Archive for the ‘destinations’ Category

Miami’s Biggest Block Party: Calle Ocho

March 11th
2010
by Matt Wilson
posted in:
U.S. Southeast destinations events and festivals

It’s been a good couple of months for parties. First, we kicked off 2010 with plenty of New Year’s soireees all across the land. Then there were plenty of throw downs with the Super Bowl, where Miami hotels were packed out for weeks with tourists enjoying the festivities as much as the big game. And of course there’s Mardi Gras, the biggest party of them all. With St. Patrick’s Day just around the corner, it really has been quite a party in the U.S.A. (heavens to betsy, did I really just quote a Miley Cyrus song here? What was I thinking??? It’s not like I’m a fan or anything. No really, I’m serious).

And then there’s the fiesta in the place known as the Gateway to the Americas because of all the flights and travel routes that funnel the U.S. to the rest of Latin America. It takes place on SW Eighth Street in Miami, which just happens to be the name of this event as well. But because it’s a celebration of the Cuban culture in the heart of Little Havana, it’s called Calle Ocho. Known as the biggest street party around that attracts more than 1 million people from all over the world, Calle Ocho is a Miami vacation hot spot that has it all: dancing, eating, costumes, street performers, famous Latin music stars, and the longest conga line of which you’ll ever be a part—it’s a whole lotta loco fun.
(more…)

No Comments »

Revisit the Battle of Pea Ridge in Arkansas

March 9th
2010
by Matt Wilson
posted in:
U.S. Southeast destinations

Our nation is currently facing several crises. There’s the spiraling-out-of control national debt. Record unemployment. No health care reform. And the lack of any real talent on this season of American Idol. But the greatest crisis in America’s history has eventually become a booming niche in the vacation industry, so there is hope (except maybe for American Idol).

I’m talking of course about the American Civil War. The darkest days of a young nation were pitched in bloody battles between North and South, where even brother fought against brother. The cost of achieving “let freedom ring” for all people was definitely worth the sacrifice, but it left nearly 700,000 Americans dead, devastated the economies of the southern states, and led to the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. The places where many of these battles were fought have been preserved or restored, and attract hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. One of these storied sites includes the Battle of Pea Ridge in Arkansas, which just celebrated its 148th anniversary.
(more…)

No Comments »

Ditch your Office for a Trip to Scranton’s

March 8th
2010
by Matt Wilson
posted in:
U.S. Mid-Atlantic destinations

So Jim and Pam had their special delivery last Thursday night on The Office– congrats to the Halperts with the arrival of their new little girl. Let’s just hope the appearance of a baby doesn’t make The Office jump the shark as is often the case with many TV shows. But even if it does (and I don’t think it’s quite there yet), the Scranton, Penn.-based comedy still has legions of fans, many of whom have taken a break from their real office for a vacation package involving their favorite fictional one.

Most people knew very little about the city of Scranton, except maybe that it was the childhood home of Vice President Joe Biden, before The Office put the Electric City on the pop culture map. And while there is no actual Dunder Mifflin office you can visit, that hasn’t prevented thousands of fans from booking cheap flights into town to experience the workplace mockumetary in real life. There’s even an Office Fan Tour to enjoy, giving you in-depth looks at the town and the roles numerous landmarks have played on the show.
(more…)

No Comments »

Andean Adventures

March 5th
2010
by Becky Youman
posted in:
South America destinations outdoor adventure

There is good news out of Chile today. The government has made a dramatic downward revision in the number of expected casualties from last week’s earthquake. While any loss of life is tragic, it is great to hear that the number is less than originally forecast. While the sad damage to life and property has made the most headlines, the geological news coming out of the country in the wake of this event is fascinating. The quake, caused by the force of the Nazca tectonic plate pushing under South America, actually caused the coast of Chile to be permanently lifted by two to three feet. This extra land mass on the earth’s surface has modified the way the planet rotates on its axis enough to actually shorten our days by 1.26 millionth of second. It has also made the summits of the Andes a couple of feet higher, which means bigger bragging rights for travelers planning to scale some peaks on their next Chile vacations.

One of the most popular climbs for casual trekkers, as opposed to hardcore mountaineers, is to the top of the Villarrica Volcano located in the Chilean Lakes District near the popular vacation town of Pucón. Located south of and inland from the quake’s epicenter, Pucón felt, but received little damage, from the quake. Located on the shores of Lake Villarrica, Pucón was begat by adventures seekers and now prospers by sating their needs. Vacationers are drawn to the area by the awe-inspiring natural surroundings such as the magnificent araucaria forests, the snow-capped volcano, the sprawling lake, and rivers ripe for rafting adventures. Here is just a sampling of some of the fun to be had in the region:
(more…)

No Comments »

Cheers to the Great Arizona Beer Festival

March 4th
2010
by Becky Youman
posted in:
U.S. West destinations events and festivals

Spring has definitely arrived to central Arizona. Phoenix hotels are packed with travelers in town to catch a little Cactus League Spring Training, play some rounds of golf, or just spend time soaking up the vitamin D. As I was reminded at last week’s Waste Management Phoenix Open, there is something almost hypnotizing about being outside in the warm sunshine after a couple of months of jacket weather – especially if a cold malt beverage is part of the picture.

If warm weather and cold beer sound like a winning combination, you might want to consider adding the Great Arizona Beer Festival to your Phoenix vacation itinerary. Taking place this weekend on the shores of Tempe Town Lake, the Beer Festival will feature tastes of 204 specialty and micro-brewed beers from breweries all over the country.

The Great Arizona Beer Festival is a fantastic opportunity to sample a wide range of beer from both nationally known breweries like Sierra Nevada and New Belgium,  as well as local Arizona favorites like Oak Creek, Prescott, and Sonoran Brewing Companies. With 500 volunteers on hand to pour the beer, the brewers will actually be freed up to chat with festival-goers about their various stouts, ales, hefes, and lagers.
(more…)

No Comments »

Elton John to Rock Chichen Itza

March 3rd
2010
by Becky Youman
posted in:
Mexico destinations music news

The ancient Maya ruins of Chichen Itza are one of the top attractions for travelers on Riviera Maya or Cancun vacations. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Chichen Itza is home to El Castillo, The Castle, one of the best preserved and restored pyramids of the Maya world, along with many other impressive structures. It’s a place of profound spiritual significance for the Maya people, especially during the vernal and autumnal equinox, when the rising sun casts a shadow in the shape of a feathered serpent that crawls down the steps of El Castillo.

This impressive archeological site has also become an occasional venue for the hottest concerts on the Yucatan Peninsula. The latest artist to announce a concert there is the Rocket Man himself, Elton John. Riviera Maya hotels are filling fast with fans who want to take part in the special evening concert. Sir Elton John will perform on April 3 on a stage set up at the foot of El Castillo.

Tickets are still available for the show on Ticketmaster, but many vacationers will probably end up buying the tickets as part of a package. Hotels and tour operators are all trying to create unique Elton John concert experiences. Most of the packages include concert tickets and transportation, but one hotel, the Mandarin Oriental Riviera Maya has gone a step further to create the ultimate Elton John concert experience.
(more…)

No Comments »

New Mexico Restaurant Week

March 2nd
2010
by Becky Youman
posted in:
U.S. West destinations events and festivals food

People in most parts of the country are happy to put the month of February, and its atrocious weather, behind them. March, with the promise of spring, is a time to come out of hibernation and explore new venues. Travelers in New Mexico on Santa Fe or Albuquerque vacations this month have a special opportunity to get and about. Both cities will be celebrating New Mexico Restaurant Week. There’s no better excuse to skip dining at your Albuquerque hotels than the lure of southwestern culinary delights from the area’s finest restaurants.

Santa Fe Restaurant Week, which takes place through this Saturday, March 6, and Albuquerque Restaurant Week, which happens from March 7-13, will showcase some of the best restaurants in the state at prices that can’t be beat. Each participating restaurant will have a delicious three course dinner available for Restaurant Week participants. Depending on the level of restaurant, the cost is $25 per couple, $25 per person, or $40 per person.

This is a fantastic opportunity to sample creations from some of the best chefs in New Mexico at a fraction of the cost of a normal three course meal. In addition to the fixed price dinners, there are also unique culinary events and tastings to be held each day. While no special tickets are necessary, reservations are required for the events and highly recommended for the restaurant meals.

As would be expected, many of the presentations center around the local Mexican and Native American influences on New Mexico’s unique southwestern cuisine. For example, today at Santa Fe’s hightly touted Epazote Restaurant, there is an informative talk and on tacos and their origins, along with a three-course tasting.
(more…)

No Comments »

Get Revved Up for Daytona Bike Week

February 28th
2010
by Matt Wilson
posted in:
U.S. Southeast beaches destinations events and festivals

If you like to get your motor running, head out on the highway, and look for adventure or whatever comes your way, then chances are this week the motor that’s running is your bike and you’re cruising down A1A. As far as whatever comes your way, there’s really no limit, because during Dayton Bike Week, anything can happen—and usually does. It’s an event where thousands of motorcycle riders descend on this Florida beach town, filling up Daytona Beach hotelsand Daytona Beach streets with lots of leather, chrome, revving engines, fun, and festivities.

There’s just something about this city and motors. Well known for the big NASCAR race it hosts each year, the Daytona 500, it’s also the place where you can drive on the beach in certain parts. And it’s where, each March, literally hundreds of thousands of bikers line the streets and shorelines of Daytona for a week full of parades, partying, and high-octane events—quite the unique vacation package and a tradition that is celebrating its 69th year.
(more…)

No Comments »

Head West to Oklahoma’s National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum

February 27th
2010
by Matt Wilson
posted in:
U.S. West destinations

There’s an old, famous country song called, “Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to be Cowboys,” and who among us, at some point in our childhood, didn’t want to roam the range sitting high atop a saddled horse, wear a ten-gallon hat, and strap on a six-shooter to protect the town from the black-hatted villain? As a young buckaroo who spent many summers on Oklahoma City vacations while visiting grandparents, my days were often filled with old Gene Autry and Roy Rogers movies, reruns of Bonanza, and recreations of the shootout at the OK Corral. Being in cowboy country so often, my life’s ambition at that point was to tame the Wild West. That never happened (obviously), but for those whose mamas did let them grow up to become cowboys, there is a place where the most famous of the Wild West and cowboy crowd have been enshrined after riding off into the sunset.  

The National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum honors pioneers of the American West with three separate halls of fame. These include real cowboys in the Hall of Great Westerners, “reel” cowboys in the Hall of Great Western Performers, and kamikaze cowboys in the Rodeo Hall of Fame. So saddle up (or book a cheap flight) and head out west from your ponderosa with a trip to this Wild West gallery—and with plenty of surrounding Oklahoma City hotels, you can leave the covered wagon at home.
(more…)

No Comments »

Phoenix’s Matsuri Japanese Festival

February 25th
2010
by Becky Youman
posted in:
U.S. West destinations events and festivals

While Phoenix isn’t exactly known as a cradle of Japanese culture, the city has a sizeable enough Japanese and Japanese-American population to host an entertaining and educational Japanese festival. Held annually in Phoenix’s Heritage and Science Park, the Matsuri Japanese Festival offers two days of immersion into Japanese culture. With today’s economy you might not be able to take an Asia vacation, but this weekend you can experience the Land of the Rising sun right here in Phoenix.

Heritage and Science Park, located in the heart of downtown, is surrounded by Phoenix hotels, museums, sports arenas, and concert venues. The historic square will be the site of the festival’s three stages as well as vendor booths. The festival will highlight both traditional and modern Japanese food, art, crafts, culture, and music – and admission is free.

Saturday’s Events

The festival will kick off Saturday morning with the mikoshi parade. A mikoshi is a portable Shinto shrine that Shinto followers believe houses a divine spirit at the time of a parade of deities. The mikoshi, which sits on poles for carrying, looks like a miniature building with elaborate pillars, railings, verandas and roofs. Appropriately enough, the roof often has a carving of a phoenix. Mikoshi parades are customary during matsuri festivals in Japan.
(more…)

No Comments »
« Older Entries