New York City - Without Breaking Your Budget
August 31, 2007
New York City - Without Breaking Your Budget
by: Rachel Medlock
It’s the Big Apple, baby, and all roads eventually lead - or cross - in its streets. But you won’t be doing your sightseeing there, because it’s too expensiveright? If you’re resourceful, there are many free and/or inexpensive tourist destinations in New York City. Below are but a few - including well-known sites, food, and New York’s art scene.
THE SITES
- Central Park - Stretch your legs and see the world’s most famous park without spending a dime. Enjoy just walking around the 800 + acres, or visit one of the park’s many famous sites for reasonable prices, including the Central Park Zoo, take your kids to one of the 21 playgrounds, or enjoy one of their many tours.
- Ground Zero - Many New York visitors want to pay tribute to those who lost their lives in the terrible events of September 11, 2001. Today, you can take a guided tour of the site for around $20, or visit it on your own for less. While you’re there, you might want to visit St. Paul’s Chapel on Broadway and Fulton Streets near the area. An impromptu memorial has grown there, with messages from visitors in many languages.
How Safe Are Ferries?
August 30, 2007
How Safe Are Ferries?
by: Rachel Medlock
In 2003, a ferry in New York City struck a pier in Staten Island, killing eleven and injuring more than seventy. In 2005, a ferry in British Columbia missed the dock and crashed into small boats in the marina. And more recently, a ferry in the Red Sea sank, claiming the lives of over one thousand passengers. Just a few days previous to that disaster, a ferry in Indonesia sank, killing dozens. All of these tragedies beg the question: how safe are ferries? Ferries are popular with tourists, considering them a scenic break from crowded highways, but should you entrust yourself and your family to a ferry?
Ferries in developed countries are, relatively speaking, safe - in fact, in the US traveling by ferry is far safer than traveling by car. In the US, ferries operate in forty States, and in 2002 ridership exceeded one million in several large US cities (including Seattle, New York City, San Francisco, and Boston). Seattle, which has the largest US ferry system, sees approximately 26 million passengers each year. All the ferries all operate under specific procedures and safety standards laid out by state and federal authorities, some of which have been updated since the 2003 crash in New York.
Visit Redondo Beach California
August 29, 2007
Visit Redondo Beach California
by: David G. Hallstrom, Sr.
The beach city of Redondo Beach, California is situated in Los Angeles County approximately eighteen (18) miles southwest of downtown Los Angeles and ten (10) miles northwest of Long Beach.
Redondo Beach is a family oriented community and is a good safe place to take the family for a day trip or for a vacation. There is plenty to do for everyone. Check out the Redondo Beach Pier (the pier is open 24 hours a day, although most businesses close at 2:00am or earlier) with it’s free public fishing, free concerts on Thursday and Saturday evenings, numerous restaurants, fast food establishments, gift shops and boutiques, as well as a bait and tackle shop for those of you that wish to fish and a kite shop (buy a kite and fly it off the pier). There is also a dance club and bar and a jazz and blues club. Visit the Redondo Beach Marina. There you will find sport fishing charters, boat rides, water sports, seasonal whale watching excursions, twilight fishing, spectacular sunsets, and more restaurants. Take a ride on the “Looking Glass”, a 19 passenger USCG inspected semi-submersible underwater viewing boat, or on the Gondola Amore which offers enchanting harbor cruises and romantic dining or rent a pedal boat or kayak and take your own harbor cruise. Go sportfishing at Redondo Sportfishing and fish for Barracuda, Bonito, Yellowtail, Halibut, Kelp Bass, White Sea Bass, and many other species.
Travelling Turkey
August 28, 2007
Travelling Turkey
by: John Gringham
So you’ve gotten the flight in and checked out Bodrum/Ismir/Antalya/Your Local Tourist Town. You’ve seen the ruins, dismissed the coffee and embraced the raki. And you’re thinking like Betty Friedan, is this it?
Restless vagabond, you are in luck. Turkey is a country once and a half the size of France, or larger than Texas, with of the most efficient public transport systems in the Near East. So let me help you make the best of your attempts at getting around in this wonderful country. At the lowest tier of the system is the humble dolmuş. This is a publicly-run network of minibuses that covers most of the coastal area of Turkey, and some of the populated inland areas. As the routes often circle peninsulas it can be a cheap way to take in some of the most beautiful scenery Turkey has to offer. The routes in the Turquoise Coast especially are too spectacular to be missed.
Enjoy The Luxury Of A Crewed Yacht Charter
August 28, 2007
Enjoy The Luxury Of A Crewed Yacht Charter
by: Erica Bosworth
Imagine a vacation where you could really kick back and relax, without the worry of hordes of tourists making you feel like you are back in the hustle and bustle of everyday life. An increasingly popular way to travel and experience peace and tranquillity combined with excitement and adventure when you want it is to charter a yacht, where you can enjoy the luxury of relaxing and soaking up the sunshine as you cruise the waters combined with visiting some truly exciting destinations when you are ready for a little excitement. You can enjoy avoiding the often stressful experience of staying in an overcrowded hotel on your trip, and instead you can really relax on your own vessel leaving the throngs of other tourists and visitors behind. When you charter a yacht you can opt for bareboat, where you have a totally unscrewed vessel, or you can select a partially or fully crewed yacht charter. When you go for a vessel with a crew, you can look forward to the ultimate in relaxation and luxury, as the trained and experienced crew ensure that your trip is everything you hoped it would be.
Less Extreme Adventures
August 27, 2007
Less Extreme Adventures
by: Steve Gillman
Extreme adventures and travel adventures are becoming more popular all the time. Some of us, however, want to have the excitement, without so much risk of injury, without getting shot at or kidnapped like Robert Pelton, and without spending a fortune. With that in mind, here are some ideas for less extreme adventure travel.
- Summit the highest peak in your state. It might be less-than-adventurous in some states, but it will at least be an excuse to get outside and get some exercise.
- Canoe down a river you’ve never been on. There could be an interesting one an hour away from you. If you don’t have one, you can rent the canoe, and bring a picnic.
- Treasure hunting at the beach. You can rent or buy a metal detector and spend a relaxing but interesting weekend finding coins, jewelry and who-knows-what in the sand.
- Vagabonding. Just pack for several days and start driving, with no destination in mind. See where you end up, and discover what you can.
- Surfing lessons in Montanita, Ecuador. You might want to bring your Bob Marley CD to this hippy/reggae/tourist area. The beaches are beautiful and the lessons are cheap.
Have You Ever Tried A Cruise Vacation? 10 Reasons Why You Should
August 26, 2007
Have You Ever Tried A Cruise Vacation? 10 Reasons Why You Should
by: Jolana Klobouk
I will admit it, I love cruise vacations. I have been on several cruises including a cruise for my honeymoon, for New Years, and for multi-generational family vacations and I have loved each one.
More and more people are finding out about the pleasures of cruise vacations including singles, families, couples, honeymooners, second honeymooners and groups of friends or families. Last year alone approximately seven million people enjoyed a cruise vacation and here are some reasons why:
1) Cruise Vacations Are A Good Value
The price of your vacation includes all of your meals and in-between snacks on-board; your accommodation, activities, children programs and entertainment. Throw in the exciting journey to some of the most fascinating and charming places in the world and you have yourself a deal! You will also know what your vacation will end up costing you before you go. Typically, your only extra expenses are alcoholic drinks, specialty restaurants, optional shore excursions, and personal services such as a spa treatment.
2) Cruise Vacations Have Amazing Dining
10 Must-dos When In Dublin
August 25, 2007
10 Must-dos When In Dublin
by: Steven Cronin
Few places around the world lend a friendlier hand than Dublin. The Emerald Isle offers wonderful hospitality, complemented by its warm and friendly hosts. A cosmopolitan city, Dublin is rightly proud of its rich heritage, but also presents a modern face in keeping with contemporary culture.
1. Trinity College
Housing the Book of Kells, a near two century old manuscript written by monks, Trinity College is Dublin’s oldest university, built in 1592.
2. Christ Church Cathedral
Dublin’s oldest building dates back nearly one thousand years to 1038. It was built courtesy of the invading Vikings, a monument to serve a powerful army.
3. Dublin Castle
Dating back to the Norman invasion, this wonderful example of medieval architecture captures the artistic influence of the time. Magnificent painted ceilings and crystal chandeliers portray the Ireland of one thousand years ago.
4. National Gallery of Ireland
Monet and Picasso are just two of the influential artists on display in the city’s largest gallery. Some 2,500 paintings give a flavour of a historic past and present.
5. Guinness Storehouse
Experience The High Life With Luxury Yacht Charters
August 24, 2007
Experience The High Life With Luxury Yacht Charters
by: Clinton Maxwell
A vacation is something that we all look forward to in order to enjoy some rest and relaxation, and some serious time out from the hustle and bustle of every day life. However, all too often we find the destination to which we travel overcrowded with other tourists, which means that we often end up taking the hustle and bustle of normal life with us on vacation. When you opt for luxury yacht charters you can rest assured that you will have the ideal vacation, combining the rest and relaxation that you crave with the opportunity to see some spectacular sights and enjoy a wide range of excitement. With luxury yacht charters you can cruise the seas and soak up the sunshine, and you can still dock and visit the places you wish safe in the knowledge that you can return to the peace and tranquillity of your own yacht when you are ready to do so. This is fast becoming a popular way to enjoy the ultimate vacation, and whether you are planning to take a loved one on a romantic trip or whether you are planning a family vacation, this is the ideal solution to a once in a lifetime holiday to remember.
A Tale of Whales and a Whale of a Tour
August 23, 2007
A Tale of Whales and a Whale of a Tour
by: Mike Miller
The big black and white killer whale — his four-foot sail-like dorsal fin erect and rising from a long sleek black and white body — came slicing rapidly through the water, seemingly on a collision course with our vessel.
Sort of a black and white torpedo with eyes, fin, flippers, and fluke.
The Kansas lady to my right gave a little gasp. “Might it hit us?” she asked plaintively.
No time for her husband to answer. Seconds later, and only a scant four yards from our starboard rail, the orca suddenly dove, his body and dorsal disappearing from view. His course took him directly under (not into!) our boat. A mad scramble ensued as all of us raced through and around the ship’s forward lounge to the port side of the vessel. Most of us made it in time to see the great dorsal resurface. The creature thrust mightily with his horizontal fluke and sped away at incredible speed.
“Oh my,” said Kansas Lady, “that was a sight.”
“Oh yes,” replied Kansas Man, “a sight indeed.”
