Travel Log - Featured Destinations Archives

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10 Perfect Summer Getaways

Fine Living has the details on 10 summer getaways that you might not have otherwise thought of:

• Wellfleet, MA
  
• Moab, UT
  
• Sanibel and Captiva Islands, FL
  
• Ashland, OR
  
• Williams, AZ
  
• Santa Cruz, CA
  
• Wilmington, NC
  
• St. Joseph, MI
  
• Glacier National Park, MT
  
• Fisherman Island, ME

Rick Bruner | June 24, 2004 | Featured Destinations | Permanent link | Comments (1)

Irish Couple Rediscovers France

Christine Jardine spent her honeymoon in Paris drinking in the aura of its romanticism. Years later, she headed back with husband and child in tow only to re-discover Paris and the rest of France form a different viewpoint.

With a husband who wanted to relax in the French contry side and a child who wanted to go to Disneyland, Jardine discovered a little-known town called Touguin which is less than an hour from Disney and 40 miles from Paris. Lodging in Touquin gave Jardine a home-base to serve the multiples vacation needs of her family. First, the family spent two days at Disneyland's Hotel New York then headed into the heart of Paris via train from Touquin - a 45 minute ride.

Then, in Paris, the family enjoyed a trip up the Eiffel Tower, a boat trip on the Seine and a walk down the Champs Elysees.

Wrapping up the week with the "French countryside" portion of the trip, the family headed for Eperny to visit many of the fine vinyards and evening in Colmbieres to check out the local Brie.

Steve Hall | June 14, 2004 | Featured Destinations | Permanent link | Comments (0)

Cincinnati Rises As Travel Destination

After fallout from the 2001 race riots, the city of Cincinnati has improved its image and is getting notice from travel publications as a top travel destination. Publications from Zagat to American Style to the American Automobile Association have given high marks to the city's arts, dining, entertainment and lodging. The Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens was ranked 13th among the nation's top national attractions by Zagat and American Style ranked the city the number five art destination in the country.

City officials are attributing the success to the various government and travel organizations working together more efficiently. Greater Cincinnati Convention and Visitors Bureau. VP Julie Calvert said, "What's happening in Cincinnati is that we have learned to collaborate and cooperate with one another in a way that we never had to do before. The landscape of the city changed so much from Sept. 11 to the boycott to the race riots that we had to come together on every front."

Just yesterday, the AAA announce three of the city's hotels received four diamond rating. Sounds like this city is well worth a visit.

Steve Hall | June 11, 2004 | Featured Destinations | Permanent link | Comments (0)

Japanese Vending Machines: A Photo Gallery

Get your eggs without human interference

PhotoMann writes:

PhotoMann recently decided to 'collect' images of unique vending machines found in Japan. They are everywhere. Estimates suggest there are 5.6 million vending machines which works out to be one for every 20 people in Japan. Sales from vending machines in 2000 totaled $56 billion! The most common are drink and cigarette machines followed by machines with pornography. All of the images in this section are taken with a Nikon Coolpix 5000. Below is a sampling of the machines to be found.

Rick Bruner | April 25, 2004 | Featured Destinations | Permanent link | Comments (0)

Spring Dance of Cranes Is Tourism Boon for Sweden

The wetlands of Lake Hornborga in central Sweden, where the days are long this time of year, is full of visitors in April and May. Some 10,000 cranes touch down here and enact an elaborate mating ritual dance, as they seek a partner they will stay loyal to for life. The romantic spectical has become a regular tourist draw for visitors from around the world. CNN reports.

Rick Bruner | April 18, 2004 | Featured Destinations | Permanent link | Comments (0)

Bangkok Celebrates Songkran With Water and Talcum Powder

2Bangkok.com has a photo gallery of the Songkran holidays in that city:

April 13, 15 and 15 are the Songkran holidays in Thailand. It is the hottest time of the year. Families gather and Buddha images are sprinkled with water. Children stand along the roadside to douse passersby with water and talcum powder. Traffic deaths also hit a yearly high due to a combination of motorcycles, alcohol and roads slick from talcum powder and water. A few short decades ago Songkran was much more subdued lasting 1-2 days. Today it has become akin the Japanese Golden Week with people taking the entire week off to return to their homes and causing chaos throughout the country.

Rick Bruner | April 15, 2004 | Featured Destinations | Permanent link | Comments (1)

Curaçao

I recently had the great pleasure of taking a trip to Curaçao, paradise in the Caribbean Dutch Antilles. Now it's my turn to extend the pleasure to you with a collection of my photos from that trip and, even better, a special discount travel offer for you and your choosen one.

Andras Revesz | April 14, 2004 | Featured Destinations | Permanent link | Comments (0)

'Private and Official Time For Sensuous People': Salon's Pilot Reviews Japan's Narita Airport

I like to check in on Salon's Patrick Smith, who writes the "Ask the Pilot" column for that online publication. This week, he has an amusing review of Japan's Narita airport, which he tells us is the 11th busiest outside of North America and the most expensive for airlines to operate out of: it costs airlines $9,000 everytime they touch down with a 747. Aside from that, it sounds very clean but perhaps a bit too beauracratic for my taste (his description of the lengths he has to go to break a large Yen note he got from an ATM is amusing).

Rick Bruner | April 5, 2004 | Featured Destinations | Permanent link | Comments (0)

Snorkeling Abounds in Akumal

This Newsday story describes the fishy beauty of Yal-Ku lagoon in Akumal, Mexico. It aslo describes how you can get your kids, who might be fish-fearing, to also find the beauty that lies within the fish filled, crystal-clear waters. You've most likely heard of Cancun or Playa Del Carmen. Well, Akumal is very close by and a great alternative if you are looking for something a bit more quiet and off the beaten path.

Steve Hall | March 16, 2004 | Featured Destinations | Permanent link | Comments (0)

New York Announces New Comedy Festival

NYC Mayor Michael Bloomber tries his hand at stand-up comedy
during the press conference. Consensus: Don't quit your day job

The comedy club Caroline's on Broadway and tourism promotions non-profit NYC & Company announced yesterday the first annual New York Comedy Festival, a week-long series of performances by top national comedians at theatres and clubs around the city, this November 9-13. Give us a call (888 824-9638), we'd be happy to arrange a package for out-of-towners looking to drop by for a good laugh.

So far, we haven't found a web page specifically promoting the festival, though we're sure one's on the way. Meanwhile, here is the City's official press release, and for a real laugh (no, not really), check out the online video of Bloomberg's press conference, where he tries his hand at stand-up, somehow not realizing what a tough crowd the press corp is.

Andras Revesz | March 9, 2004 | Featured Destinations, Travel Ideas, Upcoming Events | Permanent link | Comments (3)