Wednesday, July 25, 2012

San Francisco Travel

The city of San Francisco is the fourth biggest in terms of population in the state of California.  It has around 815,358 residents.

A. Tourist Attractions

San Francisco offers a plethora of tourist spots to its guests. These include the following:

1. The Golden Gate – this bridge is known for its engineering feat.  This is the first suspension bridge ever made.  It links the Marin County and San Francisco city.

2. The San Francisco cable car system - is the only transportation listed on the National Register of Historic Places for being the world's last manually manually operated cable car system.  This is an iconic structure in the city of San Francisco.

3. Fisherman's Wharf: another icon in San Francisco.  It has several restaurants, shops and museums such as Treasure Island Museum, City of San Francisco Museum and 'Ripley's Believe It or Not' museum. The Underwater World is another attraction in the Fisherman’s wharf with 700, 000 gallons of water.

4. Chinatown: shops of all varieties are located in this town.  This is a known shopping destination of the city. Some of the sites you will see include Kong Chow Temple and the Fortune Cookie Factory.

5. Alcatraz Island: this is another historical landmark of the city of San Francisco.  It used to be a maximum security prison but is converted into part of Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Tours are provided to this place. You have to ride a ferry to get to the island.

6. The Gold Rush Trail – is an outdoor museum that is filled with historical artifacts.

7. The Society of California Pioneers – is another attraction.  It is a public library.  It provide exhibits of the history of San Francisco and entire state of California.

8. The Museum of the City of San Francisco - is a place that offers exhibits on the history of San Francisco such as the Gold Rush, the massive earthquake of 1906, and the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge.

9. Lombard Street – referred to as 'The Crookedest Street in the World.'  It has a natural incline of 27 degrees which make it too steep for cars to drive on.  But in the 1920s eight curves were added to the incline to make more manageable for cars. Cars are allowed to drive here at 8km/h speed only.  Pedestrians are only allowed to walk on the steps.

10. California Academy of Sciences – this is a cultural venue that houses the Morrison Planetarium and Steinhart Aquarium. It has African Hall that contains realistic copies of animals in Africa.

11. Nob Hill – considered as the most elite place in the city of San Francisco.  It provides a superb view of the entire city. The Cable Car Museum which exhibits the 121 years of cable cars history is near the Nob Hill.

12. Lafayette Park – perhaps the most stunning garden in the entire city. It is filled with eucaplyptus trees.

The city of San Francisco is a famous international destination known for its Victorian and modern architecture and its popular landmarks.

City of Oakland Travel - California

City of Oakland is situated in the state of California. It is eight biggest city in California and the 41st biggest city in terms of population in the entire US. It has a total of 446,901 residents in the place.  It is the hub city of the East Bay area.

Tourist Attractions

These are the various tourist attractions you can find in Oakland:

1. Chabot Space and Science Center - is a science center with interactive exhibits, a full dome digital planetarium, a 70-foot large screen theatre with several shows being shown, hands-on simulated space mission activities and three powerful telescopes.

2. Children's Fairyland - this was the very first theme park in the United States.  It was built in 1950 by the Oakland Lake Merritt Breakfast Club. It has an area of 10 acres.  It houses the Open Storybook Puppet Theater, which holds the distinction of the oldest theater with continuous operations theater in the United States.

3. Chinatown - this is a multicultural neighborhood featuring the Asian culture.  The Chinese were the first Asians to migrate to Oakland back in the 1850s.

4. Dunsmuir House -  is a well-known recreational facility in the city of Oakland.  It sits on a 50-acre  land. It is on the list of US National Register of Historic Places.

5. Fox Oakland Theatre - this is a 2,800-seat movie theater.  It is included in the list of US National Register of Historic Places. It reopened to the public on February 5, 2009.

6. Jack London Square  -  this is a famous tourist site which is named after author Jack Landon.  The square contains restaurants, stores, hotels, ferry dock, historic places, train station and other recreational facilities.

7. Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum - home of baseball’s Oakland Athletics, and the Oakland Raiders of the NFL.

8. Lake Merritt, Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Oldest wildlife/bird sanctuary in North America, Lake Merritt Garden Center, Bonsai Garden

9. Oakland Aviation Museum
10. Oakland Museum of California
11. Oracle Arena, directly adjacent to the Oakland Coliseum, home to the Golden State Warriors of the NBA
12. Paramount Theatre
13. Pardee Home
14. Peralta Hacienda Historical Park, Museum of History and Culture
15. Preservation Park
16. USS Potomac, Franklin Delano Roosevelt's presidential yacht
17. Oakland Zoo

Sunday, June 10, 2012

Chandler Travel

Chandler is a city situated in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States.  This place is a prominent suburb of Phoenix Arizona.  It has an estimated population of 240,595 residents.

Chandler’s central location makes it very accessible for East Valley exploration and to the neighboring city of Phoenix. A number of attractions are located in Chandler while others are a short distance away.

There are 300 sunny days in Chandler each year which means longer time for the outdoors.  The days are warm and comfortable especially at nights.

A. Tourist Attractions

Grand Canyon – Chandler travel will not be complete if you do not visit the famed Grand Canyon.  This is a landmark destination in the entire state of Arizona. Chandler is only a few miles from it.

Historic Downtown Chandler – this area is filled with various shops and recreational activities.

The Arizona Railway Museum – this museum exhibits restored train cars from various time periods in the country’s rail history.  It displays original rail company china and glass, rail cars used in movie sets, rail cars and others.

Ostrich Festival – Chandler has an ongoing age-old tradition of farming, breeding and raising ostrich.  This is a festival held at Tumbleweed Park in Chandler in keeping with the tradition. It features everything about Ostrich such as Ostrich races, interactive games, parade, entertainment, food, and arts and crafts. The festival is held every year during March.

Chandler Jazz Festival - This is a yearly Jazz festival in Downtown Chandler that features different famous jazz performers. There is no fee for admission.

The Chandler Center for the Arts – this is the main advocate of the arts in greater Chandler area.  The facility is shared with the Chandler School District.  The Chandler Center for the Arts offers local, national and international performances.

Chandler Fashion Center Mall – this mall is just a few feet from Historic Downtown Chandler. It has more than 180 shops and restaurants.  It houses the Dancing Waters which is the biggest water fountain in a U.S. shopping center.

Firebird International Raceway - Firebird has an area of 440 acres.  The place focuses totally on motor sports. The facility holds the NHRA Winston Drag Racing national event, IHBA Drag Boat Racing, and four test courses including a CART-certified East Course, home of the Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving and ProFormance Driving Events.

The Vision Gallery - a nonprofit for fine arts located in Chandler’s Historic Downtown displaying artworks created by more than 300 local and national artists.  It also offers Vision Kids, an arts educational program for children in the East Valley.

USA Skateland Chandler has solid wood skate floors, state of the art lighting and sound systems, areas for  concession and birthday celebrations, rental skates and roller blades, huge game rooms and various novelty shops.
Zelma Basha Salmeri Gallery of Western and Native American Art – this gallery houses more than 1,500 pieces of art in different mediums such as watercolors, oil paintings, wood-turned bowls, basketry, pottery, Kachinas and jewelry.

B. Things to Do

Since Chandler is close to the mountains, you can camp, hike, rock climb, sail and even ski regularly.

Shopping is one activity that you can indulge in.  You can also sample the local’s sumptuous cuisine.

Every first Wednesday of the month, local artists would have art exhibits for viewing and selling purposes.  This weekly activity is called Chandler Art Walk and it features all kinds of arts and crafts from jewelries to paintings.
Golf is another activity you can do.  The Bear Creek Course designed by Jack Nicklaus is a good place to unwind. Another one that has a good golf course is the Hotel San Marcos.

A skate park is also provided. Most teens hang out in this place. It has an area of 35,000 feet.  You can do skateboarding or line skating here.

The Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving teaches student racers how to drive like a professional race car driver.

Atlanta Travel – Enjoying the Sights

Atlanta travel requires that you visit the capital city of Georgia, United States.  This is also the most populous city of Georgia with a population pegged at 540,922 in 2009.  Atlanta is a business hub.

Popular Destinations

Atlanta is considered as one of the ‘Places of a Lifetime’ in 2009.  The city is filled with trees of all kinds from Southern pines to oaks to dogwoods.  Its splendid architecture and high rise buildings will surely enthrall you.   

Atlanta ranks fifth in the most number of foreign visitors in the entire United States.  Its main attractions include the world’s biggest indoor aquarium, Georgia Aquarium.  It was opened to the public in November 23, 2005.  If you want to visit the Georgia Aquarium, you need to purchase the tickets online.

Another popular tourist destination in Atlanta is the new World of Coca-Cola which opened to the public in May 2007.  This tourist attraction features the history of Coca Cola and you can also taste the various Coca-Cola products distributed worldwide.

Another popular tourist destination is the Underground Atlanta.  Underground Atlanta is a historic shopping district which is found under the streets. 

Atlantic Station is an urban renewal project located on Midtown Atlanta. It was opened to the public in October 2005.

George Dome offers a unique guided tour to various places in the complex.  You can view exclusive places reserve to the elite.  Tickets only cost $5.00 for adults and $3.00 for the kids.

Atlanta History Center caters to various exhibits.  The themes are diverse and broad.  They have visiting, temporary exhibits as well as permanent ones.  The permanent exhibits include American Civil War,  Bobby Jones which features the golf history and many others.

Another interesting place to visit is the CNN Atlanta Tour.  This is the main headquarter of the famous news site.  The guided tour lasts for 50 minutes only. You will actually get to see a live news broadcast.  This is a fun place for children to visit.

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Boston Travel

Boston is the capital of Massachusetts and the largest city in New England.  This melting pot is famed for its stunning, historic sites and great cuisine.

A. Weather

The best time to visit Boston will be from late May to September each year when the weather is cool and sunny.  If it becomes too hot, you can always head to the nearest beach.

B. Accommodations

There are a number of beautiful and affordable accommodations in Boston depending on your budgets.

If you like comfort and convenience you can go to the upper boutique hotels found in various spots.  If you are on a tight budget, there are inexpensive hostels and bed and breakfasts all over the place.

C. Tourist Attractions
1. West of Boston Downtown – the Back Bay

The Back Bay is located in the West of downtown Boston.  This place is famous for its boutique hotels. In Newbury Street which is south of tree-lined Commonwealth Avenue boulevard is where you can   indulge in al fresco wining and dining.  The galleries and shopping are very enticing to tourist.  A walking distance from Newbury is the Copley Square where you will see the Trinity Church filled with fresco and Boston Public Library.  You can see the entire Boston if you climb its highest structure – John Hancock Tower. On the southwest of Back Bay you can visit Fenway Park, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and Museum of Fine Arts.
2. Boston Common and Downtown

Boston Common is located right in the middle of downtown Boston and Back Bay.  It is 50-acre Park reputed to be the oldest park in the entire United States. , It serves as the entrance to the historic Boston’s

3. Freedom Trail.

The Frog Pond is where ice skaters troop to during winter.  The Public Garden and the Faneuil Hall Marketplace are must-see places.  You will find some of the freshest and most sumptuous clam chowder, lobster rolls and Boston cream pie in Boston. On the north part you can find the State House and the wealthy neighbourhood known as Beacon Hill. On the south part is located the Chinatown and Theater.

4. North End

Located in the North of downtown you will find the North End, the oldest neighborhoods of Boston. Situated in this historic site is the waterfront, cafĂ© culture and preRevolutionary spots. Its numerous Italian residents, cafes and restaurants earned it the moniker ”Little Italy.”  Hanover and Salem streets are particularly known for their homemade ravioli and sweet cannoli pastries. The Freedom Trail in the North End of the Freedom Trail is where you can find Paul Revere’s House and the Old North Church.  In the Charles River is where you will see the oldest commissioned warship afloat, theUSS Constitution.

5. Financial District and Waterfront

On the Eastern part of downtown Boston is the Financial District. Boston hotels lined up in the Inner Harbor give you a great view of the Boston Harbor Walk. This is where you can find the famous New England Aquarium, known for its marine life, research and conservation, and the Boston Children’s Museum. Boston Harbour Islands National Park is also within walking distance where you will see the wildlife and a number of plant life.  You can take a ride to Boston Logan International Airport through the airport water shuttle.

6. Cambridge

In Cambridge, across the Charles River, is where you will see the oldest university in the country- Harvard University. Another famous institution is the MIT or the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Luxury boutique hotels lined the streets of Harvard Square.  Street performers occupy the Harvard Square every night to offer you free entertainment.

D. Things to Do

1. Duck Tour

You tour the city by land and water.  The guide will drive you through town and offer insightful information about the place.

2. Whale Watching

Most operators assure you that you will see whales in the waters of Boston. If not, you will get a free ticket so you can come back.

3. Stroll in the Faneuil Hall

The old, historic marketplace which was the place where politicians and colonists gathered back in the old days now serves as a great background for shopping and a taste of the local’s food and for buying souvenir items.

4. Ride the Swan Boats

You can ride the boats in the waters in Boston Public Garden considered as the first botanical garden in the US.  The garden is located in Boston Common. These swan-shaped vessels take you to the Public Garden Lagoon where you can view flowering scenery and open-air sculptures.

5. Shopping in Newbury Street

This is the best shopping district in Boston.  If you love shopping or just browsing through the latest in fashion, this is the place to be.
6. Ice-skating on the Frog Pond Skating Rink

During winter the Frog Pond is a popular destination for skaters. The venue is available every mid-November to mid-March.

7.  Sea kayaking in the Harbor

Take ecofriendly kayaking tour from Grape Island around the Boston Harbor Islands with experienced park rangers.

8. City cycle tours

You can do an urban cycle tour. They have bikes@night tour with Boston sunset and harbor views from Black Falcon Pier, ending in the lively North End, just in time for a post-cycle cocktail.

9. Basketball at TD Garden

Watch Boston Celtics basketball team play against rivals at the TD Garden arena, in downtown Boston near the North End.

10. Freedom Trail Walk

Walk the two-and-a-half mile Freedom Trail of the historic Boston’s Revolutionary War.  The tour starts at Boston Common then to the Bunker Hill Monument, then on to the U.S. Navy’s oldest warship, the USS Constitution, in Charlestown's Navy Yard.

E. Dining at the North End

If you want to experience sumptuous Italian cuisine then you should visit the north end of Boston where the biggest Italian neighbourhood is situated. This place boasts a number of restaurants that provide great dining experience.