Archive

Posts Tagged ‘travel destinations’

5 Places You Must See When Visiting South Carolina

July 16th, 2010 No comments

South Carolina, also known as the Palmetto State, receives over twenty-nine million visitors per year. It lies on the east coast of the US and borders Georgia to the south and North Carolina to the north. The original colony was named in honor of King Charles I, as “Carolus” is Latin for Charles. It has a population of over four and a half million and is ranked twenty-fourth among the US states. Columbia is the capital of this state and its forty-six counties. Like most of the states in the region, the weather is quite temperate year round which provides many months of comfortable tourism. If South Carolina is one of your destinations, there are many places you might consider visiting. Here are five of them, in no particular order: Charleston, Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head, Columbia and Greenville/Spartanburg.

Charleston is the county seat of Charleston County. It is the oldest city in the state and the second largest. The city’s original name was Charles Towne in and it moved to its current location on Oyster Point in 1680. Charleston is known as The Holy City due to the prominence of churches and numerous steeples which dot the city’s skyline. It has a population of over one-hundred and twenty thousand. Marjabelle Young Stewart, an American etiquette expert recognized Charleston as the “best-mannered” city in the US in 1995.

Myrtle Beach is a coastal resort city in Horry County, South Carolina. It is the hub of both the Myrtle Beach metropolitan area and the Grand Strand, a complex of beach towns and barrier islands. The area’s attractions include its beaches and many golf courses as well as amusement parks, an aquarium, retail developments and nearly two thousand restaurants. Myrtle Beach has an estimated 460 hotels. The area also has an IMAX theatre, dinner theatre and nightclubs. Myrtle Beach welcomes Hard Rock Park, so named after the popular Hard Rock Caf chain (now called Freestyle Music Park). The Carolina Opry is another highly-acclaimed attraction as well as the Myrtle Beach Convention Centre. An interesting point, while gambling is not legal in South Carolina; visitors may access a gambling boat which sails into international waters beyond the reach of federal and state gambling laws.

Hilton Head Island or Hilton Head is resort town (located on an island of the same name) in Beaufort County, South Carolina. The island features twelve miles of beachfront on the Atlantic Ocean. In 2004, an estimated two and a quarter million visitors came to stay. The island’s population growth rate has been over thirty-two percent over the past decade. This town is known for its “eco-friendly” development and as a result enjoys an unusual amount of tree cover relative to the amount of development. Over 70% of the island is located inside gated communities; however the town maintains several public beach access points. The island offers an unusual number of cultural opportunities including Broadway-quality plays, the 120-member full chorus of the Hilton Head Choral Society, the Symphony Orchestra and the largest outdoor, tented wine tasting event on the east coast. It also hosts the Verizon Heritage, a stop on the PGA Tour.

Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the US state of South Carolina. The city’s name comes from a poetic synonym for America, derived from the name of Christopher Columbus. It is located thirteen miles northwest of South Carolina’s geographic centre and CNNMoney.com named Columbia as one of America’s 25 best places to retire. US News and World Report ranked the city 6th on its 2009 list of “America’s Best Affordable Places to Retire” List.

Greenville is the seat of Greenville County, in upstate South Carolina, US. It is the third largest city in the state and is the largest of the Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson Combined Statistical Area (CSA) which in 2006 had an estimated population of over 1.2 million. The CSA is an eight county region of northwestern South Carolina known as the “The Upstate.” As the largest city in the Upstate, Greenville offers many activities and attractions. Greenville’s theatres and event venues regularly host major concerts and touring theatre companies. Greenville has the only golf course in the world that has each conceived by a different designer. CrossWinds Golf Club is a public Par 3 course that can be played in one hour for 9 holes or two hours for 18. Other attractions include Falls Park on the Reedy, Liberty Bridge, Greenville County Museum of Art and the Bob Jones University Museum and Gallery.

With so many amazing places to go and different places to see, the culture and history of this state are boundless to absorb. It is easy to see why so many tourists make South Carolina their destination of choice on vacation.

BookIt.com is an online travel company determined and dedicated to becoming the leader in providing travelers with the most intuitive online booking experience full of relevant information, helpful guides and travel tips. Find great deals on myrtle beach hotels at BookIt.com!

Anaheim’s Cornucopia Of Attractions

July 10th, 2010 No comments

Anaheim, California is one of the best locations for a family vacation that exists in the United States. With an array of activities for young and old, the region offers fun and excitement for all members of your family. Whether you’re planning a family getaway or a romantic retreat, this Orange County gem will surely give you just what you’re looking for.

Perhaps the best-known attraction in all of Anaheim is Disneyland. This is one of the top reasons Anaheim is a prime family destination spot. Children long for the experience, and adults can feel like kids again when they visit Disneyland. But the theme park is only one among many activities for you to enjoy with your family.

Just a short drive from Anaheim, you’ll find Newport Beach, one of the best locations for whale watching in the world. Various whales of many species pass through the waters off the coast of California throughout the year. Newport Beach is only a short jaunt from Anaheim and gives you the opportunity to see whales, dolphins, and sea lions in their natural habitat.

Dana Point is another prime spot for whale and dolphin viewing. Dana is also a common destination for those interested in sport fishing. Dana Point is less than a 40-minute drive from Anaheim and can be a great day trip for you and your loved ones while visiting Orange County.

If you’re looking for other day activities for the family to enjoy together, you should consider the Flightdeck Air Combat Center. The center offers the chance for civilians to climb into the cockpit of fighter jets. Flight simulators allow you to experience the realistic thrill of piloting an F-16 for anywhere between 40 and 70 minutes. Guests not participating in fight simulation can comfortably enjoy the show via video monitors from the Officers Club at the center. Reservations are required, and booking in advance of your trip allows you to take advantage of the occasional price discounts offered by the center.

For those interested in the performing arts, Anaheim offers a wide variety of live performances and musical arrangements. Theater performances include those hosted by the Orange County Center for the Performing Arts. Broadway-style shows, magic acts, and other events are held regularly at the center and tickets can be obtained in advance of your trip to Anaheim.

Smaller plays are held at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts. Other programs are available at the Long Beach Performing Arts Center, and the drive between Anaheim and Long Beach is short and enjoyable. Enjoy a play, musical, or dance performance at any of these venues, and make memories to treasure for years to come.

You may be interested in planning your trip during the Orange County Fair. A trip to Southern California during the fair promises many family activities. The fair has all the trappings of a small county fair only with larger flare and style. Events include magic performances, live music, dancing, and great fair foods.

If you’re a sports fan you may want to catch a game or check out a practice session while in Anaheim. Catch a baseball game at Arrowhead Pond or Angel Stadium. Or take in a Ducks’ hockey game in Anaheim. The Honda Center is another prime spot for finding a game.

The Honda Center hosts many performances throughout the year as well. From pop, rap and rock concerts to ice dancing and skating shows, there is always something going on at the center.

Anaheim is within a day’s drive of many other Southern California locations. You may decide that Los Angeles is the order of the day. Or perhaps you’re interested in seeing Hollywood. Regardless of where you make your daytrip plans, you’ll find you can easily rent a car, enjoy a leisurely drive to a big city, and take in some of the activities offered there as well.

If you’re looking for a night of fun on the town, Anaheim has many enjoyable bars, clubs and restaurants. Dinner on the town with your family can be a nice, quiet way to spend the evening. Or you may decide that a show at Disneyland sounds like fun.

For those without small children, you may be interested in stopping in a few of the better bars in the greater-Anaheim area. The Anaheim GardenWalk is a great place for nightlife, featuring casual bars, modern dance clubs, and tons of restaurants. It can be a perfect place for you and your spouse to spend a night out alone during your vacation.

BookIt.com is an online travel company determined and dedicated to becoming the leader in providing travelers with the most intuitive online booking experience full of relevant information, helpful guides and travel tips. Find great deals on anaheim hotels at BookIt.com!

Gay Tours to Bhutan

October 10th, 2009 No comments
by Howie Holben

Tucked between Tibet and India in a remote region of the Himalayan Mountains, lies a tiny Buddhist kingdom called Bhutan. Visitors to this spiritually and culturally-rich country will find a simpler way of life that is largely unaltered by Western culture and modern attitudes. Every aspect of life in Bhutanese villages and towns is steeped in the age-old traditions, beliefs, customs and practices of Buddhism, which is the basis of this countrys conservative, traditional way of life.

To this end, the number of tour groups and tourists allowed to visit Bhutan each year is limited. While Bhutanese culture is very conservative and traditional, the warm, friendly Bhutanese people welcome gay travel tours, just as they would any other guest to their country. Due to the limited tourism allowed, anyone who has the opportunity to travel to this mystical mountain kingdom should take full advantage of experiencing all that the country of Bhutan has to offer.

There is not any scene to speak of in Bhutan, which means that a gay vacation planned to this majestic mountainous region would certainly not be for the purpose of seeking out and experiencing LGBT life in a different culture. This is not to say that there is not same-gender intimacy in Bhutan; in fact, it is a common and accepted occurrence. However, there are no words for gay, lesbian or bisexual in the languages of this region and ones identity is not influenced by sexual behavior.

There is a noted level of bisexual behavior among men, most of who are either married to women or monastic monks, and this is not considered taboo. There is technically a very old law on the books in Bhutan that states that homosexual activity is punishable by imprisonment with the possibility of a life sentence; however, most residents are not even aware of this law and there are no records of it ever being enforced.

Gay travel to Bhutan allows an opportunity to experience a culture that is largely untouched by the outside world and is the ideal setting for a spiritual awakening or renewal. From hiking to visiting monasteries and exploring ancient villages, Bhutan gay vacations are unlike anything you will experience anywhere else in the world.

To truly experience Bhutan, visit this majestic land as part of organized gay travel tours, which will ensure that you have the opportunity to fully discover this beautiful, spiritual country, while respecting the local culture and traditions.

About the Author:

Experience Aboriginal Australia

October 3rd, 2009 No comments
by Jennifer Schellington

No trip to Australia is complete without an understanding of the Aboriginal Culture

Aboriginal (or Aborigine) means Indigenous to Australia. They were the sole inhabiters of Australia before it was occupied by the British and other Europeans

There were over 300,000 Aboriginals in Australia before the settlers arrived. With them, they brought Old World Diseases which simply wiped out thousands of Aboriginals. As well as this, they were not given any rights to the land which pushed them out.

Nowadays, Aborigines account for just 3% of the Australian population and many suffer from alcohol and poor health problems. But there are pockets within Australia where you can still see their old values and traditions which are very interesting indeed. There are certain places, such as Ayers Rock, that are very sacred to the Aboriginal community. These are key places to learn more about Aboriginal culture and beliefs.[I:http://phila-airport-parking.com/blog/wp-content/uploads//2009/10/JenniferSchellington0.jpg]

Music and art are two key elements of the Aboriginal culture. The didgeridoo is one of the most well known instruments but is in fact only really used by those from the East of Australia. The clapping sticks are in fact more well known.

Rock Art is the oldest of the Aboriginal Arts and can be found in places such as Ayers Rock and Kakadu National Parks as these are sacred Aboriginal lands. It is the dot paintings that are particularly popular with tourists and these are generally easy to find throughout Australia.

Where To Experience Aboriginal Australia

There are lots of places you can go to learn about the Aboriginal Culture. There is not room in this article to explore them all. Arnhem Land which is near Darwin in the top end of Australia is in my opinion the best place to go. Numbers are restricted to this sacred area so you can guarantee a less touristy approach. You really do get to appreciate the real culture and see real Aboriginals dot painting and making crafts. You can easily incorporate a day trip here as part of your trip to Darwin or Kakadu National Park and I highly recommend it. Remember that this area has defined seasons so only come here between May and October.[I:http://phila-airport-parking.com/blog/wp-content/uploads//2009/10/JenniferSchellington1.jpg]

If Darwin is not on your to do list then consider an Aboriginal experience in one of the more visited areas such as Sydney. Two of the best experiences are The Blue Mountains Walkabout Tour or The Rocks Half Day Dreaming Tour. The second is taken by an Aboriginal Elder called Margaret Campbell and the tour is authentic and very interesting.

As the Aboriginals would say, lets go Walkabout. Discover Aboriginal Australia and see Australia in a whole new light.

About the Author:

Jeffrey’s Bay South Africa – Amazing

September 20th, 2009 No comments

Jeffrey’s Bay South Africa is a magnificent place to visit. Jeffrey’s Bay is located on the Eastern Cape of South Africa. The sandy beaches are gorgeous. The ocean is clear and full of different colors of blue and greens. On a sunny warm day you can even watch the dolphins play in the wave’s right around you. The things to do in Jeffrey’s Bay are limitless.

No matter why type of place you want to stay in rather it be a hotel or private home I am sure that you will find something to suit your needs as well as wallet. The rage from all the tourists is the breakfasts that are served everywhere they are amazed at how large the meals are.

The most famous attraction to visit at Jeffrey’s Bay is the shell museum, it is known for its vast collection of shells. The museum is only open one day a week so check and see when it is in operation so you don’t miss out.

There are a lot of restaurants in and about Jeffrey’s Bay the best way to find the best ones is to speak with your locals. The locals will always know where the best favorites are. The best restaurants may not be right in front of your view. The Sunflower Restaurant and Kitchen Windows are a few that are on the favorite list. Before you go to any country make sure you check up on your language so you can interpret the menu.

When going to any foreign country or outside of the United States you need to know the kind of money that they use. The African currency is the rand which is 100 cents per rand. You will have no problem if your money gets low because there are banks and ATM machines everywhere. Another thing to keep in mind when going to Jeffreys Bay or any other country is make yourself knowledgeable with the phone systems, driving rules, money systems and the languages that are spoken there.

Jeffrey’s Bay is mainly known for its tourism due to its beauty of the coast and mountain side. Everyone that has gone to Jeffrey’s Bay wishes that they could stay longer and not leave. Everyone always says that a few days aren’t long enough to see all that the city has to offer.

Andrew Keet has lived and travelled in South Africa for nearly five decades and Jeffreys Bay is one of his favourite destinations.