoury Chamber is a part of the Grand Kremlin Palace’s complex and is one of the oldest museums of Moscow, established in 1851. It showcases Russian history and displays many cherished relics. Definitely make sure to check out this museum while you’re here!

The churches inside the Moscow Kremlin are the Cathedral of the Dormition, Church of the Archangel, Church of the Annunciation, and the bell tower of Ivan Veliki (a church tower).

The five-domed Cathedral of the Dormition is considered the most famous. It was built from 1475–1479 by an Italian architect and has served as a wedding and coronation place for great princes, tsars, and emperors of Russia. Church services are given in the Kremlin’s numerous cathedrals on a regular basis.

The Grand Kremlin Palace was the former Tsar’s Moscow residence and today it serves as the official workplace of the President of the Russian Federation (Vladimir Putin seems to have bagged that title for life) .

Insider Tip: The Kremlin is closed every Thursday! Make sure to plan this stop on your Moscow itinerary for any other day of the week!

Day 1 / Stop 3 – Lenin’s Mausoleum

• Why it’s awesome: The mausoleum displays the preserved body of Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin .
• Cost: Free!
• Food nearby: Khinkal’naya is a charming Georgian restaurant with vaulted ceilings and exposed brick. It’s a popular place with locals and right next to the Red Square!

Lenin’s Mausoleum, also known as Lenin’s Tomb, is the modernist mausoleum for the revolutionary leader Vladimir Lenin. It’s located within the Red Square and serves as the resting place for the Soviet leader! His preserved body has been on public display since shortly after his death in 1924.

It’s located just a few steps away from the Kremlin Wall and is one of the most controversial yet popular Moscow attractions!

Admission is free for everyone, you’ll only need to pay if you need to check a bag. Before visitors are allowed to enter the mausoleum, they have to go through a metal detector first. No metal objects, liquids, or large bags are allowed in the mausoleum!

Expect a line to enter the building, and while you’re inside the building, you’ll be constantly moving in line with other visitors. This means you won’t be able to spend as long as you’d like viewing the mausoleum, but you’ll still be able to get a good look. Pictures and filming while inside the building are strictly prohibited, and security guards will stop you if they see you breaking this rule.

The mausoleum is only open on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday – unless it’s a public holiday or a day scheduled for maintenance. The hours it’s open for each day are limited, make sure to check online before you visit to make sure you can fit this into your Moscow itinerary for that day!

Insider Tip: The Lenin’s Museum is there for people to pay their respect; remember to keep silent and move along quickly, it’s not intended for people to congregate around. Also, men are not allowed to wear hats and everyone must take their hands out of their pockets when inside the building.

Day 1 / Stop 4 – St. Basil’s Cathedral

• Why it’s awesome: A dazzling designed cathedral that showcases Russia’s unique architecture. This cathedral is one of the most recognizable symbols of the country!
• Cost: USD $8.00
• Food nearby: Moskovskiy Chaynyy Klub is a cozy cafe serving food items and pipping hot tea; it’s the perfect place to go if you’re visiting Moscow during the winter months!

Located in the Red Square, the ornate 16th-century St. Basil’s Cathedral is probably the building you picture when you think of Moscow’s unique architecture. Its colorful onion-shaped domes tower over the Moscow skyline!

The cathedral was built from 1555-1561 by order of Tsar Ivan the Terrible. It was designed with an iconic onion dome facade and enchanting colors that captivate all who see it. Fun fact: If you’re wondering why Russian churches have onion domes, they are popularly believed to symbolize burning candles!

This iconic cathedral has become a symbol of Russia due to its distinguishing architecture and prominent position inside the Red Square. It’s one of the most beautiful, wonderful, and mesmerizing historical cathedrals in the world!

The interior of the church surprises most people when they visit. In contrast to the large exterior, the inside is not so much one large area, but rather a collection of smaller areas, with many corridors and small rooms. There are 9 small chapels and one mausoleum grouped around a central tower.

Visiting the inside is like walking through a maze, there are even small signs all around the cathedral tracing where to walk, and pointing you in the right direction! The walls are meticulously decorated and painted with intricate floral designs and religious themes.

The church rarely holds service and is instead a museum open for the public to visit.

Insider Tip: During the summer months the line to go inside the cathedral can get quite long! Make sure to arrive early or reserve your tickets online to guarantee quick access into the cathedral!

Day 1 / Stop 5 – GUM Department Store

• Why it’s awesome: This is Russia’s most famous shopping mall! It’s designed with elegant and opulent architecture and provides a real sense of nostalgia!
• Cost: Free to enter
• Food nearby: Stolovaya 57 is a cafeteria-style restaurant with a variety of inexpensive Russian cuisine menu items including soups, salads, meat dishes, and desserts. It’s also located inside the GUM department store, making it very easily accessible when you’re shopping!

The enormous GUM Department Store is located within the historic Red Square. It has a whimsical enchantment to it that sets it apart from your typical department store.

A massive domed glass ceiling lines the top of the building and fills the interior with natural sunlight. There are live plants and flowers placed throughout the mall that give the shopping complex a lively and cheerful feel! A playful fountain sits in the center, further adding to the malls inviting a sense of wonder and amusement!

The GUM department store opened on December 2, 1893. Today, it includes local and luxury stores, including Fendi, Louis Vuitton, Prada, and many more! There are numerous cafes, restaurants, and even a movie theater inside!

For a special treat, head into Gastronom 1. This 1950s-style shop sells gourmet food items, like wine, freshly-baked pastries, cheese, Russian chocolate, and of course, vodka! Also, be on the lookout for a bicycle pedaling ice cream truck with an employing selling ice cream!

The ambiance is simply amazing, a trip to this idyllic shopping mall is an absolute must on any Moscow itinerary!

Insider Tip: Make sure to carry some small change on you in case you need to use the restroom, you’ll need to pay 50 rubles – or about USD $0.80 to use the bathroom in GUM.

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Novodevichy Convent | Gorky Park | State Tretyakov Gallery | All-Russian Exhibition Center | Bolshoi Theater

On your 2 day itinerary in Moscow, you’ll have a chance to use the city’s excellent public transportation service! You’ll explore a few more of Moscow’s historic highlight as well as some modern attractions. These sites are a little more spread out, but still very easily accessible thanks to the metro!

Day 2 / Stop 1 – Novodevichy Convent

• Why it’s awesome: The Novodevichy Convent is rich in imperial Russian history and contains some of Russia’s best examples of classical architecture!
• Cost: USD $5.00
• Food nearby: Culinary Shop Karavaevs Brothers is a cozy and simple place to have a quick bite, they also have vegetarian options!

The Novodevichy Convent is the best-known and most popular cloister of Moscow. The convent complex is contained within high walls, and there are many attractions this site is known for! 

The six-pillared five-domed Smolensk Cathedral is the main attraction. It was built to resemble the Kremlin’s Assumption Cathedral and its facade boasts beautiful snowy white walls and a pristine golden onion dome as its centerpiece. It’s the oldest structure in the convent, built from 1524 -1525, and is situated in the center of the complex between the two entrance gates.

There are other churches inside the convent as well, all dating back from many centuries past. The convent is filled with an abundance of 16th and 17th-century religious artworks, including numerous large and extravagant frescos!

Just outside the convent’s grounds lies the Novodevichy Cemetery. Here, you can visit the graves of famous Russians, including esteemed authors, composers, and politicians. Probably the most intriguing gravestone belongs to Russian politician Nikita Khruschev!

The Novodevichy Convent is located near the Moscow River and offers a peaceful retreat from the busy city. In 2004, it was proclaimed a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The convent remains remarkably well-preserved and is an outstanding example of Moscow Baroque architecture! 

Insider Tip: To enter the cathedrals inside the complex, women are advised to cover their heads and shoulders, while men should wear long pants.

Day 2 / Stop 2 – Gorky Central Park of Culture and Leisure

• Why it’s awesome: A large amusement area in the heart of the city offering many attractions!
• Cost: Free! 
• Food nearby: Check out Mepkato, located inside Gorky Central Park for a casual meal in a cozy setting. There are indoor and outdoor seating options and the restaurant is child-friendly!

Gorky Central Park of Culture and Leisure is a large green space in the heart of Moscow. The park opened in 1928, and it stretches along the scenic embankment of the Moskva River. It covers an area of 300-acres and offers a lovely contrast from the compact city center.

You’ll find all sorts of wonderful attractions, from boat rides to bike rentals to tennis courts and ping-pong tables, and much more! there are an open-air cinema and festive events and concerts scheduled in the summer months.  A wide selection of free fitness classes is also offered on a regular basis, including jogging, roller skating, and dancing!

Although many of the options you’ll find here are more suited for outdoor leisure during the summer, you’ll also a selection of winter attractions, including one of Europe’s largest ice rinks for ice-skating!

If you’re trying to decide what to do in Moscow with kids, the park also offers several venues designed specifically for kids. Check out the year-round Green School which offers hands-on classes in gardening and art! You can also feed the squirrels and birds at the Golitsinsky Ponds!

The park is very well maintained and kept clean and the entrance is free of charge, although most individual attractions cost money. There is also Wi-Fi available throughout the park.

With so many attractions, you could easily spend all day here! If you’re only planning a 2 day itinerary in Moscow, make sure to plan your time accordingly and map out all the areas you want to see beforehand!

Day 2 / Stop 3 – The State Tretyakov Gallery

• Why it’s awesome: The gallery’s collection consists entirely of Russian art made by Russian artists!
• Food nearby : Brothers Tretyakovs is located right across the street from the gallery. It’s a wonderfully atmospheric restaurant serving top quality food and drinks!

The State Tretyakov Gallery was founded in 1856 by influential merchant and collector Pavel Tretyakov.  The gallery is a national treasury of Russian fine art and one of the most important museums in Russia!

It houses the world’s best collection of Russian art and contains more than 130, 000 paintings, sculptures, and graphics! These works have been created throughout the centuries by generations of Russia’s most talented artists!

The exhibits range from mysterious 12th-century images to politically charged canvases. The collection is rich and revealing and offers great insight into the history and attitudes of this long-suffering yet inspired people!

All pictures are also labeled in English. If you plan to take your time and see everything inside the museum it will take a good 3-4 hours, so make sure to plan your Moscow trip itinerary accordingly! This gallery is a must-see stop for art lovers, or anyone wanting to explore the local culture and history of Russia in a creative and insightful manner! 

Insider Tip: When planning your 2 days in Moscow itinerary, keep in mind that most museums in Moscow are closed on Mondays, this includes The State Tretyakov Gallery!

Day 2 / Stop 4 – All-Russian Exhibition Center

• Why it’s awesome: This large exhibition center showcases the achievements of the Soviet Union in several different spheres. 
• Food nearby: Varenichnaya No. 1 serves authentic and homestyle Russian cuisine in an intimate and casual setting.

The All-Russian Exhibition Center is a massive park that presents the glory of the Soviet era! It pays homage to the achievements of Soviet Russia with its many different sites found on the property.

The center was officially opened in 1939 to exhibit the achievements of the Soviet Union. It’s a huge complex of buildings and the largest exhibition center in Moscow. There are several exhibition halls dedicated to different achievements and every year there are more than one hundred and fifty specialized exhibitions!

The Peoples Friendship Fountain was constructed in 1954 and is a highlight of the park. The stunning gold fountain features 16 gilded statues of girls, each representing the former Soviet Union republics. 

The Stone Flower Fountain was also built in 1954 and is worth checking out. The centerpiece of this large fountain is a flower carved from stones from the Ural Mountains! Along the side of the fountain are various bronze sculptures.

You will find many people zipping around on rollerblades and bicycles across the large area that the venue covers. It’s also home to amusement rides and carousels, making it the perfect place to stop with kids on your Moscow itinerary! Make sure to wear comfortable shoes and allow a few hours to explore all the areas that interest you!

Day 2 / Stop 5 – Bolshoi Theater

• Why it’s awesome: The Bolshoi Theater is a historic venue that hosts world-class ballet and opera performances!
• Cost: Prices vary largely between USD $2.00 –  USD $228.00 based on seat location.
• Food nearby: Head to the Russian restaurant, Bolshoi for high-quality food and drinks and excellent service!

The Bolshoi Theater is among the oldest and most renowned ballet and opera companies in the world! It also boasts the world’s biggest ballet company, with more than 200 dancers!

The theater has been rebuilt and renovated several times during its long history. In 2011 it finished its most recent renovation after an extensive six-year restoration that started in 2005. The renovation included an improvement in acoustics and the restoration of the original Imperial decor.

The Bolshoi Theater has put on many of the world’s most famous ballet acts! Tchaikovsky’s ballet Swan Lake premiered at the theater in 1877 and other notable performances of the Bolshoi repertoire include Tchaikovsky’s The Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker!

Today, when you visit the theater, you can expect a magical performance from skilled singers, dancers, and musicians with the highest level of technique!

If you don’t have time to see a show, the theater also provides guided tours on select days of the week. Tours are given in both Russian and English and will provide visitors with a more intimate look at the different areas of the theater!

The stage of this iconic Russian theater has seen many outstanding performances. If you’re a fan of the performing arts, the Bolshoi Theater is one of the greatest and oldest ballet and opera companies in the world, making it a must-see attraction on your Moscow itinerary!

Godzillas Hostel

Godzillas Hostel is located in the center of Moscow, just a short walk from all the major tourist attractions and the metro station.

• Towels Included

Cosmonautics Museum | Alexander Garden | Ostankino Tower | Izmaylovo District | Soviet Arcade Museum

Now that we’ve covered what to do in Moscow in 2 days, if you’re able to spend more time in the city you’re going to need more attractions to fill your time. Here are a few more really cool things to do in Moscow we recommend!

Memorial Museum of Cosmonautics

• Hear the timeline of the ‘space race’ from the Russian perspective
• This museum is fun for both adults and children!
• Admission is USD $4.00

The Memorial Museum of Cosmonautics is a museum dedicated to space exploration! The museum explores the history of flight, astronomy, space exploration, space technology, and space in the arts. It houses a large assortment of Soviet and Russian space-related exhibits, and the museum’s collection holds approximately 85,000 different items!

The museum does an excellent job of telling the full story of the exciting space race between the USSR and the US! It highlights the brightest moments in Russian history and humanity and is very interesting and fun for all ages!

If you’re a fan of space or just curious about gaining insight into Russia’s fascinating history of space exploration, make sure to add this to your 3 day itinerary in Moscow!

The Alexander Garden

• A tranquil place to relax near the Red Square
• Green lawns dotted with sculptures and lovely water features
• The park is open every day and has no entrance fee

The Alexander Garden was one of the first urban public parks in Moscow! The garden premiered in 1821 and was built to celebrate Russia’s victory over Napoleon’s forces in 1812!

The park is beautiful and well maintained with paths to walk on and benches to rest on. The park contains three separate gardens: the upper garden, middle garden, and lower garden.

Located in the upper garden, towards the main entrance to the park is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier with its eternal flame. This monument was created in 1967 and contains the body of a soldier who fell during the Great Patriotic War!

The park stretches along all the length of the western Kremlin wall for about half a mile. Due to its central location in the city, it’ll be easily accessible when you’re out exploring The Red Square.

It provides a bit of relief from the city’s high-energy city streets. Bring a picnic lunch, go for a walk, or just sit and people watch, this is one of the best Moscow sites to wind-down and relax!

Ostankino Television Tower

• Television and radio tower in Moscow
• Currently the tallest free-standing structure in Europe
• Make sure you bring your passport when you visit, you can’t go up without it!

For spectacular views of the city, make sure to add the Ostankino Television Tower to your itinerary for Moscow! This impressive free-standing structure provides stunning views of the city in every direction. The glass floor at the top also provides great alternative views of the city!

It takes just 58 seconds for visitors to reach the Tower’s observation deck by super fast elevator. The tower is open every day for long hours and is a great site in Moscow to check out! There is even a restaurant at the top where you can enjoy rotating views of the city while you dine on traditional Russian cuisine or European cuisine!

The tower is somewhat of an architectural surprise in a city that is not known for skyscrapers! To see the city from a new perspective, make sure to add this stop to your Moscow itinerary!

Izmaylovo District

• The most popular attractions in this district are the kremlin and the flea market
• Outside of the city center and easy to reach via metro
• Most popular during the summer and on weekends

Travel outside the city center and discover a unique area of the city! The Izmaylovo District is a popular destination for locals and tourists alike, and one of the coolest places to see in Moscow! The two main attractions we recommend checking out are the Kremlin and the flea market.

The Izmailovo Kremlin was established as a cultural center and molded after traditional Russian architecture. This colorful complex is home to several single-subject museums, including a Russian folk art museum and a vodka museum!

Next to the Kremlin is the Izmailovo open-air market, which dates back to the 17th century! The market is connected to the Izmailovo Kremlin by a wooden bridge. Pick up all your Russian souvenirs here, including traditional handicrafts, paintings, books, retro toys, and Soviet memorabilia!

You will find many hand-made and hand-painted options available at higher prices, as well as mass-produced souvenir options at lower prices!

Museum of Soviet Arcade Games

• Closed on Mondays
• Filled with old arcade games that visitors get to try out!
• The museum also includes a small cafe and burger shop

For something a little different, check out the Museum of Soviet Arcade Games! The museum features roughly 60 machines from the Soviet era, including video games, pinball machines, and collaborative hockey foosball! The machines inside the museum were produced in the USSR in the mid-1970s.

The best part is, most of the games are still playable! Purchase tickets and try the games out for yourself! The museum also has a neat little screening room that plays old Soviet cartoons and an area with Soviet magazines! This unique attraction is a fun addition to a 3 day itinerary in Moscow, and an attraction that all ages will enjoy! 

Whether you’re spending one day in Moscow, or more, safety is an important thing to keep in mind when traveling to a big city! Overall, Moscow is a very safe place to visit. However, it is always recommended that tourists take certain precautions when traveling to a new destination!

The police in Moscow is extremely effective at making the city a safe place to visit and do their best to patrol all of the top Moscow, Russia tourist attractions. However, tourists can still be a target for pickpockets and scammers.

Moscow has a huge flow of tourists, therefore there is a risk for pickpocketing. Simple precautions will help eliminate your chances of being robbed. Stay vigilant, keep your items close to you at all times, and don’t flash your valuables!

If you’re planning a solo Moscow itinerary, you should have no need to worry, as the city is also considered safe for solo travelers, even women. Stay in the populated areas, try and not travel alone late at night, and never accept rides from strangers or taxis without a meter and correct signage.

The threat of natural disasters in Moscow is low, with the exception of severe winters when the temperature can dip below freezing! Bring a good, warm jacket if you visit in Winter.

However, please note that Russian views on homsexuality are far less accepting than those in Western Europe. Likewise, Non-Caucasian travellers may sadly encounter racism in Russia .

Don’t Forget Your Travel Insurance for Moscow

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They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.

SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!

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Now that we’ve covered all the top things to see in Moscow, we thought we’d include some exciting day trips to other areas of the country!

Sergiev Posad (Golden Ring)

On this 7-hour guided tour, you’ll visit several scenic and historic areas of Russia. Start your day with hotel pick-up as you’re transferred by a comfortable car or minivan to Sergiev Posad. Admire the charming Russian countryside on your drive and enjoy a quick stop to visit the Russian village, Rudonezh!

You’ll see the majestic Saint Spring and the Church of Sergiev Radonezh. You’ll also visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius, one of the most famous Orthodox sites in Russia!

Lastly, you’ll swing by the local Matreshka market and enjoy a break in a nice Russian restaurant before returning to Moscow!

Day Trip to Vladimir and Suzdal

On this 13-hour trip, you’ll discover old Russia, with its picturesque landscapes and white-stoned beautiful churches! You’ll visit the main towns of the famous Golden Ring of Russia – the name for several cities and smaller towns north-east of Moscow.

Your first stop will be in the town of Vladimir, the ancient capital of all Russian principalities. The city dates back to the 11th century and is one of the oldest and the most important towns along the Ring! Next, you’ll visit Suzdal, a calm ancient Russian town north of Vladimir with only 13,000 inhabitants!

The old-style architecture and buildings of Suzdal are kept wonderfully intact. If you’re spending three days in Moscow, or more, this is a great option for exploring the charming areas outside the city!

Zvenigorod Day Trip and Russian Countryside

On this 9-hour private tour, you’ll explore the ancient town of Zvenigorod, one of the oldest towns in the Moscow region! As you leave Moscow you’ll enjoy the stunning scenery along the Moscow River, and make a few stops at old churches along the way to Zvenigorod.

Upon arrival, you’ll explore the medieval center, including the 14th-century Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery. Next, you’ll take a break for lunch (own expense) where you’ll have the chance to try out the Russian cuisine! Next, you’ll visit the Museum of Russian Dessert and sip on tea at a Russian tea ceremony.

The final stop of the day is at the Ershovo Estate, a gorgeous place to walk around and enjoy nature!

Day Trip to St Petersburg by Train visiting Hermitage & Faberge

On this full-day tour, you’ll enjoy a a full round trip to St Petersburg where you’ll spend an exciting day exploring another popular Russian city! You’ll be picked up from your hotel in Moscow and be transferred to the train station where you’ll ride the high-speed train ‘Sapsan’ to St Petersburg.

Upon arrival, you’ll start the day by touring the Hermitage Museum and the Winter Palace. Next, you’ll visit the Faberge Museum, where you’ll explore the impressive collection of rare Faberge Eggs! In the afternoon, enjoy a sightseeing boat ride and a traditional 3-course Russian lunch.

If you’re spending 3 days in Moscow, or more, this is an excellent trip to take!

Trip to Kolomna – Authentic Cultural Experience from Moscow

On this 10-hour tour, you’ll escape the city and travel to the historic town of Kolomna! First, you’ll visit the 14th-century Kolomna Kremlin, home to the Assumption Cathedral and an abundance of museums!

Next, enjoy lunch at a local cafe (own expense) before embarking on a tour of the Marshmallow Museum – of course, a marshmallow tasting is provided!  Your final stop is the Museum of Forging Settlements, where displays include armor and accessories for fishing and hunting.

Discover this beautiful Russian fairytale city on a private trip, where all of the planning is taken care of for you!

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Find out what people want to know when planning their Moscow itinerary.

How many days you need in Moscow?

We recommend that you spend at least two or three days in Moscow to take it all in.

What’s the best month to visit Moscow?

The best time to visit Moscow is over the spring, from March to May as temperatures are mild, crowds are thin and prices are reasonable.

What are some unusual things to do in Moscow?

I mean, queuing up to see an almost 100 year old corpse is pretty unsual! Check out Lenin’s Mausoleum if you fancy it!

What are some fun things to do in Moscow?

The Memorial Museum of Cosmonautics is a fun place to explore the famous space race from the perspective of the ‘other side’!

We hope you enjoyed our Moscow itinerary! We’ve made sure to cover all the Moscow must-sees as well as some unique attractions in the city! Our addition of insider tips, favorite food stops, and day trips from Moscow is an added bonus and will guarantee you make the most out of your exciting Russian vacation!

Immerse yourself in the modern and traditional Russian lifestyle! Get lost in museums, witness awe-inspiring architecture, and indulge in Russian cuisine! Spend the day strolling through all of the charming sites of Moscow, admiring the beautiful scenery and discovering the city’s fairytale-like enchantment!

Alya and Campbell

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'World's largest bounce house': Big Bounce America coming to Macomb County park

Bounce house lovers, get ready — the "world's largest bounce house" is coming back to Michigan, this time with an even bigger bounce house and new activities, according to organizers.

The Big Bounce America 2024 tour will make its metro Detroit stops later in May, coming to Steffens Park in Fraser in Macomb County.

"We need more fun in the world, and what better way to bring that into 2024 than with a 24,000 sq. ft. bounce house," said Noa Visnich, tour manager for Big Bounce America, in a news release. "The Big Bounce America is the perfect event for kids and adults alike to get out of the house and enjoy an outdoor event like they’ve never experienced."

This year, they say, the bounce house will be 24,000 square feet and 32 feet tall. Inside, there will be gigantic slides, ball pits, climbing towers and basketball hoops inside, as well as oversize figures of various colors, shapes and sizes.

The Big Bounce America is made up of attractions, including several new additions: the Guinness-certified World's Largest Bounce House; OctoBlast, a deep-sea themed bounce and foam inflatable with underwater activities and music; Sport Slam, which features a customized sports arena; a 900-foot-long obstacle course known as The Giant; and a space-themed attraction known as airSPACE.

Concerts galore: Long list of artists coming to metro Detroit venues this summer

Tickets are available online , starting at $22. All-access tickets include a three-hour event pass with a timed bounce house session and unlimited access to OctoBlast, Sport Slam, The Giant and airSPACE.

The Big Bounce America 2024 tour will visit metro Detroit May 18-19 and May 24-26. Advance tickets are encouraged as the events are expected to sell out.

The Big Bounce America tour will return to Michigan again later this summer, coming to Grand Rapids on June 28-30 and Frankenmuth on Aug. 8-10.

Xi Jinping begins first European tour in five years in France

Chinese President Xi Jinping is on his first trip to Europe in five years, which is likely to be dominated by Russia’s war in Ukraine as well as economic strains between Beijing and Brussels.

The first stop will be France, with Xi due to hold talks in Paris on May 6 with French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, before travelling south to the Pyrenees.

After that, he will travel to Serbia and Hungary, two countries that have maintained close ties with Russia despite its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

According to Matt Geracim, the assistant director of the Atlantic Council’s Global China Hub, the Chinese president is travelling to Europe with three goals: “repairing relations in Europe damaged by China’s support for Russia’s war on Ukraine, blunting the EU’s economic security agenda vis-a-vis China, and showcasing Beijing’s strong ties with its stalwart partners Serbia and Hungary.”

Here is all you need to know about Xi’s European tour, which continues until Friday.

The big picture

Beijing and Paris are marking 60 years since diplomatic relations were established, with France the first Western country to formally recognise the People’s Republic of China on January 27, 2024.

But the trip also comes amid a deteriorating global security climate, with the war in Ukraine now into its third year and at least 34,683 Palestinians killed in Israel’s ongoing bombardment of Gaza.

France has said those two conflicts, particularly Ukraine where Beijing has professed neutrality but not condemned Moscow for its full-scale invasion, will feature prominently in the talks.

“Exchanges will focus on international crises, first and foremost the war in Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East,” the Elysee Palace said in a statement ahead of the visit last week.

Macron has recently emerged as one of the most hawkish of the EU leaders on the continent’s security, and he will be urging Xi to put pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin over Ukraine. In an interview with the Economist newspaper published last week, the French president argued the war was existential for Europe.

“If Russia wins in Ukraine there will be no security in Europe,” he said. “Who can pretend that Russia will stop there?” What security would there be, he asked, for neighbouring countries: Moldova, Romania, Poland, Lithuania and others?

To underline the unity of the European position, von der Leyen will also join Monday’s discussions, which are due to get under way just after 11am (09:00 GMT).

As well as the Ukraine war, Europe is also concerned about Chinese business practices and has initiated an investigation into China’s subsidies for electric vehicle manufacturers, amid concerns such payments are undermining competition and harming European companies.

Macron told the Economist that he would also convey to Xi why Europe needs to safeguard its own manufacturers and industries.

Ahead of Xi’s departure last week, Lin Jian, a spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that Beijing was ready to “work with France and the EU to take this meeting as an opportunity to make the China-EU relations more strategic, stable, constructive and mutually beneficial, promote steady and sustained progress in China-EU relations, and contribute to the prosperity of both China and Europe and a peaceful world.”

Following Monday’s summit, Marcon and his wife, Brigitte, will host Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, to a state banquet.

On Tuesday, Macron will take the Chinese leader to the Pyrenees mountains, where he made regular trips to see his grandmother as a child. The two couples are also expected to take a cable car up to the summit of the 2,877-metre (9,439 ft) Pic du Midi, a dark sky reserve.

After wrapping his trip in France, Xi will head to Serbia where he will arrive in Belgrade on the 25th anniversary of the bombing of the Chinese Embassy for talks with President Aleksandar Vucic. Three people were killed when Washington said it accidentally struck the compound during the NATO air campaign against Serb forces occupying Kosovo, in an event that triggered outrage and protests in China.

China has since emerged as the biggest single source of investment in Serbia, which is not a member of the EU, and prior to the trip Lin, the MOFA spokesperson, referred to the two countries’ ties as “ironclad”.

“The bombing remains a significant topic for Chinese officials, who use it to support narratives that question the values of liberal democracies,” Stefan Vladisavljev, programme director at Foundation BFPE for a Responsible Society wrote in an online analysis. “For Serbia, the visit presents an opportunity to strengthen its position as China’s main partner in the Western Balkans.”

Xi will then travel on May 8 to Budapest, the final stop on his European tour.

There he will meet Hungarian President Viktor Orban, the most Russia-friendly leader in the EU.

Hungary, whose policies have raised concern among other EU members, has become more closely aligned with Beijing and Moscow and recently signed a security cooperation agreement with China that allows Chinese police officers to work in areas where there are large populations of ethnic Chinese or which are popular with Chinese tourists, according to Zoltan Feher is a nonresident fellow with the Atlantic Council’s Global China Hub.

Reports on such Chinese police stations have raised alarm in other parts of Europe, particularly among exiles and dissidents.

Hungary is also part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, which it joined in 2015, and the two men are likely to discuss the ongoing construction of the high-speed rail between Budapest and Belgrade.

Ukraine war

Macron has spoken increasingly about the need to develop Europe’s own security architecture rather than rely on NATO and the US.

He has even suggested that France would be willing to send its troops to Ukraine, if Russia broke through the front lines and Kyiv asked for assistance.

China has long maintained it is neutral in the war, but Beijing and Moscow have deepened their ties since the full-scale invasion began, and Putin is expected to visit China this month.

Macron will be hoping to persuade Xi of the need for China to get more closely involved in efforts to secure peace as Switzerland organises a peace conference next month to discuss a 10-point plan put forward by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the end of 2022.

The Swiss say they have already invited more than 160 delegations, but it is not clear whether Beijing, which has also put forward a proposal for peace talks and deployed its own envoy in the region, will attend.

Russia has repeatedly dismissed the process, and insists a precursor for negotiations is that Kyiv give up the 20 percent of its territory that Russia currently occupies.

“We must continue to engage China, which is objectively the international player with the greatest leverage to change Moscow’s mind,” the French newspaper Le Monde quoted an unnamed diplomatic source as saying.

Human rights

Chinese state media have been reporting breathlessly on Xi’s arrival in Paris; the streets decorated with Chinese and French flags and groups of Chinese nationals welcoming their president.

But campaigners for Tibet and Xinjiang, where the United Nations says China may have committed crimes against humanity in holding some 1 million ethnic Uighur Muslims in re-education camps, were also out on the streets of the capital.

The EU imposed targeted sanctions on certain Chinese officials and companies over Xinjiang in March 2021, prompting anger in Beijing.

Human Rights Watch says while the French president did not raise the issue publicly on his visit to China last year, he should do so while Xi is in Paris and call for the release of those arbitrarily detained or imprisoned including Ilham Tohti, an Uighur economist who was awarded the Sakharov Prize, Europe’s most prominent human rights award in 2019.

The human rights organisation said Macron should also raise the issue of Tibet, where some 1 million Tibetan children are being placed in boarding schools and separated from their language and culture, and Hong Kong, once the most free territory in China but now subject to two draconian security laws.

“President Macron should make it clear to Xi Jinping that Beijing’s crimes against humanity come with consequences for China’s relations with France,” Maya Wang, the acting China director at Human Rights Watch said in a statement. “France’s silence and inaction on human rights would only embolden the Chinese government’s sense of impunity for its abuses, further fuelling repression at home and abroad.”

On April 30, Macron was pictured at the Elysee Palace with Penpa Tsering, the president of the Tibetan government-in-exile, on the sidelines of a ceremony to honour former Senator Andre Gattolin, a longtime supporter Tibet, who was awarded the Legion d’Honneur.

Penpa Tsering presented the French president with a signed photo of his 2016 meeting with the Dalai Lama and “urged him not to forget Tibet”, according to a report the Central Tibetan Administration.

“We understand that the agenda between the two presidents will be dense given the many international crises such as in Ukraine and in the Middle East, but this must not be done at the expense of exchanges on human rights, which are in a deplorable state throughout the country as well as in Hong Kong, Xinjiang and Tibet, where a latent conflict has been going on for over 60 years and poses a threat to regional and international security,” Vincent Metten, the EU policy director for the International Campaign for Tibet said in a statement.

In Freedom House’s 2024 report on Freedom in the World, Tibet’s overall score was zero out of 100; the lowest in at least eight years.

Maryse Artiguelong, the vice president of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), said: “The conflict in Ukraine highlights the threat posed to international order and security by authoritarian regimes such as Russia and the People’s Republic of China. Their aggressive foreign policies and repressive domestic policies are inextricably linked: Anyone who does not oppose China’s human rights violations risks one day facing its aggressive foreign policy.”

Watch CBS News

"Big Nude Boat" offers a trip to "bare-adise" on a naked cruise from Florida

By Li Cohen

Updated on: May 2, 2024 / 8:20 AM EDT / CBS News

Like to travel light? One cruise ship soon to set sail from Florida is making sure all you need is the bare necessities – no shoes, no clothes but plenty of service. 

" The Big Nude Boat " will take travelers from Miami to the Caribbean on "an 11-day adventure back to Bare-adise," the website says. Setting sail from Feb. 3 through Valentine's Day 2025, the trip offers a "stress-free, clothes-free experience" during which up to 2,300 passengers can roam the ship in the nude while out at sea. 

"It's our pleasure to provide you with the luxury of deciding what NOT to wear," Bare Necessities Tour and Travel says. 

@cbsmornings Would you dare to set sail on a nude cruise? 🚢 Cruisebare's upcoming full-ship nude cruise, departing from Miami in February next year, is making waves. Even #TonyDokoupil is down to go. 🌊 #cruises #vacation #experience #miami #sail ♬ original sound - CBS Mornings

Passengers won't be allowed to be naked when the ship is docked, but can ditch their usual attire once they are anchored or out on the water. And when clothing is optional, standard nudist etiquette must be abided by, the website says. When sitting, nude passengers must either wear a thong or sit on a towel or some kind of fabric. And while the self-serve buffet on the pool deck is a clothes-free area, passengers must be dressed for all dining room meals – and no, bathrobes don't count. 

Photos and videos will also not be permitted unless all individuals being documented give consent. 

"The Big Nude Boat" is just one of the cruises offered by Bare Necessities, which says on its website that the company has been "working to break down the barriers against social nudity and make clothing-optional vacationing a viable and acceptable option for all." 

"Social nudity is not a sexual activity, and we strive to dispel the misconception that it is anything but natural and beautiful," the company says. "We have made strides in the acceptance of nude vacationing and our wide range of cruise charters are a testament to our success."

• Cruise Ship

Li Cohen is a social media producer and trending content writer for CBS News.

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Five things to know: Dunes Golf and Beach Club in Myrtle Beach

Need to Know

One of Myrtle Beach’s first courses is hosting inaugural Myrtle Beach Classic this week

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A single golf hole deserves the credit for making Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, the first resort destination ever put on the map. The Dunes Golf and Beach Club is certainly the most famous of the courses on South Carolina’s Grand Strand, and its 13th hole remains one of the region’s most iconic. It is aptly named “Waterloo” and wraps around Lake Singleton, creating a 90-degree dogleg right around the water.

This week, the Dunes Club hosts the inaugural Myrtle Beach Classic, adding to a tournament history that also includes the 1962 U.S. Women’s Open, PGA TOUR Champions’ Tour Championship, PGA TOUR Q-School and the 2017 U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball. The course measures 7,450 yards and features a slope rating of 76.1.

Here are five things you need to know about the historic venue hosting the newest PGA TOUR event.

1. A pioneer

When it opened in 1949, the Dunes Club was the second course built in and around Myrtle Beach. It was preceded only by Pine Lakes Country Club (1927). A savvy marketer, Jimmy D’Angelo, was the head pro at the Dunes and managed to put together an annual media event of golf and baseball writers. The gathering was timed to catch the scribes on their way north from covering Spring Training in Florida, as well as from the Masters in Georgia. D’Angelo treated them to golf, an open bar and the wonders of the beachfront resort.

The popularity of the town for sports journalists eventually led to a discrete gathering of writers, editors and publishers in Pine Lakes’ elegant Georgian clubhouse in February 1954 that marked the founding of Sports Illustrated magazine. Myrtle Beach quickly grew into an affordable destination for golfers, ultimately gaining more than 100 courses and a reputation as “The Golf Capital of the World.”

2. A big break

Robert Trent Jones Sr. (RTJ) is a legend of golf course architecture, but back in the late 1940s, Jones was still struggling to establish himself in the industry. Though he was well-trained for the task, Jones’ career – like the entire golf industry – was interrupted by the Depression and World War II and took time to emerge postwar. He had a number of low-budget public courses to his credit and was one of 14 founding members (along with Donald Ross) of the American Society of Golf Course Architects in 1947. He’d also just finished redesigning the par-3 16th hole at Augusta National and had begun working with Bobby Jones on Peachtree Golf Club in Atlanta. Then Robert Trent Jones Sr. landed the assignment for the Dunes Club, which became his first nationally acclaimed solo design. It also established his reputation for designing courses that required a style of aerial power golf that repudiated the classic-era ground game.

It helped in giving shape to the Dunes Club that he worked with the same construction foreman – Bill Garrett – with whom he worked at Augusta National and Peachtree. Soon after the Dunes Club opened, they returned to Augusta National to create today’s par-4 11th that features a pond left of the green and a tricky approach from the right. Soon, RTJ was the subject of a fawning profile by writer Herbert Warren Wind in The New Yorker that highlighted his renovation of Oakland Hills Country Club’s South Course, turning it into an absolute beast that tormented the game’s top players. Ben Hogan shot a final-round 67 to win the U.S. Open there and declared, “I'm glad I brought this course, this monster, to its knees." RTJ’s reputation was set.

3. Keeping it with the Joneses

The Dunes Club embodies Jones’ commitment to demanding power golf featuring well-bunkered, slightly elevated greens that require an aerial approach. It remains a thrilling period piece, a throwback to when golf went from a ground game to an aerial game. Even with a total elevation change of only 26 feet on the property, the course presents itself well from each tee due to the meticulous routing and the use of native contours.

Unlike modern architects who scatter small tees at various distances and angles, Jones cultivated a trademark reliance upon long runway tees, some of them stretching 60-70 yards from back to front. Jones also heavily bunkered his greens, requiring aerial approach shots hit to carefully controlled distances. He then segmented the putting surfaces, making it crucial that players hit their approaches close to the hole, lest they be left with a lengthy putt that must traverse multiple ledges.

The Dunes Club design has been kept in the Jones family thanks to extensive renovation by Trent Jones’ younger son, Rees Jones, over the last 20 years. The scope of work has been extensive but involved no re-routing of any holes. Instead, there was refinement of some green sites, addition of fairway bunkers, course lengthening, a new irrigation system, practice tee enhancement and conversion of the putting surfaces to Champion ultradwarf bermudagrass for better performance in warm weather. Greens were also expanded to an average size of 6,000 square feet – large enough to provide room for the ball to roll out under today’s greater putting speeds. “I tried to build it for today’s play while preserving Dad’s design character,” said Rees.

4. Waterloo

For all its subtlety, the Dunes Club struck a note among golfers because of its par-5 13th, a scimitar-shaped par 5 that turns right around Lake Singleton and is the epitome of heroic design. Images of the hole started appearing in magazines, books and on lists of “best holes,” and it remains the kind of memorable hole that you anticipate, think about the entire round, and replay in your mind long after playing it.

The 13th hole at The Dunes Golf & Beach Club is aptly named “Waterloo” and wraps around Lake Singleton, creating a 90-degree dogleg right around the water.

Technically, it’s less a dogleg than a 90-degree right angle – rare among golf holes. The fairway narrows as a player gets farther from the tee, pinching down to about 18 yards across at 330 yards from the tee. Players with enough nerve and control to place their tee shot 280 yards off the tee and just past a line of oaks on the right will have a shorter shot across the water to reach the green in two than a player who hits a longer drive to the left side of the fairway.

5. Fast track

Due to extensive drainage and because it sits on a naturally sandy site, the Dunes Club plays very firm. This makes for an unusually interesting playing field, one that will reward precise shot-making. Fairway landing areas off the tee are on the narrow side – 20 to 25 yards across. The greens are much harder to hold when played from the 2-inch overseeded ryegrass rough, so accuracy off the tee will be rewarded rather than “bomb and gouge” golf. That is because 16 of the greens are bunkered on the left and right – the other two are only bunkered front right. Miss a fairway and controlling a second shot will not be easy.

All of which will make for some interesting golf to watch as PGA TOUR players confront this traditional test for the first time.

Bradley S. Klein is a veteran golf writer and author of 10 books on course design. A former PGA TOUR caddie, he was architecture editor of Golfweek for over two decades and is now a freelance journalist and course design consultant. Follow Bradley S. Klein on Twitter .

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Lynch: pga tour stars appear to be gaming the system. is it true doesn’t matter, share this article.

The scorched-earth political strategist Lee Atwater has been dead for more than three decades, but one of his odious aphorisms has never been more alive: “Perception is reality.” One need only skim the scummy surface of social media to realize how many people require no evidence to support fiercely held convictions about the malfeasance of others. The prevalence of that sentiment in every realm of life means it’s unsurprising to see it bubble up in golf, but it does present yet another headache for the PGA Tour, since the problematic perception is emanating from its own board members.

There are numerous arguments why Webb Simpson warrants sponsor’s exemptions into tournaments for which he is not otherwise eligible, the latest of which he has received for next week’s Wells Fargo Championship. He’s a popular former major champion. He’s built sturdy relationships on a reputation for professionalism and keeping things moving on the golf course (OK, that’s only half true). He has been a diligent member of the Tour’s Policy Board as it tries to navigate shark-infested waters. He’s chosen well in the places where he has won (Harbour Town) and where he lives (Quail Hollow, the host venue for the Wells Fargo). You can see why he’d get a special invitation or two.

But four? And all for signature events, the most lucrative stops on Tour with excessively reduced field sizes? That’s half of the eight starts Simpson has made in 2024. There have been 10 non-signature tournaments he chose not to play. Simpson doesn’t traffic much in profanity, so someone ought to explain to him the concept of taking the piss.

He isn’t the only player-director on the Policy Board whose schedule has been scrutinized. Adam Scott received free passes into three signature events this year. Two other player-directors each got one — Peter Malnati and Tiger Woods, who was ushered into the Genesis Invitational, where he was also the tournament host. So generously are golden tickets gifted to board members that one almost expects the panel’s chair, antediluvian attorney Ed Herlihy, to peg it in a signature event, too.

Every invitation extended to player-directors has merit and is defensible, for those who care to defend them. None of those players is acting unethically by requesting and accepting exemptions since regulations permit members to use an unlimited number of them. But the pattern of invitations for player-directors creates a lousy perception that board members are gaming the system for their own benefit. It doesn’t matter if it’s the reality. The mere impression of self-dealing is perilous for an organization already running on fumes when it comes to goodwill among the rank and file.

Sponsors who dispense these exemptions aren’t breaking rules either. In return for anteing up a small fortune, events ought to be given latitude in how they deploy their limited number of invitations, even if it leads to jarring parochialism. Witness Ricky Barnes getting into the 2023 WM Phoenix Open (then a signature tournament) for no apparent reason other than being considered a swell guy by the Thunderbirds who run things. But following applicable guidelines isn’t really enough these days. There are plenty of common practices at the Tour that are no longer fit for purpose. Common sense and awareness of optics need to apply, too.

Rank and file players are seeing their opportunities dwindle, a trend likely to continue as the Tour product is further streamlined in the coming years. There will be fewer tournaments, fewer cards available, fewer chances to make a living. That’s already painfully apparent this season to card-holders who earned status but lack privilege or seniority. It adds insult to injury for them to see sponsor exemptions into the most sought-after tournaments repeatedly used to prop up players who are not sufficiently competitive, whose best days are in the rearview.

Sure, player-directors who express concerns about loose governance on the Tour’s board should be more conscious of their own conduct when it comes to accepting unearned perks, but the onus here is on the Tour’s management and Player Advisory Council to act. The circuit will never be the complete meritocracy it imagines itself to be, in which every player earns his seat at the feast. Exemptions aren’t going anywhere. Imagine Jay Monahan calling a sponsor to tell them that Tiger Woods can’t play their event, even if he says he wants to. But stricter limits are essential.

Unlimited invitations to regular Tour events are fine, but the fast lane into signature events needs to be closed after a couple trips. The elevated events simply count for too much — particularly FedEx Cup points, the most meaningful currency now in determining playing privileges. But go further. For every exemption into a lucrative signature stop, the recipient should be required to enter a regular event that they haven’t supported in recent years. Players who take more from the business ought to have no issue with giving more, since they are now league owners.

Position matters when it comes to how player-directors operate during their terms on the board. Being a nice guy isn’t enough to justify creating an untoward perception. And living at the host venue sure as hell isn’t either.

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Nude cruise to set sail from Florida next year: Here are the starting costs, itinerary

The "Big Nude Boat" cruise, which allows passengers to bare all − yes, even at the buffet − is set to sail from Florida next year.

The "11-day adventure" to the Caribbean is set for the first two weeks of February on the Norwegian Pearl, according to the Bare Necessities Tour & Travel website.

"Bare Necessities’ newest nude cruise is a private island double-dip with a brand new travel partner!" the company wrote on its website.

The trip which embarks from Miami, includes "an exclusive visit to an idyllic private island" in The Bahamas as well a another exclusive stop on the way back to the Port of Miami.

"Two opportunities to enjoy a new slice of Bare-adise, coupled with a beautiful selection of Eastern Caribbean island stops, will make this a can’t miss Big Nude Boat experience," the travel company posted.

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Big Nude Boat cruise sailing dates and destinations:

The ship departs from the Port of Miami on Feb. 3 and returns to the same port on Feb. 14.

The itinerary includes stops at the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, St. Maarten, Dominica, Martinique and St. Lucia.

How much does the Big Nude Boat cruise cost?

Rates for an inside cabin start at $2,000 per person.

They stretch as high as $33,155 for the top room on the ship: a Haven three-bedroom garden villa.

Laws of the land (and sea)

Guests are encouraged to park their bare behinds on towels provided on board in areas including the pool deck and the buffet area, according to the website.

"Passengers can easily follow our rule on nudist etiquette by always placing a towel down before sitting," it reads. "Remember to pack a swimsuit; not all excursions are clothing optional."

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X @nataliealund.

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Xi’s European tour: where is Chinese leader going and what are visit’s aims?

Emmanuel Macron and Viktor Orbán among leaders Xi is meeting, with several key issues on the table

China’s president, Xi Jinping , has begun a three-country tour of Europe – his first state visit to the continent in five years – at a time when China-EU ties are under strain from trade disputes and Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Where is Xi visiting and who will he meet?

The Chinese leader’s visit begins on Monday in Paris, where he is meeting the French president, Emmanuel Macron, for a day of talks that will include a trilateral meeting with the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen , and a state banquet at the Élysée Palace in the evening.

On Tuesday, Macron will accompany Xi to the Tourmalet pass 2,000 metres up in the Hautes-Pyrénées mountains, an area where the French president spent childhood holidays visiting his grandmother, for a day of less formal discussions. The two last met in April 2023 during a three-day state visit to China by Macron .

On Wednesday, Xi will travel to Belgrade for talks with Serbia’s president, Aleksandar Vučić, and on Thursday he will go to Budapest where he will meet Hungary’s prime minister, Viktor Orbán . Both countries are pro-Russia and big recipients of Chinese investment.

What is the purpose of his visit?

Officially, Xi’s visit to Paris is to mark 60 years since diplomatic relations were established between France and China: France was the first western country to formally recognise the People’s Republic of China, on 27 January 1964.

His visit to Belgrade coincides with the 25th anniversary of the bombing of the Chinese embassy in Serbia , when three people died after a US strike accidentally hit the compound during Nato’s air campaign against Serb forces occupying Kosovo.

Analysts have said that in his meetings with Macron and von der Leyen, away from the ceremonies, Xi will mainly be aiming to lobby against the EU’s anti-subsidy investigations, particularly on electric vehicles, and on stabilising diplomatic relationships.

In Serbia , where China is the biggest single source of inward investment, he will hope to play up Beijing’s anti-US, anti-Nato agenda – one reason why China has maintained its support for Russia since its invasion of Ukraine.

In Hungary, Xi will underline the close economic and diplomatic ties between the two countries, including in security cooperation, and discuss progress on China’s belt and road initiative , which includes a high-speed Budapest-Belgrade rail link.

Hungary, a vocal supporter of China that has blocked some EU motions criticising Beijing on human rights, has Huawei’s largest base outside China and will soon host the carmaker BYD’s first European factory.

What big issues will be on the table?

Overshadowing the visit are EU concerns over China’s support for Russia two years into war against Ukraine, and Beijing’s concerns over the bloc’s economic security agenda, including the threat of heavy tariffs on Chinese imports.

Macron and von der Leyen will call on China to stop exports to Russia of “dual-use” and other technologies aiding Moscow war effort. Beijing claims to be neutral in the conflict but China-Russia trade has helped offset western sanctions on Moscow.

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Beijing, for its part, aims to head off the threat of European tariffs on Chinese EVs after an EU investigation into state support for the industry in China. Studies put China’s subsidies at between three and nine times those of other major economies.

Human rights groups have said the issues of Tibet and Xinjiang , where the UN has said China may have committed crimes against humanity by placing up to a million ethnic Uyghur Muslims in re-education camps, must be raised.

What is the outcome likely to be?

Most analysts doubt that the EU and its messages on the looming trade dispute and Chinese support for Russia over Ukraine will make much headway with Xi, whose visit seems designed to exploit the bloc’s internal differences.

China’s economy is facing some difficulties and the US is increasingly reticent about opening up to Chinese companies, meaning the EU could have some leverage, but its 27 members are not fully aligned on China policy, undermining their influence.

Macron wants a more aggressive EU stance on subsidies and has warned that the bloc risks falling behind without one, but other leaders, such as Germany’s chancellor, Olaf Scholz, stress the importance of the Chinese market for their own exporters.

Overall, said Janka Oertel, of the European Council on Foreign Relations, Xi’s Paris visit is “unlikely to have a significant impact on Chinese behaviour”. And Shen Dingli, a Shanghai-based analyst, said the Belgrade and Budapest stops were part of China’s efforts to deepen divisions within the west.

• European Union
• Ursula von der Leyen

More on this story

Europe live: China’s Xi Jinping calls for closer ties with the EU at opening of Paris talks – as it happened

EU restates readiness to launch trade war with China over cheap imports

Xi Jinping arrives in France with Ukraine and EU trade row at top of agenda

Xi Jinping to visit France, Hungary and Serbia amid EU trade tariff row

German chancellor urges Chinese industry bosses to play fair in EU market

Ditching European trade for China and India was ever a poor bet. Now it’s a farce

China offers to deepen security ties with Hungary

Post-Brexit watchdog ‘ready’ to investigate flood of cheaper Chinese electric cars

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Breaking news, boston cops surprise man turning 25 with muffin, sing ‘happy birthday’ after he calls 911: video.

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A pair of Boston cops fulfilled a local resident’s birthday wish when they showed up to his home with a celebratory muffin and line of candles to blow out shortly after midnight on Thursday.

The man, who was turning 25, called authorities and said, “I want someone to say happy birthday to me,” according to the police department.

Officer Israel Bracho and his partner Franklin Ortiz originally were under the impression the call was a joke, but after verifying it really was the young man’s special day, they jumped into action, WHDH reported.

“Everyone has one birthday, so everyone deserves to feel special on that one day,” Bracho told the outlet.

Bodycam footage captured showed the man, named Chris, get to the door to greet the cops.

“We’re happy that you’re 25, that’s a big number,” one of the officers told Chris as the other cop lit the candles to the muffin, the footage shows.

“How old are you,” Chris asked, to which the officer replied, “Oh, we’re old men, we’re about 40.”

As the officer began to serenade Chris with the “Happy Birthday” song, he broke out in an ear-to-ear grin.

After making a wish and blowing out the candles, an ecstatic Chris gave them both handshakes.

For anyone looking to end their week on a positive note, look no further! Here is a video of two of our officers responding to a 911 call asking for, “someone to wish him a happy birthday”. The caller after the fact was quoted saying, “The officers made my day!” pic.twitter.com/TPTV4gP8Y4 — Boston Police Dept. (@bostonpolice) May 3, 2024

“You guys are too awesome,” Chris said.

“We wish you the best birthday … you need anything else?” one of the officers said.

“Nothing, this is more than I can ask for,” Chris replied as he held the muffin up.

Bracho, one of the two officers, told WHDH that on their way there, they decided to pick up the muffin because “we can’t show up to someone’s house empty-handed. My mother raised me right — she would’ve killed me if I didn’t.”

Chris later said the officers’ gesture made his day, Boston police said. 

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