Archive for » January, 2010 «

The Entrance – Pelican Capital of Australia
Tuesday, January 19th, 2010 / Travel Blogger

Pelicans at The EntranceThe Entrance is one of the Central Coast region’s top destinations. This small town has been attracting visitors from Sydney since the first guest house opened here way back in 1885. Now, even though there are many places for visitors to stay, The Entrance has retained its small town feel, making this a great family destination.

Why is it called The Entrance?
I’ve always been curious to know why it’s called The Entrance, as for me this name makes me think of a shopping mall or a theme park! In fact there’s no hidden meaning with this town, it’s named so because it sits along the channel that forms the entrance to the Tuggerah Lakes; just one of the popular places you can visit when staying in The Entrance.

Family Fun in The Entrance!
The Entrance attracts visitors young and old, whether families, or couples, with its laid back lifestyle and family-friendly attractions. This is a destination where you can do as much or as little as you please – relax on the beaches, go swimming or surfing, try out many other water sports, go boating and fishing; there’s something here for everyone.

The Entrance Pelican Feeding
One thing you shouldn’t miss is The Entrance’s daily pelican feeding. This is a real hit with children, but whether you’re here with friends or family this event is highly recommended, and what better place to see it than the Pelican Capital of Australia! Every day of the year at 3.30pm a large group of pelicans are fed right in front of a large group of tourists! The feeders provide you with a running commentary and you get the chance to find out many interesting facts about these large sea birds. It’s very exciting!

Tourist Attractions in The Entrance
As well as the pelican feeding The Entrance has many other things to do. The Entrance Heritage Walk is a great introduction to the history and culture of this small town, and it takes about 2 hours to complete. If you’re here with kids make sure you visit Vera’s Water Garden where they can cool off and splash about, and then visit one of the town’s parks. Memorial Park is a popular one with families as it’s set on the shores of Lake Tuggerah and always has plenty to do.

The Entrance Mardi Gras
The first week in December is a popular time to visit The Entrance as this is Mardi Gras week! This fun-filled festival is great for the whole family with many different things going on, so you may want to coincide your visit. Accommodation in The Entrance gets booked up early for the Mardi Gras, so make sure you reserve your place to stay as early as possible!

The Entrance Related Resources
The Entrance Accommodation
Central Coast Attractions
Australian Reptile Park

Category: New South Wales  Tags: , , ,  Leave a Comment
Budget Travel In New York City – 5 Tips On New York Travel
Thursday, January 14th, 2010 / Travel Blogger

New York from Staten Island FerryThe New York area is one of the largest in the world. With approximately 8 million people being in New York City alone and with less than 900 thousand kilometers squared radius, it is the densest city in all of North America! After a long anticipated debut we finally made our way to the Big Apple, and we were so excited we could barely contain ourselves. Going there has been a childhood dream for us ever since we decided to be world travelers and see everything this globe has to offer!

The people, lights, Times Square, Rockefeller, everything seems so exciting! This poised a big question though… What to do? What New York City event to pick? Well, I want to share with you some tips on New York travel that won’t break the bank! These are all an incredible experience and I would suggest doing them all if you can. Keep in mind there is no shortage of things to do in New York City. You’ll never get the chance to do everything, so do what you can, relax and enjoy what this wonderful city has to offer!

1) New York City comedy clubs: This is maybe the best thing I can suggest if you enjoy any sort of comedy at all. It works out really well because they have salesperson on the streets in the middle of Times Square, you don’t even have to look or try to find tickets. They will literally just flag you down and give you a very good price (We only paid $20 for both of us) on the condition that you buy 2 beverages at the club. The nice thing about their special, for those who don’t drink alcohol you can buy any drink of choice. Soft drinks and water were accepted as well so it really can appeal to everyone who enjoys this sort of thing and the cost is very low for the reward. It really was such a great time, the comedians were fantastic and we were very glad we decided to go. Highly Recommended!

2) Times Square: I realize this must be on everyone’s “top of the list” but it really is an amazing sight to see. This experience is something that you will never forget. The lights, people, banners, you don’t even realize how crazy it is until you are there. I must have seen Times Square on television a million times but honestly it really just is not the same. Spend a little time there to take in the atmosphere. There are plenty of very nice places to eat but the prices on their novelty restaurants (Hard Rock Café, ESPN Zone, etc) are very expensive. If you want something for a very good price, check out the side streets and look for the local pubs. I would really recommend going at night to see it lit up. A note to those who absolutely hate crowds of people, if you go to Times Square don’t go on a Friday or Saturday evening when it is the most busiest. We went on both a Saturday and Sunday night… the Saturday was chaos, and the Sunday was very nice and calm in comparison :) All the same, I really enjoyed both of them in different ways.

3) Rockefeller Center: We had the pleasure of going during December month, so we got to experience the Christmas tree and Skating Rink all done up at Rockefeller center. This is also home of the famous NBC Studios (Costs $18.50 for the tour).

4) Central Park: One of the most famous parks in the world and the most visited park in the United States, Central Park is a wonderful place to go on a nice day. Central Park is actually bigger than 2 of the world’s smallest nations; Monaco and Vatican City.

5) See a local New York City Event: Take in a ball game, a musical, or something at the theatre! New York really has everything to offer no matter what your hobbies or interests are! You can usually find something very reasonably priced as well, depending on what you are after.

I realize as most people do, New York tends to be quite expensive but with these travel ideas you can go out and have a really great time and still not spend too much money. There is plenty to see, even just going to see the landmarks and places like Rockefeller, Central Park and Times Square are well worthwhile! I really enjoyed my time just walking the streets and taking in the atmosphere.

If you are planning to stay in Manhattan for a week or so, I would really suggest picking up a copy of “The New York Pass”, spend your week and do everything you can. These passes are actually very reasonably priced (Starting at $55.00 daily and only $139.99 for a 7 day period, per person) and you get FREE access to literally almost EVERYTHING you could want in New York City. Here is just a glimpse of what is here. Keep in mind these are only about a quarter of the free things you get, not even including the other discounted items and special offers.

* Central Park Zoo
* CNN Studio Tour
* Empire State Building
* Madison Square Garden All Access Tour
* NBC Studio Tour
* New York Aquarium
* New York Botanical Garden
* Radio City Music Hall Stage Door Tour
* Rockefeller Center Tour
* Statue of Liberty / Ellis Island Ferry
* Suede Lounge (VIP nightclub access)
* The United Nations Tour

Well worth the money if you plan to do a lot of sightseeing, Museums and Tours.

Here’s a link to the page directly for those who are interested:

http://www.tropicalbeachdestinations.com/NewYorkPass.php

I absolutely loved my time in New York! I found it really offers you so much, no matter what month, or what day, there is always something for you to do that is interesting. How can you not like that about a city? It has everything and it is a great place to visit. I hope these tips on New York travel were helpful! I know I can’t wait for our next adventure, here in the Big Apple!

Until next time,
Best Wishes and Happy Travels!

About the Author: At Tropical Beach Destinations we share the secrets of Specialty Travel that your travel agents wish they knew.
Learn exclusive travel tips, ideas and ways to save money from REAL experienced world travelers!

Source:  http://www.isnare.com/?aid=119509&ca=Travel

Category: USA  Tags: , , ,  One Comment
Pokolbin for world class vineyards
Wednesday, January 06th, 2010 / Travel Blogger

Right in the heart of the Hunter Valley, Pokolbin is well-known for world class vineyards that have been producing great wines for more than one hundred years. Though areas like the Margaret River Valley are more popular nowadays, this is actually the original wine producing area of Australia. It’s also home to a wide array of tourist activities.

Pokolbin - yuppiesonfoot - flickr.com

Pokolbin - yuppiesonfoot - flickr.com

Pokolbin has been producing wonderful wines since the middle of the 19th century. In 1970, the area underwent a resurgence as Australia was declared a major wine producer. The Lower Hunter Valley was at the forefront of this push, and there has been continual growth here ever since.

Like other wine producing areas, Pokolbin has existed at the whims of the vineyards that surround it. From the first plantings more than 150 years ago until the 1970’s, development was slow. As Australian winemaking became more and more respectable, however, the wine improved, and today is some of the finest in the world.

Only two hours from Sydney, Pokolbin is a great destination for quiet day away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Visit our accommodation website for a fantastic range of Hunter Valley Accommodation.

Category: New South Wales  Tags: , , ,  Leave a Comment
For a fun beach holiday head for Byron Bay
Sunday, January 03rd, 2010 / Travel Blogger

For a fun beach holiday, you don’t have many better choices than Byron Bay. With beautiful white sand beaches, fantastic surfing, and gorgeous rainforests minutes outside of town, Byron is famous for its laid back lifestyle. You’ll love the relaxing accommodations here, complete with luxury spas. If your hotel doesn’t have the treatment you’re looking for, you’re sure to find it at one of the healing centers in town.

PetarS - flickr.com

PetarS - flickr.com

Of course, not everyone is here to relax. There’s also a ton of adventure sports, as well as a variety of exciting shopping and entertainment.  Byron is also known as a center for backpackers looking for the ultimate party. Perhaps more than any other town on the East Coast, Byron epitomizes the backpacking culture of great nightlife, sun and surf, and opportunity for exciting adventure. Byron Bay has some of the best hostels in the world, and it seems like new backpacker lodges seem to sprout up everyday.

One of the main reasons Byron is so popular is the quality of its beaches. The surfing is out of this world, but you’ll also find great scuba diving at Julian Rocks, complete with nurse sharks and loggerhead turtles. You’ll also have a shot at sopping whales as they migrate past during the summer.

Category: New South Wales  Tags: ,  One Comment
Enjoying the Best of London’s Museum Scene
Friday, January 01st, 2010 / Travel Blogger

As the capital of the United Kingdom and the largest city in Europe, London is home to a number of world famous museums. On a trip to London, it’s easy to spend several days exploring all the different museums and galleries, but it can be difficult knowing which of the London museums are worthy of your time.

Chris Devers - flickr.com

Chris Devers - flickr.com

The British Museum located in Great Russell Street in London is one of the largest and most interesting of all London’s museums, making it an easy choice for one of the holiday’s outings. Founded by an act of Parliament in 1753, the British Museum originally housed just the collections of Sir Hans Sloane but has grown to include collections that draw from all over the world and from right across history.

A trip to the British Museum offers a chance to not only see a history of Britain but also a chance to see famous artefacts from around the world including the Rosetta stone, sculptures from the Parthenon and the Portland Vase.

Another museum which always features highly on the ‘must-see list’ is the Natural History Museum of London. The museum is home to hundreds if not thousands of exciting exhibitions which focus on dinosaurs, insects and human biology.

Other popular exhibitions include those on ecology, the blue whale and a must if visiting with children – the earthquake experience.

If history doesn’t appeal, art is something which can be found throughout London. Of all the galleries across London, probably the most famous is the Tate Modern Gallery.

Situated in Bankside, the Tate Modern is Britain’s national museum of modern and contemporary art housing not just pieces from the British Isles but a number of collections from around the world as well.

Art lovers will be pleased to be given the opportunity to see works from artists such as Dali, Picasso, Warhol and Matisse – among others – for free.

Another slightly more modern art gallery which is extremely popular in London is the Madame Tussaud’s gallery. Set up by famous wax sculptor Marie Tussaud, the museum is home to a collection of wax sculptures of many prominent celebrities including several sports stars, musicians and world leaders.

Those visiting Madame Tussauds can expect to see models of sporting legends such as David Beckham, Sven-Göran Eriksson and Wayne Rooney as well as musicians like Amy Winehouse, Beyonce and Britney Spears.

Finding the time to see everything is usually the biggest challenge on a trip to London. Thankfully most hotels in London or tourist information centres will be able to advice you on the amount of time you will need to allocate for each attraction, enabling you to plan your trip and allocate time for London’s best attractions.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Enjoying the Best of London’s Museum Scene

Category: UK  Tags: , , , ,  Leave a Comment