Posts Tagged ‘Travel’

St. Augustine: Home of The Fountain of Youth

October 3, 2008 - 3:10 am 1 Comment

St. Augustine, Florida is the oldest continuously occupied European-established city in the United States.  During the course of its history, it has been through the hands of the Spanish, British, and more recently the Americans.  At present, it’s not only a city rich in background, but it is also one of the best places to go to if you’re searching for a good time.  

The gentle coastline of the northern part of Florida, where St. Augustine is located, features white sand and alluring sunsets.  Enjoy just about anything you can think of doing at the beach while being blanketed with the ambiance of America’s oldest city.

If ever you have wondered where exactly the fountain of youth is, then you should look no further.  It’s only fitting to find it in the oldest city in the country (maybe that’s their secret).  Nevertheless, there definitely is an air of mystique which surrounds The Fountain of Youth National Archeological Park.  Many travelers of the ancient world have searched in vain for the legendary spring which grants those who drink its waters everlasting vitality.  Among these famous explorers is Ponce de Leon, who searched exhaustively for it.  Now, the place is advertised and is open to anyone who loves a good experience.  You may not get to live forever if you go there, but rest assured you’ll feel much younger by just enjoying yourself during your visit.

For those laid back travelers who want to get a closer look at the city without that much physical activity, then you can ride the Old Town Trolley and become transfixed with attractions and sights which date back hundreds of years.  The rides also have a competent conductor, there to take and show you around as they feed your curious minds with fun facts about good old St. Augustine.

 

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Vancouver: A Blend of Nature and Urban Culture

September 25, 2008 - 10:17 pm 1 Comment

Visit Vancouver Canada and you’ll get the best of both worlds. Hit the streets of this global city and delve into its booming metropolitan culture. Explore Vancouver a little more and you’ll find yourself in awe of its natural beauty. Vancouver’s vibrant urbanity is surrounded by soothing natural sceneries. Whether you’re on vacation to party or you aim to have a relaxing getaway, Vancouver is the perfect place to visit.

Exhilarating City
Art lovers will marvel at Vancouver’s architecture, quaint antique artifacts, and extensive art collections in various galleries. Walk around Gastown, Vancouver’s oldest neighborhood, and you’ll find authentic antiques and beautiful old buildings. Head over to Granville Island and you’ll find plenty of art galleries and shops. If you’re more into the performing arts, the city has an Entertainment District that embraces numerous theaters which serve home to local talents.

As mentioned, Vancouver also suits travelers who wish spend their vacation partying at night. Ironically, this city used to have the title “No Fun City” because bars and restaurants used to have early closing hours. Today, Vancouver is far from being a “No Fun City” as adjustments were made to make the city’s nightlife more vibrant! Granville Street, part of the city’s Entertainment District, is a stretch of bars and clubs where you can drink the night away! But Vancouver nightlife is not all about the booze; there are theaters that stand proof of the city’s value for the arts.

Peaceful Nature
As a global city, Vancouver has plenty of high rises, but this does not mean that there is no longer space for some serenity. Actually, Vancouver is home to the world’s vastest urban park! Stanley Park welcomes travelers to a wide range of activities with nature. Rent a bike to go around this park, or you can give your legs some exercise and hike the park’s trails. This park cradles rainforests and give a good view of the seascape.

Another peaceful spot amidst the busy Vancouver city is the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden. Let the lush green grass and Chinese structures soothe your restless spirit.

A Challenge to Get Active
Surrounding Vancouver and the rest of Canada are beautiful mountain ranges. Come winter, these mountains draw extreme sports enthusiasts because of the challenging slopes. Skiers love Canada as soon as snow sets in. When the ice melts during summer, the mountains are still a big draw for tourists who want to bike and climb.

Vancouver is a city that suits all interests. Whether you’re the type who cannot live without the urban air, or you are the nature-loving tourist, you’ll find Vancouver most amusing. Explore this global city now! Fly to Vancouver Canada for free!

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Dazzle your Senses on Mardi Gras!

September 15, 2008 - 10:28 pm No Comments

Costumes and floats paint the streets of New Orleans the day before Ash Wednesday. Mardi Gras, also known as Fat Tuesday, is a religious festival celebrated in numerous places around the world, but no other place celebrates it as lively and as colorful as New Orleans does. Louisiana takes pride in this city’s jovial and unique celebration of the Mardi Gras!

Parades. This is one of the event’s main attractions. From glittering floats to spirited marching bands, the parades will astound the entire family. Floats sponsored by krewes (Mardi Gras clubs) tend to be more extravagant. Common among riders of these floats is the tradition of tossing throws to the crowd. These throws can vary from coins to stuffed toys!

French Quarter. Being the oldest neighborhood in New Orleans, the French Quarter is the city’s center of art and cultural activity. This is where the parades used to pass by, but as the event became more and more popular, the narrow streets of this old neighborhood could no longer hold thousands of participants. Nonetheless, this is still a very active spot in the city during Mardi Gras. You are free to walk around with alcohol and you’ll get to see a lot of musicians. Food and drinks are overflowing so get ready to indulge!

Balls. This is another unique practice. Complete with a king and queen, you can only attend this ball with an invitation. If you’ve ever imagined being in a dreamy ball, cross your fingers that you’ll get an invite. And if you’re lucky to get one, make sure to have the appropriate costume as everyone else!

Exhibitions. Though a religious observance, Mardi Gras is more like an artistic celebration. The colorful floats, wonderful costumes, and jovial music all add up to a unique festive experience. When you’re visiting New Orleans for the Mardi Gras, make sure to see Mardi Gras: It’s Carnival Time in Louisiana – an exhibition of this beautiful event’s history. See costumes, invitations and floats used decades and even more than a century ago! Mardi Gras World, on the other hand, features the intricate art of creating floats.

The best time to visit any foreign place is during a festival. This is the time when locals are most welcoming of tourists. So schedule your visit to New Orleans in time for Mardi Gras! This festival will surely please your senses; from your eyes to your palate.

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Colored Shores: Different Colors of Sand

September 10, 2008 - 1:54 am 2 Comments

While driving a snazzy-looking Mazda from a car rental ireland service I stumbled upon a hidden paradise. It was a place they call Kerry (South West of Ireland methinks), the fine sand and rolling waves made me think of something - nothing feels more relaxing than feeling sand on your feet and between your toes. Believe it or not, sand does not only come in gold or white. You will be surprised at how different beaches paint the earth with varying colors of sand. Here are the best places to get different colors of sands:

1.    Golden Sand. This is probably the most common color. The Virgin Islands of the Caribbean have a lot of beautiful beaches. Travel to the Virgin Islands and you’ll find golden shores gleaming under the tropical heat!

2.    White Sand. People usually seek this color of sand. There are plenty of white sand beaches around the world. Caladesi beach in Clearwater Florida is deemed America’s Best Beach for 2008 not only because of the clear calm waters, but also because of the pure white sand!

3.    Pink Sand. The Caribbean Sea cradles not only idyllic white sand beaches but also pink sands. Go to Harbour Island in the Bahamas where you can rest on soft fine pink sands!

4.    Black Sand. Hawaii offers a lot white sand beaches, but what you probably don’t expect to see are black shores. Active volcanic activity in the Big Island of Hawaii created these black sands! You probably won’t find black grains of sand comforting, but it is still worth visiting. You don’t always get to see black shores.

5.    Green Sand. Hawaii offers even more colorful sands. Aside from black and white beaches, Puu Mahana of the Big Island has green sands due to olivine crystals. The shores are simply breathtaking.

So when you’re planning your next vacation, do not lock your desires to white sand beaches. White shores are idyllic but there are plenty of other colors to choose from! Ever imagined lying on pink sand? Cruise the Bahamas and you can put that imagination to reality!

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From None to 21: Legal Drinking Ages Around the World

August 17, 2008 - 10:49 pm 2 Comments

Excessive alcohol consumption especially among the youth can cause problems; thus the enactment of the legal drinking age. In most parts of the world, people wait till they turn 18, while others wait until they’re 21 before they become legal. And others, believe it or not, do not have legal drinking ages.

Barbados. This is a famous tourist spot given that it is one of the blissful islands in the Caribbean. Like most places around the world, Barbados’ legal drinking age is 18. But this comes with an exception. Kids aging 10-17 can legally consume alcohol given that they have a parent with them! So if you’re below 18 traveling to Barbados and wanting to taste alcohol, think of ways to convince your parents to allow you to take a sip!

Cuba. Cuba is another Caribbean dream destination but not only for the beaches but also for its vibrant history, art and culture. One of the must-see spots for any traveler in Cuba is the Castillo de Farnes. You may think this is just another bar to get a beer from but this is actually a historical place where Che and Castro had a toast after the revolution. So if you want to drink as they did, there should be no problem because there are no restrictions on the drinking age. Everyone can drink, but only 16 year-olds and above can purchase. So when traveling to Cuba, make sure you bring a 16-year old with you!

United States. These people are the unfortunate bunch to have a legal drinking age of 21 (the highest in the world, except of course for countries where alcohol is illegal). There are some doctors who actually say that 21 is too high and there are currently studies on the effectiveness of such law. All American states consider alcohol consumption under 21 illegal, but some states are more permissive than others regarding the issue.

Bali. Like Cuba, this internationally recognized vacation paradise does not have a drinking age limit. But purchase is only permitted to those 15 and above. The rest of Thailand, however, has the usual 18-year-old legal drinking age, and legally, only 20-year-olds and above can get in clubs. This is not strictly followed though. This gives even more reason to travel to Thailand! Aside from the glorious beaches, fascinating festivals, and interesting culture, you can enjoy all these with a bottle of beer!

United Kingdom. Now they have quite a complicated law. The Children and Young Persons Act in 1933 prohibits alcohol consumption by anyone under 5 years old, which means once you reach 5 years, you can drink legally except in licensed places. Though you can drink alcohol in private, no one will serve it to you if you are 7 years old. Only when you are 16 can you drink wine or beer in a restaurant and this has to come with a meal and with an adult. Wait two more years and you can legally drink anything anywhere in the UK.In Scotland, it will be legal for adults to buy drinks for minors in 2009.

If you’re the type who enjoys a good glass of wine but are under 18, you might want to think about the legal drinking age of the place you’re visiting. You might be anticipating a great nightlife in a bar listening to a great band, but end up disappointed visiting a country where you cannot purchase a bottle of beer for yourself.

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