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Archive for the ‘Travel’ Category

Travel insurance is an important aspect of international travel and the reason for the trip as well as the time length that you will be away can determine what type of insurance is best for you. In general visitor travel insurance can be distinguished from standard health insurance and defined as that which is intended to cover medical expenses or help to reduce financial losses or regain monies spent for health treatment while you are out of the country for any reason. Policies can be purchased for trips that are related to studying abroad , work related trips and extended stays, cruise and leisure or adventure travel. These are all forms of travel that can include certain health care needs.

Many people have the assumption that traveler’s insurance is strictly purchased to insure against emergencies and accidents. And while this is definitely not true, the fact also remains that people are more inclined to have an injury while they are on some recreational adventure or trip that involves hiking, climbing and other sports. In addition, people tend to be more carefree and take greater chances while on vacation, which can also increase your chances of accident. So even if traveler’s insurance was only necessary for the extreme emergencies or accidents, there is good cause to purchase it just for that reason. However, standard medical treatment, prescription costs and other aspects related to health care are common associations to visitors insurance.

Traveling the world and looking for interesting variations on the themes of pop culture can be an exciting ride. It can also be enormously disappointing, because at times it seems as though there’s only disappointing work out there. Most of the time, it’s a bit like being an anthropologist. Looking at how things work in any culture does involve a bit of armchair anthropology, and the specifics of geography and history make for good brain fodder.

Taking a look at the hotel rates Boston might offer at the moment can lead to some very delightful ah-hah experiences. There’s a lot to see in the city, and the heady combination of a long and complex past, with a present that’s even more eclectic, presents a series of interconnected worlds. Anything can be food for anthropological ruminations, but theater is one place where it’s safe to surf without fear of reading too much into it. It’s meant to be read.

And Le Cabaret Grimm is certainly meant to be seen. It’s an unusually charming experience, taking a bit of post punk sensibility into some old theatrical forms. Part of the mission of the Performance Laboratory is to mix forms, and here it’s done with a perfect combination of local charm, and professional excellence. A whole cultural history can be read into the show, and like any good anthropologist, the best field work is at the site, where the show happens in time.

As one of the oldest cities in the United States, Boston is also one of its most historically significant. And it is just as important in its contemporary status and relevance to the nation as it was two and even three hundred years ago. The funny part is that in United States terms, that is extremely historic, though in viewed in terms of world cultures and history, Boston would still be considered a new city.

However, regardless of what one might consider to be historic, Boston has a tremendous amount of intriguing contemporary attractions and important early American landmarks. And of course it played an essential role in the establishment of this country. And the guests in one of the Boston hotels have more than enough options for entertainment and important places to visit while they are in town.

From all of the landmarks that are relevant to the infamous midnight ride of Paul Revere to the site of the Boston Tea Party , the historical event not the contemporary political community, and important locations where Revolutionary War battlers occurred such as Bunker Hill , the historic buildings and landmarks in Boston tell the story of this country’s establishment. And this is just the beginning of the landmarks and attractions that can be found in this New England city.

Chicago has been around a long time and has some interesting people, places and events happen over the years. For a great place to get a solid over view of the city head over to the Chicago History Museum . They have a the Chicago: Crossroads of America exhibit that has some amazing pieces of history and the stories to go with them. The museum all around has some great multimedia presentations and interactive exhibits. Check out the old steam engine train, or visit a replica of an old jazz club. They have a mock store showing all the old time fashions.

There is also much history in the buildings and parks of the city. Union Station for instance is a historical landmark of Chicago. In the 40s this old train depot had about 300 trains coming and going each day. Thousands of passengers would fill the terminal as they went about their busy lives. There are still many commuter trains that come through on a daily basis but most of them don’t make the stop at the Great Hall which is the historical part dating back to 1925. It is a beautiful building with marble walls and floors, tall columns and torches made out of bronze.

Another turn of the century gem is the Buckingham Fountain . This famous fountain is one of the largest in the world. It puts on a grand water show every 20 minutes and at night it is all lit up with beautiful glowing lights that make it look like a big watery wedding cake. The fountain represents the states that surround Lake Michigan, with four horses, one for each state. Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana and Michigan. It was also to have a bit of Louis XIV’s flair with keeping in mind his gardens of Versailles when designing the fountain. This is the perfect evening getaway for lovers. So get out of the luxury hotels chicago has and visit the historical pink marble fountain. You will love it.

Most people think of partying like a rock star when they think of Las Vegas. There is actually a great community that is also present in Las Vegas. People who have been born there, raised there, own business there and have a normal family oriented life going on away from the Las Vegas Strip. These are the community based activities that you may want to know about when you are bringing your kids to the city. The city of Las Vegas has other family oriented pools beside the ones a the casinos. Check with the City of Las Vegas for information on local community pools near you.  

If you like auto racing, the Las Vegas Motor Speedway has NASCAR in its backyard on July 1 2010. Just when you thought the desert couldn’t get any hotter, the high speed races with pro drivers of NASCAR have just turned up the heat. There are also local drag races that happen in the evenings. You can get more information on how to get there from any of the 5 star hotels vegas has available. There is nothing like having the roar of a pack of race cars speed past you in the open night air.  

Check out the first Friday of ever month art event. The arts district of downtown Las Vegas comes alive with local art. Each city has its own artist influence and Las Vegas has its special flair. This First Friday in Las Vegas has a carnival feel with lots of local art, live music, and street performers. Their website has a map of the different areas to visit and what area may be featuring. This is a different side of Las Vegas.  

So keep up the hunt for interesting things to do in Las Vegas besides loose all your cash in a flashy machine or card table. The possibilities are endless. Maybe there is something to say about Vegas outside of Vegas.

Dallas is where President Kennedy was shot. The John Fitzgerald Kennedy Memorial , located at 411 Elm Street, west of Dalla’s downtown, on Market Street between Main Street and Commerce Street, is a simple, concrete memorial to President Kennedy. It’s placed 200 yard from where he was assassinated. Dallas chose to honor the memory of our storybook President by erecting this 30 foot high concrete walls, 50 foot square monument in 1970.

It’s an open-air structure that resembles an ancient tomb. Philip Johnson, a Kennedy family friend and architect, created this monument with the help of private donations from the citizens of Dallas. It’s open 24/7 and is lit-up at night. This monument is a space for contemplation. One might think this monument oppressive until they step inside the and see it open in the center. In the center is a black granite slab, which deliberately squares the memorial, making a tomb-like quality. On the black granite is inscribed, simply ‘John Fitzgerald Kennedy’, embossed with gold to capture the light from the white floating column walls and pale concrete floors. It’s intended not to be a memorial to the sorrow and pain of death, but as a permanent tribute to the joy and excitement of Kennedy’s life.

Visitors will be glad to know how convenient the memorial is to the five star hotels Dallas has to offer. There’s a short walk up a slight concrete incline, embossed with concrete squares making the Memorial very accessible. Inside, visitors will be confronted with a low-hewn granite square, too short to be a table, too empty to be a base, but too square to be a tomb. But, the 3 words inscribed on the black granite is the only verbal message in the empty room.

A majority of Dallas visitors spend most of their time in Dealey Plaza and the area around the Texas School Book Depository, and hardly make it to the John Fitzgerald Kennedy Memorial. So, when you do visit, you’ll be able to enter the memorial and be the only person there, alone with you’re thoughts and deep reflection about the life of one of America’s greatest Presidents.

The city of Yerba Buena in the 1830′s was a small Mexican pueblo near the Pacific Ocean; today, it’s one of the world’s most famous cities with one of the world’s most famous bridges — San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge. This historic city’s most historic site is known as Portsmouth Plaza , once simply a square in that long ago pueblo and is now known as the heart of Chinatown where residents gather for tai chi exercises, Chinese chess games, and other activities.

This one block plaza is bounded by Walter Lum Place to the west, Washington Street to the north, Kearny Street to the east, and Clay Street to the South. Portsmouth was the first public square of the city, established as far back as the early 1800s. In the Mexican-American War, John Berrien Montgomery, captain of the USS Portsmouth took the pueblo for the United States, and the first flag on July 9th, 1846, was raised here.

In addition, in 1847, this plaza saw the first public school in California built here; in 1848, Sam Brannan announced the discovery of gold and showed his findings to a crowd. It was a spot for memorials, such as the service held following the death of Zachary Taylor, the 12th president of the United States. On October 29, 1850, the First Admission Day celebration was held here when California joined the union as the 31st state. In 1971, director Don Siegal filmed a portion of the movie “Dirty Harry” in this square.

Amid the famous architecture and streets, amid the five star hotels in San Francisco , this small square stands out for its historical significance, and it’s filled with markers to prove it. Travelers will find a marker that commemorates the first American flag raised in Yerba Buena. There’s a marker for the first public school, a marker to Robert Louis Stevenson, as well as a statue of the Goddess of Democracy. If you decide to visit this history-steeped site, there should be no trouble with parking; below the square, there’s a four level underground parking garage , which holds on average fifty thousand vehicles a month.

As one of the great New England states Vermont is well known for its incredible geography and beautiful views. In addition, it and its neighbors are known for their friendliness an progressive political orientations. This was one of the original regions in the country and it maintains a strong perspective that is in line with much of the original constitutional creators’ philosophies. New England is also recognized as being one of the more expensive regions to live in this country, though it is certainly affordable to visit. And the residents of Vermont are extremely welcoming to the tourists who want to visit their great state.

In fact the greatest luxury Vermont hotels are frequently found in the form of quaint bed and breakfasts that are strewn across the state. And one of the things the state is most known for, the delicious maple syrup it produces, is also sitting in its freshest form at their tables. In addition, there are numerous events that are syrup themed and celebrate this great state resource and tradition, and attending a festival can be an extremely exciting aspect of your trip.

While the actual syrup season is relatively short and lasts from February through April, usually and dependent on the state region, many of the of the sugar factories are open all year to interested tourists. Some of the areas in Northern Vermont of the longest seasons, which last into the spring. However, any time of the year you can visit sugar factories such as Lakeshore Maple’s , which is located at Strawberry Acres in Newport, Vermont. In addition and as the largest produce of maple syrup in the nation, the state celebrates its tradition of creating the best syrup possible. Many of the refineries have been passed down through generations of families and are as much a part of one’s personal heritage as it is the state and the nation’s. The syrup that comes from the best of the Vermont establishments is the purest available and is one hundred percent syrup with no additives or fillers.

Atlanta Georgia has some very rich history to explore. There are endless events and people who have contributed to the city, state and country that are featured at many of the museums in the city. They have spent some real time and money putting together a real comprehensive collection of the growth of a Nation. This city and state have been the home of some really early major events. Check out the Atlanta history Center for information on a number of museums. The different museums and gardens are not far from many hotels in Atlanta who can send you in the right direction.  

The Atlanta History Center is located on over 30 acres of land. It houses the largest history museum in the Southeast. There are two historical homes to visit. One is the Swan House which is one of the most recognized landmarks of Atlanta. The other is the Tullie Smith Farm which is an old plantation house built by Robert Smith’s family in 1840. It is National Historic Place and has other farm buildings on the property. It is a great display of the conditions people lived in during that time and there are some tours available to learn more about nineteenth century Georgia.  

Another history lesson can be found at the Fernbank Museum of Natural History . This museum will take you through the history of the world with many exhibits showcasing animals, events and lives from other countries. The Walking through time in Georgia exhibit is a unfolding story of the natural history that took place on the Georgia land as well as the lands of other countries. This museum has a wonderful exhibit of shells which is very interesting to collectors as well as the amateur admirer. They show how the shells are made, how the different animals use their shells while living their little life. This is also, of course, a lesson of the life being lived in the Georgia waters and also those of the world.

Originally, the Crown Jewels of London were kept in Westminster Abbey , in a side chamber next to the Chapter House, where monks used to meet for daily prayers in the 13th Century. In the 14th Century, however, the jewels were relocated to the Tower of London , where they’ve been ever since.

While the jewels are still used by the Royal Family and the Queen, they’re available for anyone to see who visits the Tower. Once a fortress and home for the kings and queens of England, these buildings are now a monument to the past of England, containing an ancient collection of armour and weaponry, royal crowns, jewels, and diamonds.

The White Tower was built during the reign of William the Conqueror, a twenty-one year period from 1066 to 1087, when it served as both a palace and fortress. Inside the White Tower, you’ll discover the Royal Armouries which come from an arsenal that served medieval kings and their armies. The collection seen today is mostly from the reign of Henry the Eighth, from 1509 to 1547.

Inside the Martin Tower, you’ll be able to view a special exhibit titled, “Crowns & Diamonds: The Making of the Crown Jewels.” This exhibit explores how diamonds and the part they play in the British crowns evolved over time. The display includes five royal crowns, in use between 1715 and 1939, and over 12,000 diamonds.

The Tower of London also includes the Tower Green, where prisoners were kept, including Sir Walter Raleigh, imprisoned for 13 years, as well as the Scaffold Site, where two of King Henry the Eighth’s wives, Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard, were beheaded. Their final resting place is a few feet away, inside the Chapel Royal of St. Peter ad Vincula.

The Tower is home today to about 150 people, including the Yeoman Warders, also known as The Beefeaters, who act as tourist guides in addition to their ceremonial roles. A limited number of ravens are here, too, because, according to legend, Charles the Second was told that if the Ravens left the Tower, the monarchy would collapse. It’s tradition now to always keep ravens at the tower, and they’re cared for by one of the Beefeaters, whose title is the Ravenmaster. While the Tower was once the home of kings and still the home of ravens, certainly travelers can find a more comfortable hotel throughout London .