Bo Darville is my friend

You may know Bo better by his nickname, the Bandit. So, one of the Ape's favorites movies is Smokey and the Bandit. I am not sure why, maybe because it is just really funny. The Ape family always watches it after we eat our tur-ban-ucken. Which is just a fancy name for the banana tofu turkey. Ape's friend, who will be referred to as Kawasaki Mike is also a big fan of the movie. The best character is, of course, Sheriff Buford T Justice.

What is the point? Well, I have received some e-mails from some of you who wanted to know more about the ape so I will slowly let you know more about Travelape.

Anyway, back to screaming travel deals and updates....

Have you ever been to Atlanta? That is of course where the Bandit was taking the beer that Big and Little Enos bet him to take. Atlanta is a wonderful city. Some of Ape's favorite places to visit are the Martin Luther King Historical Site. This is managed by the National Park Service and the best place to begin your stop is at the visitor center.

If you love Coca-Cola (Kawasaki Mike does) then you need to check out the World of Coca-Cola. This three story building is a shrine to the tasty beverage. You will find tasting stations to sample beverages from around the world and some of the rarest memorbilla anywhere. Drink up!

Atlanta is a fun city and only a little bit has been covered here. Explore Atlanta, but you may want to stay away during the summer. A-town has a reputation for being rather humid and hot. Oh yeah, for the best travel deals anywhere, be sure and check out Travelape.

Gobble, gobble

So The Ape is what one might refer to as a Fruit-a-dessert-atarian. You see Ape loves bananas and banana pie. Travelape does not eat meat, just fruit and pie. The Ape had a hard time with all of this Thanksgiving talk. There is not a place on Earth that just serves bananas and banana pie.

For the Thanksgiving holiday, Travelape actually goes to New York and watch the parade. The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade has been around since 1924. Featuring marching bands, floats, performers and of course, me. I will be holding on to the ropes of one of the giant balloons walking the parade route.

While The Ape is in NYC, a trip to Broadway is always in the works. Phantom of the Opera is my Favorite. Phantom is one of the true classics of Broadway.

That's it for this time. More after I have had a chance to let those bananas digest.

The Beach...

South Beach that is. The Ape is in Miami right now, and I walked and swam to get here. Ok, not really, but it was a rough flight over the Atlantic.





Some of the best nightlife in the world is in South Beach. The hotels along South Beach are boutique in size and art deco in style. Don't let the old style architecture fool you, the hotels are world-class in their offerings. Many of the buildings here are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Be sure to bring the camera to get some shots of all the scenery. There is PLENTY of scenery.

The food in South Beach is to die for. There are cultural influences from all over, but the regional specialty is Cuban food. If you want a fried whole fish or just some tres leche, the place to go is Versailles Restaurant. Sure it has a French name, but it is Cuban food at its finest. Here you will find great food and at all hours. The service is great too. Be sure to tell them the Ape sent you.

Travelape has many friends in Miami, so you will see more posts about my adventures in the Southeast in the next few days. Until then, this is Travelape saying the best rates and info are always on Travelape.com.

Sometimes you feel like an ape, sometimes you don't....

You know, all this travel can be tough on an ape, and is certainly tough on this Ape. I mean, think about it. Traveling all around the world, never fitting in because I am a traveling, talking ape and there just too many of us out there. It makes travel hard.

Anyway, enough whining.....I thought about it and I have not really shared too much about me with you so here goes:

I am a traveling ape, called Travelape.

That's it.

Au revoir.....

East Bound and down

East Bound was an understatement, I crossed the Atlantic and would up in Paris. Yeah, I know I said I was going to New York and I did see it from the plane, but I wasn’t ready yet. Soon, I promise.

The Ape has been to Paris about 150 times, but never went to Jardin Des Tuileries before. This beautiful 2,500 acre park is one of the largest in Paris and was flooded with students using the natural beauty as a backdrop for painting. The ape even struck a pose and was in a painting. The artist called it “Ape in the mid-day.”

If you are going to eat in Paris and you will want to because there are endless dining options, you will want to make a reservation. The Ape had an excellent meal at La Tour D’argent which has a world famous wine selection and a great banana pie. Ok, they don’t really have banana pie, but the wine was the best on earth.

I always finish up my trips to Paris with a visit to the Crazy Horse Saloon. This cabaret has exotic females in choreographed numbers and had been a Parisian staple since 1951.

Paris is a beautiful city and one that is best enjoyed with a travel partner. Not the Ape though, Travelape travels alone.

For the best hotel rates in Paris, check out Travelape. Next time, who knows???

Houston, we have an Ape

When the Ape is loose in Houston, the 4th largest US city, trouble is bound to happen. Travelape is a kid at heart and there is no better place to discover your inner child than at a children’s museum. The Children’s Museum of Houston is a place you can spend hours of time connecting with your inner child-ape. Ape loves the Expressions Exhibit which is basically a big art studio. This ape can paint.

If you go to Houston and don’t go to the Space Center, you have missed something worth going bananas over. You can learn all about Man’s trip into space and even take a five-day space school where you can learn all the details about space travel. I just want to set the record straight and remind everyone that a primate was the first one in space and yes it was my cousin, Space Ape. Regardless, be sure to check out the Space Center.

If you are thinking of going to Houston, be sure to check for great hotel rates on Travelape and plan ahead. Remember that all good trips begin with great planning.

This is Travelape saying “East Bound and Down.”

NYC by way of Texas

So I had really good intentions of making it to New York. My uncle Kong had some troubles there back in his day, but i just throw on a Yankees cap and no one recognizes me. I was finding my way to New York and wound up in San Antonio instead.

Travelape loves Texas and loves to visit San Antonio. The most famous attraction in San Antonio is The Alamo. The Alamo is home to the 13 day siege that, against impossible odds, a group of 189 men held off huge forces for much longer than they should have been able to.

Another great place to visit in San Antonio is the Riverwalk. Paseo del Rio for my Spanish speaking amigos is a great place to sit in a sunken (the entire Riverwalk is below street level) cafe and grab a bit to eat.

Make sure and go to the zoo. The San Antonio Zoo and Aquarium is home to over 3,000 animals and is regarded as one of the best zoos in the country. The Ape has to be a little careful when visiting, because, after all an ape who travels, blogs and runs a website would make for a popular attraction.

Travelape is going to explore Texas for while. The best hotel and places to see and do are always available on travelape.com. Now, where can I go to get a cowboy hat?

The White House

Travelape has been missing in action for the last few days. The Ape was busy eating, and eating his way through and around Atlantic City. One place the Ape loves to visit is the White House Sub Shop. You probably would not put a “James Beard Award” and a “sub shop” in the same sentence, but this is the exception. White House Sub Shop is a James Beard Award winner for America’s Regional Classics.

This establishment has been around since 1946 and makes what many consider to be the best submarine sandwiches in the world, some say the universe (and beyond). This is one of those places that is usually packed so you will want to get there early and try to avoid the noon lunch hour. Travelape gets there at 11:30am to try to beat the rush.

Basically you grab a number and wait for the sub maker to call your number. When your number is called, have your order ready. Pay close attention to the size of the subs. A full sub is huge and very filling. A half size sub is just perfect for this ape. The most popular sub is the White House Special.

White House Subs is daily and is best enjoyed after you have enjoyed a few banana beers. Just make sure to take a taxi if you have had too many. Any cab driver in Atlantic City will know where to go, just tell them to take you to the “White House” and if they don’t know where to go, you should probably find another cabbie.

Travelape needs to run, but will be back soon with more on New Jersey. Someday the Ape will make it to New York, someday.