Archive for the ‘Travel’ Category

September 15th, 2010

Wildlife Watching in Sydney

Sydney is known for its iconic Opera House and Harbour Bridge. What many don’t realize is that Australia’s largest city is also home to numerous parks and wildlife refuges offering unique glimpses of the continent’s wild animals. Tourists will want to get out of their Sydney hotel and see some of the region’s wild life firsthand.

The Tarango Zoo was the first public zoo in New South Wales. Opened in 1884 at the Billy Goat Swamp in Moore Park. After several reinventions and relocations, the Taronga Zoo was officially opened in 1916. Today the Zoo features animal encounters, guided tours, and daily presentations by various animal keepers. There is also a daily Bird Show and a Seal Show. Animal Encounters, which require separate tickets, include koalas, reptiles, giraffes and owls. Visitors can also attend overnight events.

Other wildlife attractions in Sydney include the Koala Park Sanctuary in the Outer West, the Featherdale Wildlife Park in Western Sydney, and the Sydney Aquarium and Sydney Wildlife Park, both in Darling Harbour. Those willing to trek an hour north of the city will get to explore the Australian Reptile Park which features wallabies, dingos, and kangaroos as well as reptiles and other animals.

September 1st, 2010

Greek Drama and the Greek Island of Corfu

Corfu is an incredible island that is absolutely beautiful in its geographic features and amazing scenic views and also amazing in its cultural heritage and certain social dynamics. The island has a long tradition of support for the arts and the theatre is one of the standard entertainment options. This is appropriate considering that Western theatre originated with Greece and some of the greatest tragedies and comedies remain associated with it.

Tourists in one of the beautiful Corfu hotels may not be able to experience one of the popular annual festivals that were common to the mainland country in ancient times, though they can enjoy a great contemporary production of a classical favorite. The Municipal Theatre and other popular cultural establishments are excellent places to catch a great performance.

Popular Greek theatre began almost five hundred years before the birth of Christ and was well established by the middle of the fifth century BCE. Aeschylus , Sophocles and Euripides are the three primary tragedians whose works still survive and are produced today. Aristophanes was one of the most popular and acclaimed comedy writers and his humor continues to be appreciated by contemporary mainstream populations. Attending a production by one of these ancient greats would be one of the most incredible experiences a tourist could hope to have while visiting Corfu.

August 25th, 2010

Dining Ideas for Vancouver

So you’ve checked into your choice of Vancouver hotels , now what? You’re probably hungry from your flight in and looking for the best thing to sate your hunger. You are in luck, being a coastal city there’s no way you can stop in Vancouver and not sample something from the sea. This city has a seafood restaurant selection to meet the needs of anyone whether their budget can allow fine dining or just a diner.

If you’re arriving late you may have a limited selection to choose from but there are a handful of late night eateries on hand that aren’t a Denny’s . If you’re arriving in the city after 10pm your less artery blocking options are to be found in the regions of Main St, Commercial Dr, and Kingsway though these are assuredly not fine dining they will feed you as you settle in.

Once you’re settled in and ready to enjoy your vacation though there’s a virtual cornucopia of places to eat. This city is a foodie’s paradise. From the full range of Chinese restaurants available in Chinatown to your pick of the seafood restaurants available by the marina where depending on the season you might witness orcas frolicking while you dine.

August 9th, 2010

Ski in Steamboat Springs

Steamboat Springs, Colorado is one of the most popular, most beautiful and most accommodating ski areas in the entire state. It is also quite attractive and inviting during the summer. And for the residents who live there all year long, they couldn’t be happier or more in love with their town, community and the amazing geography that surrounds them.

Though it’s not a large city it is the most populated city in Routt County and it has a total square mile size of just over ten. It is located on Highway 40 in the upper valley of the Yampa River. Interestingly, it lies just west of the Continental Divide .

In addition to its international reputation as one of the country’s most popular ski resort areas, there are also numerous river oriented sports and recreational activities that are popular there. Any of the luxury Steamboat Springs hotels could be full at anytime so it is important to make your reservations and check available dates in advance of your trip. And with that being said, the most important thing for you to pack, in addition to appropriate seasonal attire, is a your sense of fun and adventure because there is plenty of opportunities to make use of it while you are there.

July 26th, 2010

Dreaming West in Maps

Maps are more than just guides to a place as it is now, it’s a guide to how it came to be that way. There are routes and cities that reflect the population that’s been growing over the centuries, and there are also small towns, and points of interest, that remark on the way the routes developed.

A California map can certainly point the way, and make it easier to get around a state with some fairly complex streets in many places. But a little bit of historical knowledge can reveal so many other things as well. One can see, for example, the way the Gold Rush brought thousands west, in search of a better life through a sudden turn in fortune.

One can also find out a great deal about the history of Latinos in the state, where passageways and place names speak of the time, not long ago, when it was part of Mexico. The influence of other Latin populations as they’ve migrated to the state are also evident in the names of restaurants, and the history of the development of neighborhoods in all the major cities.

Even city maps can give hints about the larger picture, and comparing maps over time shows how populations change. There are mysteries in the world that can be revealed from maps, and more mysteries still to be revealed through walking the streets that they name.

July 21st, 2010

Professional Sports in Arizona

Phoenix, Arizona is not only the largest city in the state it is also the state capital and most popular tourist destination. And while the major professional sports teams are likely to be rivals for many of the tourists in Phoenix, there are a lot of them and most people are interested in visiting one of the spring training baseball fields or touring Chase Ballpark. Hotel rates Phoenix can be seasonally flexible so check in advance before you make our final reservations.

The Arizona Diamondbacks are the professional baseball team that is based out of Phoenix and plays their home games in the downtown area at Chase Ballpark. It is located right next to the US Airways Arena, which is the home of the city’s two professional basketball teams. The Phoenix Suns are the city’s NBA team and the Phoenix Mercury are the city WNBA team. Both the Arizona Cardinals, the NFL team and the Phoenix Coyotes, the hockey team, play their home games at the new venues in Glendale. And if you are overwhelmed by all of the professional sports in Phoenix, there is always the Sun Devils , which is the official name of the sports teams for Arizona State University. And there are plenty of great sports teams there as well.

July 17th, 2010

Boston Financial District Dining

While visiting Boston on your business trip you will need to find a nice place to eat dinner. You may want to impress your clients and there are some really nice restaurants in Boston that can take care of your needs.

Depending on where you are in the city, Radius may be a nice place to go. It is in the financial district of Boston and is a popular place to dine for the business men and women in the area. The restaurant is named for the shape of the building. It was once a bank and now it is wonderful restaurant created by celebrity chef Michael Schlow along with his partners.

Any of the boston business hotels can show you the way to Radius for a wonderful french cuisine served up and a very classy modern atmosphere with some of the best service in town.

They pay special attention to the details of each dish that leaves the kitchen and they want everyone to feel comfortable during their stay. They serve a broad range of dishes from Maine Lobster B.L.T to a fancy open faced egg salad sandwich for lunch. Dinner rolls out with lots of wonderful seafood dishes and a little duck.

July 12th, 2010

Elvis Alive in Las Vegas

It might be too much of a cliche to say that the King of Rock n’ Roll is still alive and well in Las Vegas. Some cliches become that way because they are so true, and this is certainly true in one of the great cities of lights. It’s almost impossible to walk on the strip, past all the hotels in Las Vegas , and not think of Elvis. He literally is everywhere here, with an iconic presence that continues to haunt the streets and the casinos.

It’s not just the memory of the live shows and the films that keep Elvis alive, either. Cirque du Soleils’ “Viva Elvis ,” a live riot of acrobatic performance centered thematically around his life, has been playing to very good reviews. Their work is always stunning in town, and the city is a perfect place for their large-scale productions that are high on spectacle as well as on content.

It’s much like the work of Elvis himself, whose hype grew exponentially during all of his years, until he became something of a mythic figure. Las Vegas is a place where mythic figures are able to get the attention they truly deserve, and the ghostly presence of Elvis in the city is something of a perfect marriage.

June 30th, 2010

Family Activities and Attractions in Boston

Most people are well aware of the significant role that the city of Boston played in this country’s establishment and early development. And when they visit Boston, a large majority of the tourist are interested in touring some of the historic landmarks and memorials. And this is an important and celebrated aspect of the city’s history and its culture. Meanwhile, there are numerous contemporary attractions that are equally enticing and sometimes a surprise for the guests in one of the five star hotels Boston to discover when they are visiting the city. And while many people can plan on spending the bulk of their vacation exploring the various historic aspects of the city, they are generally amazed by some of the contemporary attractions and have a slight change in their agendas.

Some of the favorite contemporary family attractions in the city are focused on a diverse selection of societal elements. The New England Aquarium Whale Watch, The Museum of Science and the Boston Public Garden are all incredible features of the city and attract diverse populations of people. In addition, they are all a great place to spend an afternoon. The New England Aquarium is one of the great attractions in the city and it entices visitors of all ages and backgrounds. It is the perfect place for families to enjoy an afternoon and the Whale Watch is an amazing opportunity to watch the whales as they are fed from the tour catamaran on which you’re enjoying a beautiful ride.

The Museum of Science is another great place for families and has a long history of being a family favorite. Many of the exhibits are specifically designed to inspire the minds and imaginations of children, though adults also enjoy them and have a great time. It is an excellent resource for education in the context of fun activities. The Public Garden is a beautiful lush green retreat in the middle of downtown Boston. And while residents are unlikely to make the comparison it serves a similar purpose to New York’s Central Park. It is the ideal place for a quick lunch, family picnic or break from the chaos and place to enjoy some relaxing walks or perhaps even do a little yoga.

June 28th, 2010

Golf Vacation in Orlando

Many people love to golf, some more than others. It is the kinds of game that starts to creep up on you though. At first you don’t think you like it and as you play it more and more you find that it is very enjoyable. This is probably why there are so many options for golf vacations in popular vacation areas. When you are in Florida, it doesn’t matter if you are staying one night, or a week, there are a number of places that are happy to have you stay at the four star hotels Orlando has, and play at any of a number of beautiful golf courses across the city.

The best part about golfing in Orlando is not the fact that it was voted the North American Golf Destination of the Year 2010″ by the International Association of Golf Tour Operators , but that it doesn’t matter what season you are there in, something is always going on that will make you happy you chose this as your golf destination. What you will have a hard time on, is deciding where you want to play. There are more than one hundred fifty places to golf in the city, some of which are better than others.

If you are wanting to play with the big boys you may want to see if you can get a tee time at the Celebration golf club. Designed by Robert Trent Jones , Sr. and Jr. this course is beautiful enough that you might put down your clubs once in a while and snap a few photos. It’s not just beautiful though, it’s also challenging too. While you probably won’t unless you are holding up the line, you may even see a few famous golfers practicing on this course.

If you want a newer course that are growing in prestige as you read this, try some one of the three courses at the Reunion Resort and Club. There are three courses here and each one is different. Designed by Tom Watson, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus these courses will challenge you while still being kind of fun. The hardest part by far here is making yourself call it a day when you are done with your eighteen holes.