Travel Blog

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If you’re looking for an adventure in the north that you can’t get anywhere else in the United States, yet aren’t ready to quite rough it, you might want to consider a visit to Fairbanks, Alaska. It’s the largest most northern city in the country with a population of around 35,000 people, and what it offers is the opportunity to go an entire day without the sun setting.

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Every year on the summer solstice, which is usually June 21st, all types of events are planned on the day the sun never sets. Fairbanks is just under the border where the sun won’t set for multiple days at a time, yet on this one day it never quite drops below the horizon. On the days leading up to it and just after it, the skies stay brighter than normal, but the sun isn’t seen from the city.

One of the main attractions of the city on that day is baseball, where many midnight games are set up at the same time. At least you’ll be lucky to not expect any snow, which sometimes occurs in early June. And the temperatures will probably be in the 70′s or 80′s at that time also, which is much different than if you’re thinking about visiting in the winter, where temperatures often get into the -40F range or colder. Some months in the winter never get above zero; you won’t have to worry about that in the summer.

What Fairbanks is also known for is its relative proximity to Denali National Park, which contains Mount McKinley, the highest mountain in the United States at more than 20,000 feet. It’s great for mountain climbers, and people love hiking and exploring the park, which is home to many animals including grizzly and black bears. As a matter of fact, it’s home to many animals not seen in other areas of the country, as it’s a protected national park.

Not being a large city, there isn’t the type of nightlife you’ll be used to seeing in other places. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t other things to do in the area. There’s the Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival which draws visitors from all around the country. They have a symphony and a ballet, and even a small opera theater. There’s the botanical gardens and lots of Native American exhibits all around town. There’s even the 36,000 year old bison mummy that’s on display at the University of Alaska Museum; you won’t see that just anywhere.

Fairbanks would be an interesting place to visit if you go at the right times of the year. Yes, they do also have skiing, but unless you’re hearty, skiing in below zero weather, especially in extremely cold weather, might not be your cup of tea.

See more:
Fairbanks Summer Attractions
Fairbanks Attractions & Sights
Fairbanks Restaurant Guide & Dining Reviews

The Flamingo Hotel & Casino

The Flamingo is one of the older casinos on the Las Vegas strip. It was built by Bugsy Siegel, one of the most notorious mob figures in American history, at a cost of $6 million, which was a phenomenal figure at the time, and one of the reasons that he lost his life. At the time, it was known as a luxury hotel, with only 105 rooms. In 1967, it was purchased by a new owner, who tore down the original structure and built it back into the monolith it is today, with over 3,500 rooms, four towers, and covering 15 acres.

Even at 15 acres, the Flamingo can seem small as a casino. Its poker room is substandard when compared to the growth of poker across the country. It’s actually not a poker room, but a poker area, as there are no walls or real separation between poker and the slots. However, it may be kept small because it offers charm that larger rooms in other casinos can’t touch. The other gaming areas also seem small by comparison. The slots are everywhere, though, and since that seems to be the most popular attraction, especially by older visitors, they’ll feel well taken care of.

The showroom is also relatively small by comparison with other casinos, but it’s built well and provides for an intimate setting with the performers. When I was there, the performers were George Wallace and Gladys Knight. At the present time, it’s the home for Donnie and Marie Osmond.

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The Flamingo also has a lot of history. It was the location for the first Oceans Eleven movie starring Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack. Elvis also made the movie Viva Las Vegas here. The movie Bugsy starring Warren Beatty had many scenes filmed here.

My room was also on the 23rd floor, which offered a great vision of both the city and the mountains. At night, it was a wonderful and spacious view; almost took my breath away. We had paid for a package deal, which offered $15 a day to gamble with and a couple of free meal tickets to the buffet. It also took 7 minutes to get from our room to the lobby or casino area; that’s a big hotel! The buffet was okay, but the rest of the restaurant was pretty nice, as it offered all sorts of meals from Italian to Asian choices.

You will get pumped to take part in one of those time share deals, and they’ll entice you with show tickets and some more free meal tickets. We declined since it would have taken 3 hours out of our day, which was the day we were leaving, but if you get there at the right time, it might not be such a bad deal.

Overall, the Flamingo is a very comfortable casino and hotel, very nice, but one word of warning. If you left anything at home it’s going to cost you at least 5 times what it would cost you in a regular store. So, think about getting a cab and going to a grocery store to get what you need; trust me, the cab ride will cost less than it will, unless you can afford the convenience.

See more:
Wikipedia – Flamingo Hotel History
Bugsy Siegel Biography
The Flamingo Map & Directions

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Could you handle waking up in the middle of the night, opening your eyes, and seeing yourself surrounded by sharks and manta rays? If so, you might enjoy spending a night or two in the luxurious Atlantis Hotel in Dubai, United Arab. It’s one of the most unique experiences in the world, and its own motto is “where water meets wonder.”

The first amazing thing is that there are levels of the hotel underwater, and surrounded by water. This is actually two separate things, because though the hotel is in the water, it’s encased in an area where different types of sea life, over 65,000, have been imported for the enjoyment of its guests. Some of these species life in harmony with each other; some of them have to be separated because the last thing anyone wants to witness are bloodbaths happening all the time.

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Some hotel rooms are on the lower levels for those brave souls who want to see the marine life before they go to bed and wake up to it. For those who can’t handle such a thing, there are many more rooms above water, including three presidential suites that have things such as balconies, multiple bathrooms, meeting rooms within the room, and three bathrooms; a his and hers bathroom and a half bath for visitors.

There are meeting rooms that are on the lower levels, as well as a theater and many sitting rooms where guests can just sit and watch the fish swimming by. There’s also something they call the Lost Chambers, which is advertised as a collection of underwater tunnels and halls. The basic idea behind it is to discover the “lost city of Atlantis,” hence the name.

Looking for more to do with marine life? There’s different lagoons where one can get in the water with dolphins or Cownose Rays; no, these aren’t the type that killed Steve Irwin. There are a few other lagoons where kids and adults can get in and swim with the fishes if they so choose. There’s also a regular pool if you don’t feel like sharing your water with scaly things.

And, when you get tired of the water, you can spoil yourself in other ways. There’s the Imperial Club, where you will be catered to in any way imaginable by your own private butler. There’s Nasimi Beach, a luxury restaurant that serves foods with Asian, Pacific and European flavor, and has many ways which you can enjoy your meal including laying in a hammock. There’s also the Seafire Steakhouse and Levantine for other types of foods. And there’s a few different types of nightclubs so you can find one that suits your tastes.

It’s not inexpensive to stay here, which figures. The low end rooms will average around $500 a night. The high end rooms will cost you around $2,100 a night. You can bet that you will leave exhilarated, stimulated, and relaxed, though, so if you can swing it, this might be a great family vacation spot.

See more:
Atlantis Marine & Waterpark Dolphin Bay
Pictures of Dubai
YouTube Videos fo Dubai

Photo Credit: www.unitedplanet.org

If you’re looking for a modern vacation with lots of fancy clubs and shops, Costa Rica may not be the place for you.  But if you’re looking for a place with lots of natural beauty, beaches, quiet times for relaxation, and a bit of adventure, then you might just enjoy what Costa Rica has to offer.

Right off the bat, you might feel fairly safe in Costa Rica.  It’s one of the few countries that doesn’t have a military, which means it’s pretty peaceful.  The weather’s usually pretty good, although it can change quickly depending on the winds and where you’re located.  It has many different altitudes for such a small country, which also helps to explain the diverse types of weather.  It’s one of the “greeniest” countries in the world, and we’re not just talking flora and fauna.  They hope to be the first carbon neutral country in the world by 2021, and already rank number one on what’s known as the Happy Planet Index as the greeniest country in the world.

What do you want to see?  If you want beaches, how about the opportunity for not only swimming and sitting around improving your tan, but also scuba and surfing.  If you want mountains, you can view volcanoes such as Irazu, and even climb a few or go on a bike tour.  Of course, you won’t want to be climbing the Arenal Volcano, which is almost always erupting, but if you’re fascinated with lava then you’ll want to see it.  If you want rain forests, you can find them.  If you want caves, you can find them.  If you want to tour coffee plantations, you’re in the right place.

Of course, where there are beaches you’ll find a lot of nice resort hotels, so it’s not as primitive as one might imagine everywhere else.  But it’s not considered as a modern paradise, more of a natural one.  And with nature, there come a few dangers.  In some parts of the country, you do run the risk of catching malaria.  It does have its share of dangerous animals as well, including jaguar, mountain lions, and boa constrictors.  So, if you’re looking to commune with nature, be cautious and protect yourself.

But for many, Costa Rica is a nice little getaway from the rat race of one’s normal life.  The people are friendly, and the costs aren’t all that high.

See more:
The Rainforests of Costa Rica
Costa Rican Travel Guide
Discount Beach Vacations

Photo Credit : www.nobc.org

Chicago is the home of the Oprah Winfrey Show.  It was also the home of talk shows such as Jenny Jones, Jerry Springer, Steve Wilkos, and of course the original talker, Phil Donahue.  What is it about Chicago that’s inspired so many people to set up shop there to talk to others?

Chicago, situated on the border of Lake Michigan, is the third largest city in the United States, behind New York City and Los Angeles, and also the third densest, behind the same two cities.  In a strange way, it’s a city with an inferiority complex that it’s proud of.  It’s in the Midwest, rather than on the East or West Coast.  Even as its size, it’s not considered a power city.  Though its sports teams have won some major championships, they’ve had more losers than winners.  That, and it’s monicker “The Windy City” doesn’t necessarily conjure up feelings of superiority.

But Chicago is a great and wonderful city with its own unique culture.  Remember, Chicago is a city that basically lost a third of itself back in the Great Fire of 1871, and had to start all over in those areas.  Chicago is the home of Al Capone, the most notorious gangster this country has ever known.  It’s also the home of the very first nuclear reaction test, which led to the Manhattan Project.

It’s also known for having its own style of pizza, which uses chunky tomatoes along with traditional tomato paste.  It’s known for its comedy clubs, which have fed entertainment such as Saturday Night Live, Fridays, and Mad TV.  It’s the home of Wrigley Field, one of the oldest baseball stadiums still being used today for the city’s hapless but lovable Cubs.

One of its top attractions is called Millennium Park, which was established in 1844 and has grown into a 24 acre area of modern achievement, highlighted by the Cloud Gate, a 12-foot shiny structure that’s got a hollowed out inner chamber and the Crown Fountain, with two 50-foot towards surrounding a reflecting pool.  There are also gargoyles, fountains, and other statues that highlight the structure.

And Chicago is known for jazz, as all the top jazz musicians in the country feel that, if they can’t make it in either Chicago or New Orleans, they’re just pretending to be musicians.  This gives Chicago an interesting nightlife, as many establishments also make their own beer in downtown areas.

And overall, that’s probably what separates Chicago from a city like Chicago.  People tend to go places in New York City to be seen.  People in Chicago go places to have fun and be entertained.  And that’s probably why people in Chicago like to talk; they’re a bit more open to strangers, which is taboo in NYC and Los Angeles.

Just don’t criticize the Bears or the Cubs!

See more:
Chicago Discount Hotels
Chicago Traveler – Maps & Sightseeing
Chicago Tours & Attractions

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Some specialty hotels become the focal point of a vacation because of their distinct qualities. Here are four unusual European hotels. More details and photos are available at travel.azcentral.com.

Netherlands

In the harbor at Harlingen, a town full of interesting hotels about a 75 minute ride from Amsterdam, stands Harlingen Lighthouse, last used to guide ships 11 years ago. Alterations to the harbor rendered the lighthouse unnecessary, and it’s now a luxury hotel for two people at a time (staying together), an aerie about 80 steps up, where three floors of round-walled living space serve as accommodations.

The lantern room on the highest level, opens onto a balcony; binoculars are provided, but guest say there is plenty to see without them.

Details:

Harlingen Lighthouse, Havenweg 1, Harlingen Netherlands, 011-31-517-414-410.

France

Once a Roman fortress carved from a rocky mountainside, Le Prince Noir in Provence in a rarefied B&B. In the village of Les Baux-de-Provence, about a half hour drive from Aries, the convereted fortress has three accommodations: a double-bed room ($125 a night), a family suite (about $285) and a small apartment with a private terrace (about$340). Guest like the breakfast, panoramic views and comfort. There’s a two-night minimum stay.

Details:

Le Prince Noir, Rue de Lorme, 13520 Les Baux-de-Provence, France, 011-33-6-2007-8267, leprincenoir.com

Sweden

The last convict left Stockholm’s Crown Prison in 1975. Fourteen years later, the jail became Lengholmen Hotel. The early 19th- Century building, on an island, has 89 single and 13 double cells-yes, cells-with private doors and showers.

The is also an atrium, a 24 hour cafeteria in the old prison entrance, an adjoining full restaurant and museum, Free Internet, parking within the prison walls, and jogging paths outside for a little prison rec. “A captivating experience,” warns the management, which does not promise to give you a key. Singles run about $135

Perconviction, er, Night: doubles, $195.

Details:

Lengholmen Hotel, Lengholmuren 20, 10272, Stockholm, 011-468-720-8500, langholmen.com/En/Hotel/AboutHotel.aspx.

Italy

Atop a hill in a 14th century village just a few min-

European Hotels (Cont)

Splendid sprawl of a house, then abandoned, it’s now an art gallery-hotel, rich with fireplaces, old stone walls, and rooms with with panoramic views of the village, Torrita dedi Siena.

The management, through the community, offers massage therapy, painting and cooking classes, cultural and wine tours of Tuscany, horseback riding and mountain bike trips. Or you can just relax, or shop, 45 minutes away at an outlet center that offers Gucci, Fendi and others for enough of a discount to make the euro bearable. Now, in low season, junior rooms at the hotel run about $190 per night; superior rooms, $250, and a suite, $330.

Details:

Residenza D’Arte, Poggio Maddona Dell’Olivio, 53049, Torrita di Siena, Italy, 011-39-338-481-4384.

See more:
Top Hotel Deals in Amsterdam
Top Hotel Deals in Florence
Europe Travel Hotspots

Photo Credit: www.fashionisthebestmedicine.blogspot.com

If you’re looking to get away to a relaxing holiday paradise, it’s possible that Guam might not be at the top of your list. For most people, it’s a small island in the South Pacific that has a military base where many enlisted people have spent at least a little bit of time. However, Guam may offer just what you need if your need is to get away from it all.

The first thing you need to know is that Guam is a long trip, no matter where you leave from. At best, you’re talking a 16 hour plane trip from Los Angeles. So, if you don’t have at least a week to enjoy yourself, it’s best to find someplace closer.

The second is that it is a relatively tiny island, less than 213 square miles, part of the Mariana Islands, the largest island in the chain. At its longest point, it’s 30 miles long, and at its widest 12 miles wide. So, it’s not a large island where you can get lost. It is, however, large enough so that you’ll have to rent a car to get around. And, because it’s a small island, there’s not a lot of things to do.

Having said that, there are things you can do. For one, the beaches are spectacular, and are the biggest draw. Guam has some of the most unique species of fish in the world, and it’s quite close to the Mariana Trench, the deepest spot in the world. Scuba diving is very popular here, as people love going to see these exotic fish, as well as their coral reefs.

There are also the grasslands and a forest, as well as a few volcanic peaks. The coral reef surrounds the entire island. This means there’s a lot to explore. However, the ecosystem is somewhat delicate, so people have to be careful not to disturb too much of the natural surroundings. Also, there are 17 different villages, each with its own culture, but since Guam’s main income comes from tourism, all of the villages are welcoming of visitors.

Guam is warm throughout the year, although there are peak times to visit like any other. For instance, November and December are months where there are more typhoons to deal with than at any other time of the year, so you might not want to go at that time. The dry season is considered to be from February to June, and during that time there are sometimes wildfires, which tourists don’t have to deal with.

In essence, Guam would be a great vacation if you want to rest and do nothing else.

See more:
Guam History and Culture
How to find Guam’s Best Tourist Spots
Guam Restaurant Directory