Austin's Travel Blog

It is understandable that Chicago can be overwhelming to first time visitors. There is so much to do that it’s hard to know where to start. Well some of the first Chicago attractions you should see are the John Hancock Observatory or the Skydeck of the Sears Tower. These will give you an impressive view of the city you are about to explore.

Next on your journey, you might have a desire to explore the history of this diverse and fascinating city. You can accomplish that at Navy Pier, where you will find the Time Scape. This fun contraption makes it possible to explore history and future of Chicago in a simulated 3-D experience. If that is not enough fun for you, feel free to visit the Chicago Funhouse Maze.

I bet you never thought you could explore Chicago in a way as interactive as this one. But that’s not all. For the kids, or even the adults who still have some kid spirit in them, there is another Chicago attraction that is sure to please. It’s called the FireZone, and it help kids understand fire safety directly from the real firefighters who deal with it every day. Kids won’t forget this experience, and they’ll take life lessons home with them.

If it’s romance you’re looking for, there is no shortage of Chicago boat tours to go on. One of these is the Odyssey, and it’s as romantic as they get. You’ll be able to send a few hours basking in the luxury of this ship, as you enjoy entertainment second to none, along with fine wine, music and the best skyline vistas you could ask for.

The best part is that in the summer, your cruise will be complemented by firework shows on Wednesdays and Sundays. This really creates the perfect mood for a romantic getaway.

From boat tours to road trips, Chicago attractions can be explored by taking the city bus tours. The tours would lead you to different Chicago landmarks and tour guides will entertain you with a wealth of information regarding the city’s colorful history.

While you are out, don’t forget to join one of the many tours that see different niche parts of the city. There is a gourmet dining tour, tours for kids, and plenty of others. And in addition to that, there are also two awesome zoos in Chicago. One of them, the Lincoln Park Zoo, is the oldest in the U.S. but is still one of the best to visit. And my favorite part of it is that it is free to visit all year round.

The other one is Brookfield Zoo located west of downtown Chicago. The zoo is beautifully landscaped and is the home of over two thousand animals. Other Chicago attractions that are well noted are the Field Museum, Adler Planetarium and Shedd Aquarium.

Chicago is one of the most interesting cities in the world to visit. There is no shortage of Chicago attractions to see, like Shedd Aquarium. Make a trip to Chicago and create memories that will last.

Technorati Tags: Chicago attractions, Chicago recreation, Shedd Aquarium, things to see in Chicago, Travel, what to do in Chicago

Way down in the southern most tip of Africa, lies one of the most beautiful cities on the planet. When the sun is shining, it is stunning. A picturesque city framed by the famous Table Mountain, white sandy beaches and the Pacific Ocean. Over 1000 meters high, Table Mountain towers over beautiful colonial buildings. The waterfront is decorated with brightly painted facades and the gorgeous coastline is framed by high cliffs making it one of the most magnificent in the world.

One of the most popular areas is the V&A waterfront. Filled with restaurants and boutiques it is a pleasant place to walk around and window shop. A beautiful setting with yachts in the harbour, an historic lighthouse and cobblestone streets, you can spend the day enjoying fine wine and delicious food. It is also the place where you can book your tour and catch a ferry to Robben Island. The former maximum security prison located off of the coast where Nelson Mandela was incarcerated.

The half hour boat ride will make you think of what little hope prisoners must have had as they were taken to isolation. Surrounded by frigid shark infested waters, freedom was within their sights, but escape was impossible. The guides are former inmates who make the experience that much more gripping as they tell personal stories of their time there. These men are true heroes. It is amazing to hear what they managed to accomplish from behind bars. They planned and schemed and somehow managed to get messages to their followers which eventually brought an end to Apartheid.

A bus takes you around the island showing you different sights such as where the prison guards lived. An entire community was built on the island. Children were born and men died. See the quarry where men were put to work in brutal conditions, yet found the strength to plan and form a government that would eventually take over the country. And finally witness the cell of Nelson Mandela. So tiny, it is impossible to think how someone could survive so many years in that place.

If you are feeling confident to drive on the other side of the road, rent a car and drive Chapman’s Peak. One of the premier highways in the world it is featured in many a commercial and movie. Enjoy breathtaking views as you drive along this coastal highway carved into the side of massive cliffs. It twists and turns along the mountains, but it is well maintained and you will feel quite secure.

The drive will take you towards Simon’s Town where you will see an actual penguin colony that lives on its beaches. It is world famous and you are guaranteed to see hundreds of the little fellows playing and waddling on the rocks and in the waves.

If you continue south to the one of the southernmost tips of Africa, you will visit the famous Cape of Good Hope. Studied in school and famous for being the place where the Indian and Atlantic Oceans meet you will be treated to a spectacular view from the world highest sea cliffs. There is a trolley that you can ride to the top and explore the old lighthouse and keepers house. After you have explored the views from above, go to the rocky beach below to get a sense of just how enormous this cliff at the end of the continent actually is.

Cape Town is a must see for anyone that visits South Africa. It has everything you could possible want from the continent. Big Game drives, world class diving and award winning winery’s. If you are looking for and adventure destination or simply a relaxing vacation, it can give you whatever you are looking for in your travel needs.

Technorati Tags: cape of good hope, cape town, chapman's peak, history, nelson mandela, penguins, robben island, scenic drives, simons town, south africa, table mountain, Travel, wildlife, world cities

New York has always been known for the high rise buildings and the upscale and fast life. The flashy city has a lot of sights to offer any traveller. From historic landmarks, best clubs and pubs, great shopping options, plush hotels, and educational places for visits; name it and the big apple has it. The attractions in New York are a lot to cover within a day. In fact, a weekend would not even suffice for a taste of the real NYC way of living.

Usual scenes would be long traffic jams, high rise apartments/housing. Being one of the cities with the most vehicles and foot traffic, the ever popular double-decker bus tours are a must-try. The top attractions in New York that these in-demand bus tours cover include the world famous Empire State Building Observatory, American Museum of Natural History & Rose Center, Guggenheim Museum, The Museum of Modern Art (popularly called as MoMa), the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and The Cloisters. Other side trips also include a visit to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.

A crowd drawer all year round, for convenience to local and foreign tourists alike, guide booklets and brochures are widely available. These publications contain attraction information, transportation directions, and best times to visit, a map, and other insider tips for the best way to enjoy the big apple.

Of the many museums that are part of the list of the attractions in New York, one that stands out is the Museum of Modern Art or MoMA. The museum’s great and distinctive galleries include Claude Monet’s Reflections of Clouds on the Water-Lily Pond and Pablo Picasso’s Les Demoiselles d’Avignon.

The MoMA houses an active schedule of exhibitions. Located in midtown Manhattan, it is steps from the Broadway theater district and many shopping and dining options. Additional facilities of the venue also include bookstores and elegant restaurants and cafes.

Gate prices are pegged regularly at $20 per person. With this general admission, MoMA audio tours are for free. These audio tours feature commentaries by curators, artists, and critics. During Fridays from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., MoMA is free to the public.

You may visit the MoMA that opens Wednesday through Mondays 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Fridays until 8 p.m. The museum however isn’t open 365 days a year. It is closed on Tuesdays, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.

Getting to the MoMA can be done via subway, bus, or taxi. But to avoid the rush of using public transportation, it is recommended that you signup with a tour operator so you may be able to tour through the attractions in New York conveniently. Advance tickets are also available for tourists who would want to escape form the hassle of long lines for each attraction.

Technorati Tags: attractions in New York, MoMA, New York City attractions, New York Pass, things to do in New York City, Travel

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Airlie Beach (pop. 3029)

Airlie Beach, gateway to the Whitsunday islands has a reputation for being a great place to party, in between sailing trips to the islands. Another must stop location on the backpacker migration up north.

Had a ball in Airlie, went out on a boat yesterday to snorkel the reef. The colours of the coral and the diversity of the fish life just blew me away. Thanks to Jetstream for the trip. Also checked out the Barefoot Bushmans Wildlife Park where you can see a variety of Aussie wildlife including a great crocodile show. Tomorrow I go out on a 54 foot Classic Schooner, the Atlanta , for a morning cruise before heading off to Magnetic Island. It’s a hard life…..

In Airlie I decided that given it is such a big location for back packers, instead of interviewing an Aussie local, I would interview a back packer working at Airlie. A young Irish Lass, Jenni Higgins, working at the local Irish Pub.

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Technorati Tags: bikini, blonde

http://www.hawaii-aloha.com/ **Hawaii actually has become more affordable for many, possibly for the first time in years. Despite rising airfares, a Hawaiian vacation package costs less this year by hundreds of dollars compared with last year.

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Technorati Tags: Deals, hawaii, Hawaiian, package, Vacation