Category Archives: Travel

Miami Hot Air Balloon Ride

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Enjoying the city of Miami can be done in many ways. There are endless activities to take part in and they all are going to be fun and exciting. There is one kind of thrill that is a little different than most and that is hot air ballooning. Most people hit the 5 star hotels miami has along the beaches and set up for a week. Other people like to explore the area and try new activities. They are the ones who would love to catch a balloon flight over the area.

Check out Miami Hot Air Balloons for an adventure you’re going to brag about with the partners when you get home. Each flight goes for about an hour depending on the wind speed and direction. But that is only the flight time. You’re going to want to plan a half day trip that will go for about four hours. Lift off is earlier in the morning.

There are different sizes of balloons so you can call ahead and see if you can request a size to fit your small party. Large parties will need more than one balloon. Many people are interested in what to wear and that depends on the season. No matter whether it is summer of winter you will want to wear long pants and sturdy shoes. Unlike a machine powered, fast moving plane or helicopter, the hot air balloon has a nice, peaceful and quiet ride because it is moving with the wind.

Sailing in San Diego

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You have finally made it to the wonderful Pacific coast town of San Diego and now its time to dive in and get to know the area. There are plenty of things to do with the theme park and wildlife attractions as well as many great places to dine and be entertained.

Sailing is a special treat in San Diego because this is where some of the best sailors in the country live and spend their time on the water. Your going to want to ditch the 5 star hotels san diego has along the coast and head out to sea with some real sailing experts.

Climb aboard the multimillion dollar sailing yacht and race out into the water with precision. You can get on the famous USA 11 and get the best experience of sailing with one of the most professional racing teams in the world. This is a once in a life time chance to set foot on sailing vessel that most people never get a chance to enjoy. They make you a part of the crew and and let you sail this America’s Cup yacht along the coast and its a thrilling ride.

Sailing is a big deal in San Diego and you’re going to want to experience it with the best.

Cruises and Tours Around Marco Island

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Marco Island is one of Florida’s great getaway locations and because it’s not as famous as some of the standard vacation and spring break destinations such as Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Orlando, it can be easily overlooked when making plans. However, this is actually a plus to the island which is often considered to be something of a private paradise for those who do know if it and choose to vacation there. And that is not intended to imply that there are few people on the beaches and it would be unfortunate to make that mistake, because there are plenty of people there. It would be difficult or perhaps even impossible to find any beach region in Florida that didn’t have throngs of people on it. However, the crowds on the beaches of Marco Island tend not to get too chaotic and crazy, and are generally calm and fun oriented. For this reason, as well as others that will be forthcoming, it is a great place for families to vacation.

Any hotel Marco Island is bound to have incredible views and be in relatively close distance to one of the beaches. And one of the great things to do while staying there is to take one of the available boat tours. There are various options available and some are basic sight seeing oriented while others are fishing trips and charter boats. Some are specifically oriented toward families and include plenty of activities for children. One of the most popular tours is a dolphin discovery cruise . Dolphins are extremely common around the island and make themselves seen on a regular basis. Meanwhile the beaches offer plenty of chances for water sports such as snorkeling, swimming, diving, windsurfing and more. You can even learn to sail while you are vacationing. Many people have a fantasy about learning to command a sail boat and the professional lessons available on the island make it the perfect opportunity to do so. There are numerous other attractions and activities that make this the perfect island getaway for you and your friends, significant other or entire family.

There’s Way Too Much to do In Charlotte

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Charlotte, North Carolina, known by the locals as ‘The Queen City’, referencing the wife of King George III, lets you know this city is rich in history. Currently, Charlotte is one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas, 20th in the nation. There’s so much to see and do, you might end-up booking extra days at one of the best Charlotte hotels in order to fit everything in or even to visit all 10 distinctive neighborhoods like Uptown, NoDa, Universal City, Plaza-Midwood, Myers Park, Dilworth, South Park, South End. Elizabeth and Ballantyne.

Uptown, is the place to go for a great night out on the town, with your choice of several upscale, fine dining restaurants, like the Monticello or for something easier on the wallet, Mert’s Heart and Soul; going for drinks at the Ri Ra Irish Pub, a locals favorite watering hole; and then attending a sporting event, like a great Carolina Panthers game at Bank of America Stadium.

North Davidson Street, better known as NoDa, which is Charlotte’s version of New York City’s SoHo, located north of Uptown and oozes with creativity. This one time textile manufacturing area has been transformed into art galleries, hot restaurants, theaters and bars. Hopefully, you’ll be in town during the highly touted ‘Gallery Crawl’ , which is where galleries and studios open their doors to the public.

University City, in the Northeastern part of Charlotte, is the most densely populated sections of the city, plus the University of North Carolina and all its students and faculty adds to the over 200,000 residents. There are also a good amount of shopping centers, but what’s more important to all Charlotte is just outside of University City is NASCAR at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.

Plaza-Midwood – consists of the most beautiful historical southern homes alongside cafes, tattoo parlors, record stores and art galleries, basically, it’s an historically hip place to hang around. Myers Park – was the first commuter neighborhood, so it lacks in the familiar street grid design, giving this neighborhood a unique, relaxed feel. Dilworth – is a typical blue-collar neighborhood with homes that date back to the 1900s.

SouthPark, is for the serious upscale shoppers, even though this is mostly a residential area, SouthPark is consistent with its high-end stores. Once you’ve purchased that new high-fashion outfit, there’s no better place to wear it other than at SouthPark’s restaurants, which tend to be on the fancy side such as Upstream or The Palm.

South End, was revamped from old cotton mills and industrial buildings into restaurants, shops, offices and condominiums. Elizabeth neighborhood, originally named after the Elizabeth College, is known for Independence Park, the first public park in Charlotte. Finally, Ballantyne, located on the south side of Charlotte, is another residential part of the city, but a good place to play golf at the Ballantyne Resort or at the Olde Sycamore Golf Plantation.

See? Way too much to do, but all worth a visit.

Marco Island History

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People come from all over the world to spend some time on the tranquil Beach’s of Marco Island. They spend the afternoons wandering around the little town, snorkeling off the beach or sifting sand for some shells. This area was a focus of exploration way back in the 1890s. Archaeologists set up camp and did some major digging to learn of the ancient Indian Tribe that lived in the area. They found the Key Marco Cat which is now on display at the Smithsonian. The Marco Island Historical Society wants it back some day. They have been building up their museums in hopes of getting big enough to getting the Key Marco Cat artifact back to Marco Island. They have a good collection of artifacts from the original Pepper-Hearst Expedition of years ago. They continue to study the area for more clues into the lives of the ancient villagers. Ask any of the hotels Marco island is famous for and they will point the way to the museum for you.  

Otherwise, the history of the area lies in nature. There would be a story in every shell on the beach if it could speak. Sifting through the sand may not get you a clay pot but it is a fun activity to do while visiting. Some of the other fun activities include endless water sports. Check out what Marco Island Water Sports has available. You could rent a wave runner and move through the everglade water ways or you could see a new view with the para-sailing. Catch a cruise and see how many dolphins you could spot. Maybe they will even give you a show. After all the ocean is the big attraction to the area so grab your sunscreen and suit and head out for some action.

Disco Fever in Miami

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Miami is a city that’s very much on the verge of everything interesting in contemporary pop culture. It’s uniquely poised to set the stage in a way that the other big cities in the country are not. While New York and Los Angeles have wildly eclectic urban scenes that can take any regular evening and spin it into sizzling, Miami has a rhythm that no one else could ever aspire to. So while retro is still in its peak in those places, Miami has moved into what’s tantamount to a Disco Rebellion.

This is evidenced by the wildly popular Disco Ball that hits the city every February. This past year’s event was another smashing success, and such disco luminaries as the Tavares came to bring everyone back to the day that they all long for. To make sure that no one could forget, the Sugarhill Gang was also on hand. There’s no one better to celebrate the original wave of hip hop than the band that most critics place at the very top, and the very beginnings.

People do tend to forget the important things, and when disco went downhill in its first incarnation, it was written off as vapid music for a vapid time. But it also saw the birth of the urban music that has earned a place in contemporary culture. Rich, sophisticated, and anything but vapid, the roots were in the carefree stylings of disco, because at its roots, disco was fun. And fun never goes out of style.

Especially in this city, where five star hotels in Miami are like a VIP pass to luxury in a world-class setting. Disco fever might not be evident throughout the year, but there is an energy to the clubs that certainly reminds the last generation of their idea of fun.

Cowboy Neal and Salt Lake

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Salt Lake City has a fascinating history, having been founded in the 19th century, but with a very long period of human habitation well before that. It’s not exactly the Old West, but it shares enough of the same geographies and relation to space that the stories tend to overlap. The myths certainly do, and Salt Lake City is home base to a number of very interesting characters over the years. Filmmakers, visual artists, actors, and novelists, there are all sorts that make up Salt Lake City, and all these sorts make it a splendid place to visit.

One of the 20th centuries most fascinating creatures, however, never wrote a novel, although he certainly started plenty, and his correspondence was rather massive. Some of the most important letters in contemporary literature were from him, addressed to his dear friend Jack Kerouac.

Neal Cassady was born here, in 1926, while his parents were on their way to California from Des Moines. They didn’t stay long, but long enough for him to claim it as his birthplace. Leaving town was one of his best talents, and apparently it started at a very young age, soon after birth, in fact. This points out some of the characteristics of the Old West, and particularly the ones that are attached to the idea of a contemporary hero.

Restlessness seems to haunt most of the great figures of contemporary fiction, and Neal Cassady was a living testament to restlessness. His personality was strong enough to inspire a place in two masterpieces of modern writing, both The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test, and On the Road . His restlessness was iconic, and it was the heart of the inspirations for both of the journeys that the books depict.

Hearing about him is a reminder of a time of great rootlessness, and goes back to a distinctive romantic aura that not only haunted Salt Lake City’s past, but is still here. It can be touched again when a visitor is passing through, staying at a hotel. Salt Lake is constantly opening up for new generations and new dreams.

Positano’s Santa Maria Assunta Church

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When in Positano, you must visit the Santa Maria Assunta Church. Not because of its beauty, but because of its history, which is linked to the Benedictine monastery of Santa Maria. The abbey was founded in the second half of the 10th century. The church was rumored to be built because the last Benedictine abbot, Antonio Acciappaccia di Sorrento and his monks, where fed-up with being robbed by plunderers and decided to come to Positano; there are a few manuscripts showing how Benedictine monks, who where on board of their ships that traveled across commercial and fishing routes, carried important relics. This ships were always in danger or being confiscated by pirates, so they needed a place to store the icons until they could safely transport them to new sites.

When at the church, you might hear a story about the Dome made of majolica tiles as well as a 13th Byzantine century icon of a black Madonna and according to legend, the icon had been stolen from the Byzantium by pirates who were headed across the Mediterranean. All of a sudden a horrific storm began to brew just as the pirate ship was passing Positano, the frightened sailors then heard a voice on board saying ‘Posa, Posa!’, meaning “Put Down, Put Down!’. The black Madonna icon was unloaded and carried to the fishing village of Positano and the storm abated, letting the pirates sail off in peace.

Ask the staff at the hotel in Positano where you’re staying for directions, everyone knows exactly how to get to the church. Once there, you’ll be in awe of the majestic organ located just above the central portal and be delighted with a stunning bas-relief of St. Vito in an arch between the right aisle and the transept, dating back to 1506, or the bas-relief above the bell-tower dating back to the Middle Ages, and right above the bas-relief, you’ll notice a grave stone placed there in 1902 to commemorate Flavio Gioia, the inventor of the compass.

A Night on Frankfurt’s Bockenheim Strasse

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Where can you find some of Frankfurt’s most interesting restaurants and bars? You might try Bockenheim Strasse, an area that’s also referred to as Fressgass, variously translated as Pig-Out Alley or Gluttony Alley. A less judgemental translation of Fressgass might be “On the street where you eat.”

Once a district of the working class, the street has transformed into a center for the alternative scene, largely filled with bohemians and students. You’ll be able to find here shops offering cheese and smoked or fresh fish, and a variety of Frankfurter sausages. There is an abundance of unusual pubs, bars, coffee shops, ice cream parlors, bakeries, butcheries, delicatessens, and more.

In summer months especially, it’s a place for locals and travelers alike to fill up the hundreds, if not thousands, of chairs in the restaurant. In winter months, protection from the cold is provided, and it’s still possible to enjoy a meal and watch the world pass by your table.

While you’re booking a terrific room in Frankfurt, you might check to see if the Fressgass will be holding a festival. Several times a year, there’s a festival for wine or Advent. Some people who love the area might tell you to remember that “fressen” is what animals do while humans simply eat or “essen,” providing a caution not to gobble food down, considering that this might be an insult to the ambience, presentation and quality of the food served in Fressgass. Of course, there’s also some fast food chains in the area, too, so “Fress Gasse” might be the correct term, after all.

If you’ve never been to Frankfurt before, this is definitely a spot to try. Whether you’re looking for a full dining experience, such as the kind you might find at Zarges , or a place to round out the evening with a little jazz, such as Jazzkeller , you should have a great time.

Seoul Global

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Anyone who’s experienced the nightlife in Seoul is aware that the club scene is very much alive and kicking. Electronic music is very popular here, enjoying the same enthusiastic crowds and djs as the rest of Asia, and the rest of the world. Add to this the gorgeous success of K-Pop in entering the world music scene, and attracting more fans by leaps and bounds every year, and there’s all the makings of a major cultural scene.

Seoul’s hotels are already enough of an attraction to most world travelers, offering glorious spaces to rest in a very restless city. It’s a fantastic time to travel here, and catch up on the new music scene that’s quickly expanding. For fans of electronic music, there’s even more good news.

Global Gathering , the huge weekend music festival from the U.K., has started to take root here. Last year’s event was a huge success, and this year’s festival looks even better. The event began with the intentions of carrying the same club energy into the outdoors, where clubbers could enjoy their favorite scene for an entire weekend. It has some of the biggest names in electronic music these days, with performers like Prodigy, Royskopp, and Underworld, and even Kanye West has made rare appearances to get the party started.

The tickets are around 80 dollars for a night, or 150 for the weekend pass, which includes camping on the grounds. Since they’ve been doing this since 2001, the organizers have prepared well for the events, which have become something of a global phenomenon. With global in the title, fans should expect nothing less. In South Korea, in particular, this event will prove to be one of the key weekends of the musical calendar, offering a great opportunity to see what’s hot here, and what’s coming for the rest of the world.