by Roy -

This article is written by K.K.Mehra, an avid traveler and travel writer

I am an avid traveller and have been to the remotest part of the country as also to the USA and Canada. My wife and I went to meet our son in USA recently. We had the most memorable time of our life when we travelled to the west coast of America.

Las Vegas

We reached Las Vegas and from there went by road to Los Angeles and San Francisco. For our return journey, we chose to travel by the Amtrak train from San Francisco to Providence, Rhode Island, from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean, with stopovers at Chicago, Washington and New York.

Our tour started by boarding a flight from Providence, the capital of Rhode Island, to Las Vegas en route to Philadelphia.

We were overwhelmed by the breathtaking beauty of Las Vegas, one of the most exciting and entertaining cities in the world. We stayed at the famous MGM Grand Hotel.

On the Las Vegas strip, we got a glimpse of the world famous New York skyscrapers, the Sphinx and Pyramids of Egypt, the Eiffel Tower, the gondolas of Venice, the Dutch architecture and huge Greek sculptures.

It is the city where nobody sleeps. Even late in the night or at dawn people were revelling and enjoying the fun filled life. The next morning we left by bus to visit the Grand Canyon South Rim, en route to Hoover Dam, which is 275 miles from Las Vegas.

The next morning we headed for Los Angeles by road taking a Greyhound Bus and the journey between Las Vegas to LA was awesome with vast no man’s land on either side of the road making for a great view.

The famous Kodak Theater

Our first stop in the city was Kodak Theatre where the Oscar Awards ceremony is held and just standing there was dream come true. We also visited Third Promenade, Grove, China Town, Griffith Park area and China Town.

Our next destination was San Francisco and we boarded a Greyhound Bus to reach by the evening.

The next morning we started our city tour and reached the two-mile long Golden Gate Bridge. In the afternoon we started our tour of Alcatraz Island. The ride in the steamer was very entertaining and the view of the city from the bay was great.

The next morning we started our excursion to the Muir Woods, Sausalito and wine country.

We travelled across the Golden Gate Bridge and reached the quite, beautiful town of Sausalito, nestled in the jungles along the bay. A two-hour drive took us to Sonoma Valley, which houses hundreds of wineries. A tour of the wineries was also very knowledgeable. After that we came back to our destination.

K.K.Mehra

18 June 2010

http://travel.hindustantimes.com/travelogues/a-memorable-trip-to-las-vegas.php

Average Rating: 4.5 out of 5 based on 293 user reviews.

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by Roy -

This article is written by Shifra Menezes , a student and a travel writer based in Mumbai

Here’s a look at the top 25 destinations around the world that includes cultural capitals, architectural havens, beach paradises and some unconventional picks as well.

1. Cape Town, South Africa

The mere mention of most destinations in Africa immediately conjures up images of lion safaris and yellow wilderness as far as the eye can see. While these are enough to keep the intrepid traveller quite happy and offer the experience of a lifetime, there is more to Africa than just that and Cape Town is where it’s all at.

From cultural and historical attractions to wildlife and adventure sports, Cape Town has something for everyone.

A handful of the popular tourist attractions in Cape Town:

  • The Victoria & Alfred Waterfront a popular haunt for dining and shopping, offering up a wide variety of cuisine and wares.
  • The Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden with its tranquil surrounds and exotic plants, is the ideal picnic spot for nature-lovers and trekkers alike.
  • The beaches in and around Cape Town are famous for their soft white sand and crystal-clear waters. Some of the popular ones are Blouberg, Dolphin Beach and Boulder.
  • If you’re an animal lover with a penchant for big cats, drop in at the Drakenstein Lion Park, dedicated to rehabilitating the beautiful animals in their natural surrounds.
  • For history buffs, a boat ride to Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 years, is a must-visit.

2. Sydney, Australia

Often mistaken as the capital city, Sydney is the country’s largest city and arguably its cultural capital.

The unmistakable waterfront of the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge is just one of the many tourist attractions in the city.

Your visit to the harbour city should include:

  • Bondi Beach, one of the most famous in the world for its massive swells (for the surfers out there), is a great place to start. If you’re looking for a lazy day at the beach however, there are plenty to choose from such as Coogee, Manly and Balmoral among many, many others.
  • Nature enthusiasts won’t be disappointed with a visit to Taronga Zoo, Oceanworld and the Royal Botanical Gardens.
  • For those more culturally inclined, there’s the Sydney Festival (free indoor and outdoor performances), the Big Day Out (a travelling rock festival) and a number of film festivals.
  • Check out breathtaking views from the AMP Tower observatory, the highest structure in Sydney, and the Powerhouse Museum of science, technology and design.

3. Machu Picchu, Peru

Tucked away in the Amazon forests, perched atop an Andean plateau, this ancient city is an architectural marvel. Often referred to as the ‘Lost city of the Incas’, it has been recognised as a World Heritage Site and one of the New 7 Wonders of the World.

Built around 1450, at the height of the Inca empire, the entire city has been constructed using polished dry stone and has survived the centuries remarkably well.

One of the three primary constructions within the city is the Intihuatana, a pillar built using stones that point to the sun. At noon on March 21 and September 21, the sun is almost directly above the pillar, and casts no shadow. It is believed that the Incas used this as a clock or calendar based on the sun’s path.

So for the traveller who enjoys a little history lesson along the way, Machu Picchu does just that.

4. Paris, France

Nothing says romance quite like Paris. But there is a lot more to this beautiful city than just the Eiffel Tower and romantic walks along the Siene.

The French capital offers a host of attractions including The Louvre, which is home to some of the world’s most valuable paintings and sculptures.

Food lovers can relish the French cuisine in the many bistros and cafes that dot the streets and culture vultures can take in the rich history and architecture on offer.

Some popular tourist spots include:

  • The Notre Dame cathedral, the Napoleonic Arc de Triomphe, Champs Elysees and the Pantheon church (the final resting place of Voltaire, Victor Hugo and Marie Curie) are some of the most recognised landmarks, as is the Eiffel Tower.
  • The Montmartre and Montparnasse areas, known for their artistic history is worth a visit for music halls and cafes.
  • Known as the world’s fashion capital, drop in at the Avenue Montaigne and Faubourg Saint-Honore for a peek of the highest of high fashion. And if splashing out on designer labels isn’t your thing, don’t fret. Paris has a lot more shopping than just designer labels. Les Halles and the Champs Elysees have plenty to choose from.
  • The picturesque Tuileries and Luxembourg Gardens are lovely for a stroll of picnic. A great way to unwind after a busy day of sightseeing.

5. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Movies and music have had a long-standing love affair with this beautiful city, and deservedly so. The spirit of Rio makes it a must-visit.

Another draw is the fact that the resort city will play host to the 2014 FIFA World Cup final and the 2016 Olympic Games and you can bet it’ll be an explosion of colour and dance two elements that simply capture what the city is all about.

So when you fly down, make sure your travel itinerary includes:

  • The Copacabana and Ipanema beaches have been immortalised in song and well deserve a drop-by thanks to their many dining spots, pubs and discos.
  • The Corcovado mountains with the statue of Christ the Redeemer are a major tourist draw being one of the New 7 Wonders of the World, and atop the peak, offer breath-taking views of the Brazilian landscape.
  • The annual Carnival (during February and March) is an experience like no other. Massive parades along the streets with opulent floats and tens of thousands of revellers simply have to be seen to be believed.

6. New York City, USA

The city has been written about and sung about, movies have been shot around its iconic landmarks and its unmistakable skyline and yet it loses nothing in terms of sheer fascination for the millions of visitors and tourists who throng its streets every year.

So if you too plan to drop by the Big Apple, make sure to visit:

  • Manhattan for its fantastic skyline and a glimpse of the Empire State Building, Rockerfeller Centre and Times Square.
  • Ellis Island for the Statue of Liberty, and while you’re at it the Staten Island Ferry.
  • Madison and Fifth avenue for the shopping.
  • The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Broadway for some cultural stimulation

Average Rating: 4.7 out of 5 based on 197 user reviews.

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by Roy -

Vegas at Night

Las Vegas is the most populous city in Nevada, United States, the seat of Clark County, and an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping and fine dining. Las Vegas, which bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, is famous for the number of casino resorts and associated entertainment. A growing retirement and family city, it is the 28th most populous city in the United States.

Established in 1905, Las Vegas officially became a city in 1911. With the growth that followed, at the close of the century Las Vegas was the most populous American city founded in the 20th century (a distinction held by Chicago in the 19th century). The city’s tolerance for various forms of adult entertainment earned it the title of Sin City, and this image has made Las Vegas a popular setting for films and television programs. There are numerous outdoor lighting displays on Fremont Street, as well as elsewhere in the city.

The Luxor Hotel

The name Las Vegas is often applied to unincorporated areas that surround the city, especially the resort areas on and near the Las Vegas Strip. The 4.2 mi (6.8 km) stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard known as the Strip is mainly in the unincorporated communities of Paradise and Winchester, while a small portion overlaps into Las Vegas and the unincorporated community of Enterprise.

The major attractions in Las Vegas are the casinos and the hotels. The most famous hotel casinos are located on Las Vegas Boulevard on the portion of that road known as the Las Vegas Strip. These larger casinos are located outside of the city. Many of these hotels are massive, providing thousands of rooms, with their large adjoining casino areas. There are many hotel casinos in the city’s downtown area as well, which was the focal point of the city’s gaming industry in its early days. Several large hotels and casinos are also located somewhat off the Strip, as well as in the county around the city.

October 2011

http://thebesttraveldestinations.com/las-vegas-nevada-usa/#more-2801

Average Rating: 4.4 out of 5 based on 226 user reviews.

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