With the post Christmas blues now in full swing, thoughts often turn to holidays and where our next ventures will be. With holidays in mind, we have put together our top 15 list of destinations which should not be missed on a USA fly-drive holiday.
Western USA Fly Drive Holidays
Firs up, we have the Grand Canyon, a gorge which was carved by the Colorado River, located in Arizona. The Grand Canyon is 277 miles long and in parts 18 miles wide and offers some stunning views. The canyon is considered to be around 5 or 6 million years old, and the depth is thought to be between 5 and 10 thousand feet deep (below sea level).
No visit to that part of the country would be complete without a visit to Las Vegas and the Strip. The most populous city in Nevada, Las Vegas – billed as the entertainment capital of the world, is notorious for its casinos, shopping and entertainment, with the city playing host to many high profile boxing events.
Visiting Las Vegas can be a fantastic experience, with the chance to walk down the main strip and indulge in the lavish and extravagant atmosphere. Play poker with the pro’s or join top Hollywood stars ringside at the MGM Grand to watch a title fight – Las Vegas will provide you with the means to walk shoulder to shoulder with the rich and famous.
A four hour drive South West will see you arriving in Los Angeles, the City of Angels and the second largest city in the United States and one of the most foremost centres of culture, technology and international trade.
With a warm climate boasting summer temperatures in excess of 30 degrees Celsius, Los Angeles can provide a glorious place to sun yourselves and experience the wonderful cityscape, home to nearly 13 million people.
A 6 hour stint along the I-5 will land you in San Francisco, the city with steep rolling hills with a diverse cosmopolitan population of around 745,000. San Francisco is a delightful city, and home to the infamous island prison of Alcatraz, known as the rock and was home for some very high profile inmates such as Al Capone and George “Machine Gun” Kelly.
A fly-drive holiday throughout western USA would be nothing without a visit to Yosemite National Park, a national park in California stretching over the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada – home to Yosemite Valley, a seven square mile designated as a World Heritage site in 1984.
Yosemite National Park is a truly breathtaking, beautiful place, with stunning views of spectacular granite cliffs, cascading waterfalls and clear streams – somewhere that really shouldn’t be missed!
Also in the west is Lake Powell, the second largest man made reservoir in the United States located in Utah and Arizona. Created by the flooding of Glen Canyon, Lake Powell is a storage facility for the Upper Basin states of the Colorado River Compact, and a popular destination among tourists.
East USA Fly Drive
New York is an absolute definite must see. Nicknamed the Big Apple, New York is the largest city in the United States and one of the major centres for trade and commerce.
Made up of five boroughs – the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan and Staten Island, New York is home to over 8 million people.
A fly drive holiday to New York will allow you to see some fantastic sites, such as the Statue of Liberty, Wall Street, the Empire State Building and Ellis Island, not forgetting Central Park.
Head up to the Bronx to Yankee Stadium and experience a ‘ball game’ or enjoy the Broadway theatre district in Manhattan.
No visit to New York would be complete without a trip to Time Square – the ‘Crossroads of the World, a place that has achieved status of an iconic world landmark.
At the northern tip of New York on the border with Canada you will find the Niagra Falls, a group of waterfalls situated on the Niagra River – a truly breathtaking site.
Boston Massachusetts is a city in north east USA, known for its beautiful autumnal colours and culture, the city really is a place to behold.
Boston is a hive of history and is the very place in which the American Revolution begun, the Boston Massacre took place and the Boston Tea Party.
Venture 5 hours north and you’re in Maine, the northernmost point of New England, well known for its rocky coastline and some of the best seafood – notorious for its lobster and clams.
South USA Fly Drive
The southern states are also a great place to visit, and New Orleans is another great destination. Known as the Big Easy, New Orleans is the birthplace of jazz, r&b and was a major contributor to rock and roll.
Famous for it’s fantastic food with distinctive signature dishes such as creole, crawfish, jumbalaya and gumbo.
No visit to the south would be complete without a trip to Florida, the Sunshine State and home to the city of Miami. Miami has much to offer, Little Havana and South Beach are two must see places and Key West should not be passed by.
Orlando is another great city in Florida, a city home to some fantastic theme parks and nature trails and of course Walt Disney World Resort at Lake Buena Vista.
Thursday, 10 January 2008
Thursday, 3 January 2008
Kenya Holidays on Hold
Those due to embark on or looking to plan a beach and safari holiday in Kenya should do so with caution as violence escalates in the East African country after trouble broke out following a recent government election.
Protest in the capital and surrounding cities have led to more than 300 deaths in the area, with reports of women and children being burnt alive, and countless other shot dead by armed riot police patrolling the country in armoured vehicles.
Kenya is a popular tourism destination in Africa, offering tourists the opportunity to see the big five on safari, white sandy beaches with turquoise waters as well as deep sea fishing and diving.
Concerns have arisen as to the effects the current violence will have long term on tourism in the country as the stability of the country comes into question.
Would a recount of the election slips quell the protest and subsequent violence that has arisen as a result of the supposed fixed results?
Protest in the capital and surrounding cities have led to more than 300 deaths in the area, with reports of women and children being burnt alive, and countless other shot dead by armed riot police patrolling the country in armoured vehicles.
Kenya is a popular tourism destination in Africa, offering tourists the opportunity to see the big five on safari, white sandy beaches with turquoise waters as well as deep sea fishing and diving.
Concerns have arisen as to the effects the current violence will have long term on tourism in the country as the stability of the country comes into question.
Would a recount of the election slips quell the protest and subsequent violence that has arisen as a result of the supposed fixed results?
Thursday, 6 December 2007
Christmas Dinner in the Sun
Christmas can be stressful times, having the in-laws over, having to cook a lavish Christmas dinner, provide drinks for everyone, the stress of the shopping queues and that’s even before you have fought around the shelves to find what you are looking for.
We have a solution: an all-inclusive Caribbean Christmas holiday, away from the moaning relatives, the screaming kids and the late night shopping hell.
Almond Resorts offer fantastic luxury all-inclusive holidays in Barbados and St. Lucia at some fantastic locations, offering you escapism this Christmas at resorts such as the Almond Morgan Bay in St. Lucia and the Almond Beach Club & Spa in Barbados.
Christmas dinner could be fried plantain and barbecued shrimp, enjoyed on the beach with the waves lapping the shore, avoiding the repeat films and tiresome Christmas speech, settling down with some fine local rum enjoyed with the locals.
We have a solution: an all-inclusive Caribbean Christmas holiday, away from the moaning relatives, the screaming kids and the late night shopping hell.
Almond Resorts offer fantastic luxury all-inclusive holidays in Barbados and St. Lucia at some fantastic locations, offering you escapism this Christmas at resorts such as the Almond Morgan Bay in St. Lucia and the Almond Beach Club & Spa in Barbados.
Christmas dinner could be fried plantain and barbecued shrimp, enjoyed on the beach with the waves lapping the shore, avoiding the repeat films and tiresome Christmas speech, settling down with some fine local rum enjoyed with the locals.
Tuesday, 27 November 2007
Going Skiing? Go Prepared
Statistics for ski holidays shows that one in seven holiday makers will face some kind of injury. These injuries can vary greatly, and can be very nasty from a sprained wrist and twisted knee to an open fracture of you lower limbs.
Those embarking on a skiing holiday for the first time should really make sure they are prepared for what is in store for them as these holidays can be very demanding physically. It is estimated that last year, through injuries, winter sports holiday makers lost out on £4.5 in unused ski passes.
It is important to make sure you are in shape ready for the holiday, so your body can keep up with the demands of the slopes.
It is worthwhile to take some lessons on a dry ski slope on home soil first, so you can get to grips with the technique and will have more time drifting down the slopes at break neck speeds.
Those venturing out to the mountains should also always ensure they have appropriate ski insurance. Be warned that a regular travel insurance policy will be unlikely to cover you for skiing accidents; you will instead need to seek winter sports cover.
Those looking to be even more adventurous and head off piste or try their hand at something like heli skiing will need to check whether this is covered in their policy by checking the terms.
Those embarking on a skiing holiday for the first time should really make sure they are prepared for what is in store for them as these holidays can be very demanding physically. It is estimated that last year, through injuries, winter sports holiday makers lost out on £4.5 in unused ski passes.
It is important to make sure you are in shape ready for the holiday, so your body can keep up with the demands of the slopes.
It is worthwhile to take some lessons on a dry ski slope on home soil first, so you can get to grips with the technique and will have more time drifting down the slopes at break neck speeds.
Those venturing out to the mountains should also always ensure they have appropriate ski insurance. Be warned that a regular travel insurance policy will be unlikely to cover you for skiing accidents; you will instead need to seek winter sports cover.
Those looking to be even more adventurous and head off piste or try their hand at something like heli skiing will need to check whether this is covered in their policy by checking the terms.
Tuesday, 9 October 2007
Pilot Your Own African Safari
Hanks Aero Adventures are a flight operator with a difference – they provide light aircraft to those with a pilots license for you to then plan your own safari holiday in Africa, and then fly the plane across the African bush yourselves!
This allows complete freedom to fly across the African savannah, taking the route you want to and incorporating all of the sights you specifically want to see, and with the choices seemingly endless, this ability could produce an adventurous safari holiday that you will never forget.
This allows complete freedom to fly across the African savannah, taking the route you want to and incorporating all of the sights you specifically want to see, and with the choices seemingly endless, this ability could produce an adventurous safari holiday that you will never forget.
Thursday, 13 September 2007
Kenyan Travel on the Rise
Those planning a holiday to Kenya this year are far from alone. A report on Business Daily Africa describes how Kenya is on course to achieve it’s goal of becoming one of the top 10 long haul destinations.
A report from Last Minute dot com shows bookings on holidays to Kenya have increased dramatically in the past months. Kenya is now said to be on a par with popular long haul destinations such as Thailand and the Maldives.
It’s sudden popularity growth has been attributed to the introduction of high quality holiday packages which have recently been introduced. A report in 2006 by Kuoni showed that Kenya had moved up to the fourth position, overtaking Dubai. The Maldives and Thailand held first and second, with Egypt taking third position.
Tanzania is also growing rapidly in popularity as a long haul destination, with Egypt expected to drop right down in 2007.
Kenya is also an incredibly popular place for weddings abroad. It is said to be the fifth most popular destination for couples to tie the knot, and is expected to rise to fourth next year.
A report from Last Minute dot com shows bookings on holidays to Kenya have increased dramatically in the past months. Kenya is now said to be on a par with popular long haul destinations such as Thailand and the Maldives.
It’s sudden popularity growth has been attributed to the introduction of high quality holiday packages which have recently been introduced. A report in 2006 by Kuoni showed that Kenya had moved up to the fourth position, overtaking Dubai. The Maldives and Thailand held first and second, with Egypt taking third position.
Tanzania is also growing rapidly in popularity as a long haul destination, with Egypt expected to drop right down in 2007.
Kenya is also an incredibly popular place for weddings abroad. It is said to be the fifth most popular destination for couples to tie the knot, and is expected to rise to fourth next year.
Safe Travel In South Africa
Like any big city, South Africa has its share of scammers. To remain safe, it is just a case of awareness. Preparing yourself for what to expect will arm you with the knowledge you need to firstly recognise a scam, and secondly to fend off these scammers.
In South Africa, porters at the airports try to swamp new visitors by offering to carry their luggage and guide them through the airport, expecting money at the end of it. They can be difficult to fend off, and will often just walk with a hand on your luggage, expecting to be paid at the end of it.
The best way to avoid this is to carry your luggage on your back, and to not wheel it around the airport by trolley. If you do end up tipping a porter, it is said that around 7 Rand will be sufficient.
Mini-bus taxi’s are considered as unsafe methods of transport. There have been reports of numerous assaults and stabbings by the taxi drivers for very trivial things, such as asking for the taxi’s music to be turned down.
A holiday to South Africa can also bring about amazing experiences, and it would be very misleading to just comment on the bad. Noordhoek Beach was recently voted as one of the best three beaches in the Western Cape, and is relatively un-crowded. It features brilliant white sand, be warned however that the water is freezing and can be incredibly rough – great if you are a surfer.
Don’t forget the beautiful array of wildlife and the fine wines South Africa has to offer – it really is a fantastic place to visit. Like any place, it is important to read up on the dangers of any area, so that you can make informed decisions on how to remain safe once you arrive at your destination.
In South Africa, porters at the airports try to swamp new visitors by offering to carry their luggage and guide them through the airport, expecting money at the end of it. They can be difficult to fend off, and will often just walk with a hand on your luggage, expecting to be paid at the end of it.
The best way to avoid this is to carry your luggage on your back, and to not wheel it around the airport by trolley. If you do end up tipping a porter, it is said that around 7 Rand will be sufficient.
Mini-bus taxi’s are considered as unsafe methods of transport. There have been reports of numerous assaults and stabbings by the taxi drivers for very trivial things, such as asking for the taxi’s music to be turned down.
A holiday to South Africa can also bring about amazing experiences, and it would be very misleading to just comment on the bad. Noordhoek Beach was recently voted as one of the best three beaches in the Western Cape, and is relatively un-crowded. It features brilliant white sand, be warned however that the water is freezing and can be incredibly rough – great if you are a surfer.
Don’t forget the beautiful array of wildlife and the fine wines South Africa has to offer – it really is a fantastic place to visit. Like any place, it is important to read up on the dangers of any area, so that you can make informed decisions on how to remain safe once you arrive at your destination.
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