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Reliving The Nostalgia Of Old Las Vegas

October 2nd, 2010 No comments

The City of Las Vegas has a long and complex history but its real notoriety was achieved in the period between 1930 and 1980. The construction of the Hoover Dam in the 1930s brought the first showgirl clubs and casinos to the region in an effort to entertain the mostly male population of workers at the dam site.

After World War II, the city saw significant growth as crime lords took interest in the money to be had in organized gambling casinos in the region. The number of Las Vegas hotels, restaurants, show clubs and casinos boomed from the mid-1940s through the mid-1960s. When most people think of the classic Las Vegas, this is the period that comes to mind. The 1940s, 50s and 60s were the heyday for Las Vegas, with the Rat Pack frequently appearing in the Copa Room and other locations. The city was the pinnacle of cool.

Las Vegas saw unprecedented growth from the late 1960s through the 1980s and this period is also of significant nostalgic value for many. It was the era of the big Broadway shows and lounge singers. Performers like Liberace, Elvis, Wayne Newton, Bobby Darrin and others frequented the stages of various locations in Vegas.

For those who are interested in Las Vegas history, there are certain areas of the city that are particular merit. You can see some of the oldest buildings, historic hotels and casinos in the Fremont Street area. The Golden Gate Hotel is the oldest standing hotel in the city and located in downtown Las Vegas near the Fremont Street Experience. It was built in 1906 and continues to be a destination spot for history buffs.

Some of the oldest Las Vegas hotels after The Golden Gate are the Golden Nugget and Binion’s. Rat Pack-era hotels still in operation in Vegas include the Sahara, Tropicana, Flamingo and Riviera. All of these older hotels still have rooms available and those who want to experience the feeling of the old Las Vegas will enjoy the accommodations.

The Neon Museum on Fremont Street is a big draw for those who wish to see the old Las Vegas. The outdoor museum features neon signs from throughout Vegas history including those that were frequently seen in old movies and television shows. Slowly, the signs are being restored and added to Fremont Street for public display.

For those who wish to see some of the other signs that have not yet been restored, a trip to “The Boneyard” should be on the agenda. The Boneyard is a three-acre storage area in which more than 150 of the city’s classic neon signs are stored. Guided tours are available.

If you’re interested in classic Vegas entertainment, there is a number of options available to you. Tribute shows frequent the stages in Vegas. These include The Rat Pack is Back, Legends in Concert, and Human Nature – The Ultimate Celebration of Motown Sound presented by Smokey Robinson.

The Supremes first appeared in Vegas in 1966 on the stage at the Flamingo. Many of the big Motown names continue to perform in Vegas today. Gladys Knight, The Temptations and Smokey Robinson are all contemporary Vegas weekend headliners.

For those who want a traditional Vegas dining experience, there are a number of old-style Vegas lounges from which to choose. Lawry’s, Mr. Lucky’s at the Hard Rock Hotel, Peppermill, and the Circus Circus Steak House are a few to check out. Vic & Anthony’s Steakhouse at the Golden Nugget is another classic spot located inside one of the older casinos. And for those who don’t mind traveling off The Strip, the Golden Steer Steak House is a good choice. This place has seen a number of celebrities, including Elvis Presley and the Rat Pack.

Las Vegas also has its share of museums and historic monuments. If you’re there to take in some Vegas cultural history in addition to a bit of gambling, you may want to stop by the Liberace Museum or the Las Vegas Hilton to see the Elvis statue dedicated to the legendary King.

For traditional history buffs, there are several museums of merit in Las Vegas. In the 1950s, there were nuclear tests held just an hour outside of Las Vegas and the Atomic Testing Museum in the city includes 10,000 square feet of displays, interactive events and short films capturing the controversial history of this era.

The Mob Experience at the Tropicana is another must-see for those interested in Las Vegas history. This museum opens in late 2010 and will include authentic photos, videos and artifacts of the organized crime lords who once ran Las Vegas.

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The Perfect Getaway For History Buffs

April 30th, 2010 No comments

Take a step back in time and enjoy a historic vacation in the pristine city of Asheville, North Carolina. Tour the nation’s largest historic mansion or perhaps visit a Civil War memorial or take a trolley ride on a unique historic tour. All of these options and many more are waiting for you in this popular Blue Ridge Mountain getaway spot.

The spectacular Biltmore Estate is a highlight of any historic tour of the Asheville area. Boasting more than 250 rooms, this massive manor home was built by tycoon George Vanderbilt. There are several options for history lovers, from tours of the mansion and grounds to historic exhibits at the estate’s Antler Hill Village.

In addition to the Biltmore Estate, there are dozens of unique historic sites to visit. A tour on the Gray Line Trolley not only takes guests past many of Asheville’s most famous historic venues, but also includes admission to the Thomas Wolfe Memorial State Historic Site, boyhood home of the famed writer and the setting for his masterpiece, “Look Homeward, Angel.” Another fun option is to tour the city’s oldest home, the pre-Civil War era Smith-McDowell House Museum.

When visiting Asheville, the Montford Historic District is the perfect locale for history lovers to stay. The Asheville Seasons, a stunning restored home, is right in the middle of all the fun, within walking distance to a myriad of historic homes and downtown Asheville.

The accommodations at this Asheville bed and breakfast include five guest rooms, most of which include a fireplace. All include beds topped with Kingsdown mattresses, fluffy pillows and fine linens. Antiques, eclectic furnishings and artwork enhance the history and romance of your guest room, and luxurious bath products and plush robes will leave you feeling pampered. Several of the private baths include an original clawfoot soaking tub.

The innkeepers at this Asheville inn are experts on local attractions, so be sure to ask them about restaurants, museums, shopping and historic sites. In addition, they offer several packages ideal for history buffs. One includes tickets to the Biltmore Estate and another includes tickets on the local trolley and a tour of the Thomas Wolfe home.

Jane Leisteiner likes visiting inns and blogging. To get further information about this Asheville bed and breakfast inn or more details about bed breakfast inns, visit the Asheville Seasons or iLoveInns websites now.

Spending The Festive Season In The Smoky Mountains

December 18th, 2009 No comments

Whilst traditional family vacations bring home thoughts of warmth, the lapping of the sea, and the feel of sand beneath your toes on a white beach, at Christmas time there are few better places to visit than the great smoky mountains of Tennessee.

This destination is a common tourist attraction throughout the year. However, it has a whole different perspective on it around the holiday and festive season. It is such an enchanting place to visit during this period and is a thrilling festive treat for the entire family. With the bright and twinkling lights, the sparkling snow and the beautiful sound of carols in the air, both parent and child will be unable to contain their holiday cheer.

There are attractions to suit all needs and desires. If you are with family, then its best to decide what you wish to do and then choose from the multitude of attractions on offer so that you get the best experience possible. There is the Ober Gatlinburg ski resort for those who enjoy snow sports and ice skating. For those who love a bit of wildlife, the aquarium is sure to impress. And for those seeking Santa, the Christmas Palace is the place to be.

For those who enjoy a bit of wildlife, there is Ripleys aquarium, sure to be a favorite with the kids. And lets not forget the incredible Christmas Palace that is truly beautiful and is sure to be enjoyed by all.

One of the crowning jewels on offer and display is Clingmans Dome. Standing up above the mountains at 6643 feet, it is the highest point in the range and all of Tennessee. On a clear day it is possible to see into seven different states from the observation tower and a chance to take some holiday snaps for friends and family to drool over on your return.

Other popular places to see are the Dollywood theme park, an the Space Needle. The latter is particularly exciting for teenagers looking to have some fun in the arcade at the bottom. To say there is something for everyone would be quite an understatement.

To top off the trip, a day out to the Christmas palace is a must. Seeing Santa sing melodies to a group of bewildered children truly sums up the Christmas spirit, whilst taking a wander around the grounds will cause even the most anti Christmas campaigner to smile in a childlike way. For anyone who calls themselves a fan of Christmas and the traditional cheer it brings, this is one that should be right atop your list. Unless you were to head out to the North Pole and find yourself upon Santa’s grotto itself, there truly is not a better place to suck in all the festive goodness of the season.

To get all the information you’ll ever need about Smokey Mountain cabin rentals be sure to visit this site at http://www.smokymountaincabinrentals.org

B&B Guests Earn Rewards 10 Times Faster Than Leading Hotel Chain

March 26th, 2009 No comments

If you are looking to pile up free-night rewards from frequent stay programs when you travel, we’ve found that you can get more bang for your buck staying at a bed and breakfast. Here’s a little test we did:

Rewarded 10 Times Faster than at Marriott

Picking up the phone, we called Marriott Rewards with a standard request to earn a free stay. We asked about booking a $209-per-night room at the Marriott Suites, which would get us a total of 627 points per night. In order to compile enough points to get a free night at their lowest level, we would need 7,500 points. That means we would have to spend $2,500, staying about 11.9 nights in order to get that free night reward.

Now we’ll check how travelers can earn a free stay at B&Bs nationwide, in addition to a few other B&B-related values. Bed and breakfasts are hard to beat when it comes to unique lodging, hospitality and what you can get for your hard-earned dollar. If you are interested in making your money work better for you, take into consideration a couple of items:

Across the nation, more than 1,500 B&B inns will give guests a free second-night stay with the purchase of the first night. They do this for a simple reason. They want exposure for their property. The typical bed and breakfast doesn’t have the large advertising budget that a standard hotel does. So, they look to earn word-of-mouth exposure and added promotion through this popular program.

At iLoveInns.com, the site that runs this free-night program, travelers can save $140 on an average two-night stay. Think about the numbers above that we quoted from Marriott Rewards. How much more can you stretch your travel dollar than using it to spend 11.9 nights in order to get that free night?

Depending on the individual bed and breakfast or country inn, a traveler can save as much as $650. Plus, the buy-one-get-one promotion is an immediate reward.

You can save even more when you take into consideration your meal expense. The bed and breakfast, after all, comes with breakfast. But many inns also take it a step further an offer various free business services and such items as free drinks or snacks (and not with a mini-bar price).

Money and Memories Go Further with Bed and Breakfast Trips

Now that you know you can save more from a bed and breakfast, consider a typical inn and what it provides. For example, look at this California Bed and Breakfast, the Inn at Seventeen Mile drive located in the Monterey Peninsula.

Choose from rooms with views of the sea or garden in the main house of this three-building bed and breakfast. Or, enjoy the oak and redwoods in the chalet and cottage rooms. Unwind in the spa beneath the towering trees or the gardens whose guests also include the occasional deer and monarch butterfly. Maybe sip some champagne near the fountains and koi ponds. With the Buy-One-Night-Get-One-Night-Free program, guests will save anywhere from $145 to $290 at this lovely property.

Hard to beat an excellent experience and an excellent value. When you’re trying to decide how to find that next free-night perk, take a look at a property like that California bed and breakfast. The B&B free-night program is a superb travel value.

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Low Priced Hotels in Ocean City, Maryland

March 26th, 2009 No comments

Ocean City is one of the most visited places in Maryland, USA. The city takes pride in their wonderful beaches, good ocean views and other attractions. The place is for the whole family. Even children will love the outdoors. They will hardly notice the time pass as they walk along the streets of this beautiful city.

In every vacation, there is always the accommodation to think of. Most people are on a tight budget, especially those with children tagged along. Good thing in Ocean City, there are a lot of hotels that can meet your needs and preferences at very affordable rates.

Three-star hotels in Maryland are generally mid-ranged in prices. These Star hotels have larger rooms compared to two-star hotels.

One three-star hotel is the Rodeway Inn Oceanfront. It offers economy beachfront accommodations. It is about 30 miles from the Wicomico Country Airport and approximately one block from the Ocean City boardwalk. Its property amenities include free morning pastries and coffee, free parking, an indoor and outdoor pool, an ice machine, beach access, interior corridors and a safety deposit box.

They have standard rooms with amenities including cable television, iron boards, iron, air-conditioning, a telephone and a mini-refrigerator.

Next is theSea Bay Hotel. It is in the thick of midtown Ocean City and about one block from the beach. The Baltimore International Airport is about 150miles away from the hotel. Some of its amenities are a meeting room, game room, outdoor pool, wireless high-speed internet access, laundry facilities, safety deposit box and free parking. It also offers oversized rooms that are fully equipped with refrigerator, microwaves, coffeemaker, wet bars sink, hairdryer, irons and ironing boards and private balconies. Children under 17 years old are free if accompanied by an adult. Otherwise, regular rates apply. It is a non-smoking hotel.

There is also the Quality Inn and Suites Beachfront. It is miles away from sandy beaches and 20 miles away from Salisbury-Ocean-City-Wicomico Regional Airport. It is only a short walking distance to the Jolly Rogers Amusement Park. It is also approximately five blocks to the Ocean City Convention Center and five blocks to the boardwalk.

The hotel features a sauna, spa, as well as outdoor and indoor seasonal pools. There is also an onsite restaurant that offers breakfast, lunch and dinner. You can also take advantage of their guest laundry facility, gift shop, exercise room and game room, along with their banquet room, handicap room, coffee shop, and newsstand.

They have oversized suites and rooms, featuring a balcony in every room, kitchenettes, VCRs and air conditioning. There is also free high-speed internet access, whirlpool baths, cable satellite television, hair dryers and free local phone calls.

You can also choose to stay in The Comfort Inn Boardwalk. It is a big hotel with 84 guest rooms in all. Aside from being beautifully decorated, all units are equipped with refrigerators, microwaves, air conditioning, cable television and king sized bed. It also has an indoor and outdoor pool. The hotel also offers free deluxe continental breakfast, delivered right to your room.

As another option, there is the Fenwick Inn, an ocean city landmark conveniently situated one block from the beach. It has 201 oversized guest rooms, fully equipped with a microwave, refrigerator, and 27 inch colored television. Rooms also have either one king or two king double beds and a private bath.

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