Universal Studios Escape

Universal Studios Escape is a must-see in Orlando

Universal Studios Escape in Orlando Florida is making a strong effort to compete with Disney World, and they are off to a good start. With the recent opening of Universal's new theme park called Islands of Adventure, Universal Studios Escape now has two full-sized theme parks and a City Walk area, to compete with Disney's four theme parks, and Downtown Disney area. Universal also opened its luxurious Portofino Bay Hotel, the first of several new on-property hotels scheduled to open in the next few years. Universal's continued expansions are ensuring its status as a must-see attraction in the Orlando area.


Universal Studios Escape is a resort complex with two theme parks, a Citiwalk shopping, dining and entertainment area and three hotels. The two theme parks are the original Universal Studios Florida and the new Islands of Adventure. Universal Studios Florida is a movie theme park containing rides and attractions based on movies and television shows, as well as some behind the scenes looks at movie and television making techniques. The park is similar in nature to Disney's MGM studios.

Islands of Adventure is the newest high-tech amusement park

Islands of Adventure is a new fantasy theme park, similar in layout to Disney's Magic Kingdom, but with some notable differences. The entire park is filled with completely new high-tech rides, attractions, restaurants and shops. It is super clean, very functional and filled with the latest technology. The park is divided into several themed areas including Marvel Super Hero Island and Jurassic Park. Two of the areas, Toon Lagoon and Seuss Landing, are particularly suited for younger visitors.

The Amazing Adventures of Spiderman ride is possibly the most modern high-tech ride in world. A moving vehicle combined with state-of-the-art 3D holographic technology transports the rider into a visual reality comic book adventure. It is well worth experiencing. There are also several state-of-the-art roller coasters, and plenty of water rides to cool you off. Put this all this together and you get, arguably, the best theme park in Orlando today.

Citiwalk offers entertainment, dining and shopping

In addition to the two theme parks, Universal's new Citiwalk contains restaurants, nightclubs, specialty shops and a state-of-the-art movie theatre. Most of the restaurants are based on American pop culture like Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville, the NASCAR café and the world's largest Hard Rock Cafe. For fine dining, try popular television chef Emeril Lagasse's restaurant, aptly named Emeril's Restaurant Orlando. The nightclubs are also themed like Pat O'Brien's Orlando, an exact replica of the famous New Orleans bar which was the birthplace of dueling pianos. The specialty shops include names like Fossil, Tabasco Country Store and naturally, the Universal Studios Store. The Universal Cineplex is a twenty-screen movie theatre featuring state-of-the-art sound and picture, and comfortable high-backed tilting chairs. There is no admission charge to Citiwalk, but many of the nightclubs charge a cover charge. You can purchase All-club passes with or without a movie admission.

Universal offers some great hotel accommodations

Universal Studios Escape provides some great accommodations as well as some great entertainment. Its new top-of-the-line Portofino Bay Hotel looks like a resort town on the Italian Riviera and provides the peak of luxury. Some rooms even include butler service. A more modestly priced Hard Rock Hotel will open in January of 2001. A tropical paradise themed hotel called Royal Pacific Resort is scheduled to open in 2002.

All of these hotels will be located in the Universal Escape Resort with easy access to the parks. Guests at Universal hotels enjoy a number of benefits including early theme park admission on select days and front-of-the-line access until 10:00AM for some of the more popular rides. Other benefits include room-charging privileges throughout the resort and package deliveries to your room.

Navigation at Universal Studios Escape is simple

One of the nicest things about Universal Studios Escape is its convenient layout. Two huge garages provide convenient parking for the two theme parks and the Citiwalk area. From the garages, visitors enter the Citiwalk area with easy access to the two theme parks, and all hotels. Having all the parking in one location with the Citiwalk area as a hub, makes getting around very simple and straightforward.

Written by: Gerry Leco

Read More

Florida

Florida is a Tropical Peninsula

Florida, the "Sunshine State", is located on a large peninsula at the southern extreme of the eastern coast of the United States. It is just over 1000 miles (1.650 km) south of New York City. This flat sandy spit of land is approximately 100 miles (165 km) wide by 400 miles (660 km) long. It has nearly 400 miles (660 km) of eastern shoreline with sandy beaches on the Atlantic Ocean and and over 600 miles (1.000 km) of sandy beaches bordering the Gulf of Mexico on its western side. It is blessed with a very hospitable semi-tropical climate that offers hot rainy summers, mild winters and near ideal spring and fall temperatures. It is, however, subject to the threat of tropical storms and hurricanes during the late summer and fall.


The regions of Florida

Florida can be divided into several distinct geographical regions with differing features. These are the Eastern Coast of Florida, the Western Coast, Central Florida, the Panhandle and the Southern Tip with the Keys. Each region offers some unique features to attract visitors.

The Eastern Coast of Florida has some very nice beaches with moderately good surf on the Atlantic Ocean. Most of the beaches, especially those near Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Daytona and Jacksonville, tend do be commercialized for tourism. They offer plenty of high rise hotels, restaurants, tourist attractions and entertainment venues that cater to the beach loving tourists. The beaches near Saint Augustine and Melborne are a bit less commercial and tend to attract more family vacationers and local tourists.

The Western Coast of Florida is very different than the Atlantic Coast. The beaches on the Gulf of Mexico tend to be shallower, with less surf and with warmer waters. They are great for families with small children. The soft sands of the wide beaches extend far out into the sea, and one can wade hundreds of meters from shore without the water becoming very deep. While Clearwater caters to tourism, most of the other areas along the Gulf coast are far less commercialized. They tend to feature condominiums and rental cottages rather than high-rise hotels. During the summer months, the coastline is notorious for its daily thunderstorm activity with intense lightning. It is also famous for its beautiful sunsets.

Central Florida draws the most tourists

Central Florida is the most popular destination for tourists from all over the USA and from many other parts of the world. This is the home of Disney World, the largest amusement park on earth. Located just south of Orlando in central Florida, Disney World is surrounded by many other family-oriented amusements such as Universal Studios, Sea World and other attractions too numerous to mention. Combined, they make up the largest family amusement area on our planet. Central Florida is also known for its agricultural lands that produce oranges, citrus fruits, sugar cane, vegetables and beef.

The southern tip of Florida mostly consists of tropical jungle and swamplands. Everglades National Park covers nearly the entire tip of the peninsula southward from Miami and Naples. It contains a vast ocean of wet grasslands punctuated by islands of tropical forest and stretches of open waters. This vast wetland is infested with hordes of insects, wild birds, alligators, snakes and other wildlife.

A one hundred mile long (160 km) archipeligo of islands known as the Florida Keys stretches southwestward from the tip of the penninsula into the Gulf of Mexico. A 90 mile (150 km) long series of bridges and causeways connects these islands down to the town of Key West on its southern most tip. The only North American tropical reef lies just a few miles off shore. It is a veritable paradise for scuba divers and fisherman.

The Florida Panhandle is the narrow strip of land that extends westward from the top of the penninsula. It is bounded on the north by the state of Alabama and on the south by its Gulf Coast beaches. This is the least commercialized and least tourist oriented part of Florida. It has beautiful shallow white sand beaches with warm waters but few tourist oriented features. This part of Florida draws many permanent or seasonal residents and offers more condominiums and rental cottages than hotels. Panama City is the lone tourist oriented city on the panhandle, and is famous for its "Spring Break" festivities every March.

A retirement home for many Americans

Florida is a favorite retirement location for many senior citizens of the US. Many older folks move to Florida to enjoy the warm climate and to take advantage of all of the year-round recreational opportunities. Some of them maintain summer homes in the northern states near their children and grandchildren, but annually migrate to Florida for the winter months. The Florida natives call them "the Snow Birds".

A favorite Winter Vacation spot

Florida is the favorite winter vacation retreat for millions of Americans from the frigid northern states and Canadian provinces. It is also a popular vacation destination for foreign visitors. In the summer months, many families with children on school holidays brave the tropical heat of Florida to visit the Disney World entertainment complex. Early Spring is a good time to visit this semi-tropical land as the temperatures are usually warm but not oppressively hot. Experienced visitors tend to avoid Florida during the late summer and fall when the possibility of tropical storms and hurricanes are more likely to dampen any vacation.

Florida attractions

The most popular attraction in Florida is the huge variety of family entertainment activities centered around Disney World near Orlando. This is the number one vacation destination in the USA for families. The beautiful sandy beaches and the warm waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico are the second most popular attraction. Golf, tennis, sports fishing and other outdoor activities are also very popular especially during the winter months when they are not available in northern climates.

Miami is a vibrant city along the southern Atlantic Coast with a distinctly Latin American atmoshere. Its "Little Havana" neighborhood and its many Hispanic residents create an enclave of South American and Carribean culture in the USA. The Kennedy Space Center visitors complex and the Cape Canaveral Space Launch facility are located along the East Coast not far from Orlando. They are popular destinations for tourists. A bit further north, the Historic city of Saint Augustine is one of the oldest colonies in North America.

Daytona Beach on the north Atlantic Coast and Panama City on the coast along the panhandle are the most popular destinations for the "Spring Break" festivities every March. Hundreds of thousands of university students on break from their studies descend on these two cities for several weeks of round-the-clock, non-stop parties on the beaches. If you are looking for wild parties, these are the places to go. If you are on a quiet family vacation, these are places to avoid during March.

Written by: Mike Leco

Read More

Hawaii

The Hawaiian Islands are in the middle of the Pacific Ocean

The Hawaiian Islands are located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean approximately 2,400 miles (4.000 km) southwest of California. You can go there only by airplane or boat. There are six major islands: Oahu, Maui, The Big Island of Hawaii, Kauai, Molokai and Lanai. Each island is unique and may feature live volcanoes, lava flows, tropical rain forests, beautiful beaches, sugar cane fields, pineapple plantations or historic sites. These tropical paradises attract about 7 million tourists each year, but most visitors only see one or two of the islands.


You can easily travel between the islands by using one of the two domestic airlines: Aloha or Hawaiian. Flights are frequent and inexpensive. When landing at each airport, be sure to look for the racks of free coupon magazines. Each island has its own coupon book with lots of discounts.

Hawaii has a wonderful climate

The climate is consistent and enjoyable. Temperatures seldom fall below 65 degrees or rise above 80 throughout the year. A pleasant breeze frequently cools the day. Don't forget your sunscreen, or sunblock! In such pleasant conditions, you can easily forget that the tropical sun causes severe sunburn to anyone not accustomed to it. Rainfall varies by location but can be an almost daily occurrence in the rain forests.

The Aloha Spirit is prevalent everywhere

Visitors are warmly welcomed and quickly enveloped by the "Aloha" spirit of Hawaii. Life is very informal on the islands and the dress is casual. Take lots of casual warm weather clothing and don't forget your swimwear! Men visiting the islands usually buy and wear "Aloha shirts" made of bright colorful fabrics. Women usually buy colorful muumuus (loose fitting comfortable dresses that can be worn anywhere in Hawaii).

The different islands offer a variety of features

There are numerous recreational opportunities on the islands. You can swim, surf, scuba dive, snorkel, sail, fish, golf or just see the sights. The famous Hawaiian surf is among the biggest and best in the world. Remember these two rules when surfing in Hawaii: 1. Never turn your back on the ocean! 2. If the natives are not in the water, stay out! When picking which islands to visit, consider the type of activities you enjoy. Some islands provide lots of nightlife and lots of sports or recreational opportunities. Others offer spectacular scenery or quiet beaches and solitude.

Accommodations on the islands include plenty of hotels and motels in various price ranges. If you stay longer than a few days, there are also lots of condominiums and apartments for rent. Car rentals are readily available and are the best way to see all of the spectacular scenery on most of the islands. When visiting Oahu, long-term car rentals are not a good choice as parking is very limited in Honolulu. Tour busses and daily car rentals are much better options on Oahu.

Hawaii has a strict quarantine

Hawaii enforces a strict quarantine inspection upon arrival. You will not be allowed to take any fresh fruit, flowers, plants and certain meats into the state. Small sniffer dogs very efficiently search all luggage and passengers on arrival.

Written by: Joane

Read More

New York City

New York City is located on the eastern coast of the United States about 1000 miles north of Florida and 200 miles South of Boston. It is situated at the mouth of the Hudson River, and is divided into five districts called boroughs. Long Island stretches almost 100 miles to the east of New York City and the state of New Jersey lies just across the Hudson River to the west. The "Big Apple", as the city is often called, is the largest city in the US with over 7 million residents. It is filled with a diverse mixture of inhabitants including immigrants from many countries. Some of its many neighborhoods, such as Chinatown, Little Italy, and Spanish Harlem reflect the rich ethnic heritages of the resident's original homelands.


Manhattan borough, the business and commercial center of New York City, is situated on a large island in the middle of the Hudson River. Just south of it, across the main harbor, lies the borough of Staten Island, a large residential community. Across the East River branch of the Hudson, the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens are situated on the western tip of Long Island. The borough of Bronx is on the mainland to the north. New Jersey lies across the Hudson to the west.

Manhattan Island is the heart of New York City

Manhattan Island is about two miles wide and over 12 miles long. It contains most of the business, economic, entertainment and cultural sights of the city. A four-miles long by half-mile wide Central Park, located at the very center of the island, neatly divides the city into sectors. The southern part of the island is called "Downtown" and the section directly south of Central Park is called "mid-town". Everything from the middle of the park to the northern tip of the island is usually called "Uptown". The part of the island closest to Long Island is called the "East Side" and the part closer to the Hudson River is the "West Side". The two neighborhoods lying on either side of Central Park are called "Upper East Side" and "Upper West Side".

The numbered streets of Manhattan all run east-west beginning with First Street just above Greenwich Village, and extending all the way up to 218th Street at the far northern tip of Up-town. Avenues run north-south beginning with First Avenue on the East Side and extending to Twelfth Avenue along the Hudson River on the West Side. These numbered Avenues are interspersed with named Avenues such as Park Avenue, Lexington, Madison and Broadway. Broadway is a bit unusual as it starts out as a typical north-south avenue in the middle of the island downtown, but angles sharply to the west just below Central Park and continues on up the West Side to the top of the island.

Navigation in Manhattan is not difficult

Navigation in Manhattan is not difficult as long as you remember compass directions and use the proper terminology. Subways and Busses go "uptown" when heading north to the higher numbered streets and go "downtown" when heading south. They go to the "East Side" or the "West Side" when crossing the island. Building Numbers, especially on the avenues, often do not follow a logical pattern. When asking directions, always try to specify the nearest intersection of streets and avenues. For example: "On Broadway, near 42nd Street" or "near Third and fifty fourth".

Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island are bedroom communities

Brooklyn is across the East River on the southwestern tip of Long Island. It is accessible via bridge or tunnel. This borough is nearly four times as large as Manhattan Island and has a population of about four million. It is one of the primary bedroom communities for New York City. Unlike Manhattan, there are few tall buildings in Brooklyn. Typically, the tree-lined streets are filled with brownstone townhouses and small apartment buildings. There are very few hotels in Brooklyn, but those few offer a quiet alternative to the noisy hectic streets of Manhattan. Coney Island Beach and Amusement park are located along the southern shore and John F. Kennedy Airport lies just east of Brooklyn.

Queens is north of Brooklyn on the tip of Long Island. It is also a residential community with many high-rise apartment complexes. LaGuardia airport, Shea Stadium and the crumbling ruins of the old World's Fair are located there. There are a few hotels near the airport. The Bronx is another mainly residential community almost due north of Manhattan on the mainland. The large and impressive Bronx Zoo is located there.

Staten Island is due south of Manhattan across the main harbor basin. It is most easily reached via the Staten Island ferry from Battery Park on the southern tip of Manhattan. The ferry ride offers spectacular views of the New York skyline and the Statue of Liberty and is absolutely free for all pedestrians. Staten Island has a small town atmosphere with many single-family homes.

Three airports serve New York City

There are three major airports near New York City. John F Kennedy (JFK) airport is on Long Island about 12 miles east of Manhattan. LaGuardia is in Queens about 6 miles from downtown and Newark airport is across the Hudson river in New Jersey about 12 miles to the southwest of the city. Ready access is available from each airport via taxi or bus. Public transportation is excellent in New York City. Busses, subway trains and taxis provide the most convenient means of transportation. New York City is one of the few cities in the USA with adequate train service. Commuter trains cover most of the nearby communities and neighboring states. Longer distance passenger trains travel the east coast corridor and go to many major cities across the country.

New York is the "city that never sleeps"

New York is one of the most exciting cities in the world. It is often called "the city that never sleeps." In fact, Times Square at midnight seems more vibrant and active than most other cities at noon. New York has many tourist attractions like the Statue of Liberty, the United Nations headquarters, the Empire State building and over 300 museums. It is renown for its wide variety of entertainments including the world famous Broadway theaters. There are over 30,000 restaurants in New York City plus countless bars and clubs. If you like big cities and lots of excitement, the Big Apple is a great place to visit.

Written by: Mike Leco

Read More

Walt Disney World , Florida

Disney World is a huge resort complex

Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida is not just a theme park, but a huge resort complex covering 47 square miles. The resort contains four separate theme parks, three water parks and 99 holes of golf on several different courses. Miles of outdoor recreation are available including hiking, biking, boating and swimming. It has three separate areas containing shopping, dining and entertainment facilities as well as a fourth area with nightclubs. A fairly new addition to the resort is the state of the art sports complex where Disney hosts a wide variety of sporting events. Finally, there are about 18 Disney owned and operated hotels and several non-Disney hotels in the resort. All this combined with many other attractions in the Orlando and central Florida area can be quite overwhelming.


No other Disney Park equals Disney World in Florida

No other Disney resort comes close to the size and diversity of Disney World Florida. If you have previously visited one of the other Disney resorts such as Disneyland California, Disneyland Paris or the new Disneyland Tokyo, you should still visit Disney World in Orlando, Florida. All other Disney resorts consist of a single theme park and are quite small compared to the massive resort complex in Florida. Each of the other parks are no larger than the Magic Kingdom theme park in Disney World, which is only one small part of the complex. Remember, that only the resort in Orlando, Florida is referred to as Disney World or Walt Disney World. The other parks are usually called Disneyland. The size and diversity of the Disney World resort ensures that it will probably remain the number one vacation destination in the world for years to come.

The main attractions at the resort are divided into four theme-parks

Magic Kingdom, the first theme park built at the resort, has rides, shows and attractions divided among seven fantasy areas. This is the place to find all your favorite Disney characters and attractions.

Epcot, the second theme park built at the resort, is divided into two areas: Future World and World Showcase. The attractions in Future World are based on modern and futuristic advances in communication, transportation, energy, agriculture and much more. World Showcase allows you to explore culture, cuisine, shopping and entertainment from many countries including Canada, UK, France, Japan, Morocco, US, Italy, Germany, China, Norway and Mexico.

The Disney-MGM Studios offers behind-the-scenes looks at the making of movies and popular TV shows and provides live original shows. There are also a number of thrilling rides or attractions based on blockbuster movies, which provide exciting stunts and amazing special effects.

Animal Kingdom is the newest and largest theme park to open in the Disney World resort. This 500-acre park is divided into three areas: The Real, The Mythical and The Extinct. The Real area features live animals in exotic landscapes and provides a safari-like experience. In The Mythical area, guests come face-to-face with magical and make believe creatures. In the Extinct Area, dinosaurs come to life.

The Water Parks are a great way to cool off

The four theme parks are the heart of Disney World, but there are many other attractions including three full-sized water parks. Typhoon Lagoon is a tropically landscaped 56-acre water park based around a huge wave pool that covers 2.5 acres and holds 2.75 million gallons of water. At certain times the pool is even used for surfing. Blizzard Beach is Disney's newest and largest water park and the most interesting. It is made to look like a snow-covered ski-resort and offers the most slides and the most thrilling attractions. River Country, the first water park built at Disney World, is actually a roped-off section of Bay Lake and is designed to give the feeling of "an old swimming hole." It is the most tame and relaxing. Spending a day at one of the Disney World water parks can be a pleasant break from the theme parks as well as a great way to cool off from the hot Florida sun.

There are many recreational activities

Disney World offers lots of outdoor recreation. It has five challenging 18-hole golf courses as well as a 9-hole beginner's course and a 36-hole miniature golf course for family fun. If you prefer tennis there are many courts throughout the resort including Disney's Contemporary Resort Racquet Club. Water sports are plentiful including water-skiing, parasailing, fishing and many types of boat rental. For the extremely adventurous, there is the Richard Petty driving experience where you can drive an actual Nascar racing car. The car has about 600 hp and can attain speeds of up to 160 mph.

Disney World even offers cruises and education

Disney World has still more vacation options such as the Disney Institute and the new Disney Cruise Line. The Disney Institute offers many great hands-on classes designed for fun and education. It is located in the Disney World resort so you are still close to all the other attractions as well. The Disney cruise line combines a Disney World resort vacation with a Caribbean cruise. You stay at the resort in Florida for several days, then board a Disney cruise ship and sail to Disney's own private-island resort in the Bahamas.

Work at Disney and earn college credits

Disney World has a special college program for young adults. Students can earn college credits while working and living in the Disney World resort. This program is extremely popular with young adults from around the world. Several links are included for anyone wanting more information.

As you can see, there is plenty to do at Walt Disney World, and there are many other attractions in the Orlando area and the rest of Florida. Some planning is required to get the most out of your Disney vacation but don't worry, the planning can be half the fun.

For more tips and information about Disney World, visit our Disney Tips page.

Written by: Gerry Leco

Read More

Washington DC

Washington DC is located near the middle of the eastern coast of the USA. It is 230 miles south of New York City, less than an hour drive to Baltimore and slightly more than two hours to Philadelphia. The city is near the vast Chesepeake Bay about 100 miles inland from the Atlantic Ocean. The surrounding landscape is nearly flat with some gently rolling hills and shallow valleys. Summers can get quite warm with temperatures often exceeding 80 degrees F during June through August. Winters can be quite cold with temperatures intermittently falling below freezing from December through March. They get a modest amount of precipitation evenly distributed throughout the year. Occasional Atlantic storms can bring deluges or can dump large amounts of snow on the area in the winter.


Washington DC is more than a city but not quite a state. It is a "district" created by the Congress of the United States in 1790 as a place to meet and transact their affairs of government. It was originally a ten-mile, square of land straddling the Potomac River between Virginia and Maryland. They called it the District of Columbia and named the new capital city, to be constructed within, Washington in honor of our founding father and first president.

A city planned by a French engineer

Washington DC is one of the few cities in the USA that was built according to a plan. In 1790, President Washington hired a French engineer from Lafayette's army named Pierre L'Enfant to design a glorious capital city similar to Paris. The complete name of the city is Washington, District of Columbia. Most people call it Washington DC or just DC.

Today Washington DC is a city of variety and contrast. The central area is beautifully designed with broad avenues lined with magnificent buildings and monuments set in spacious green parks. The surrounding neighborhoods vary from modern commercial districts and upscale residential neighborhoods to ethnic enclaves and working class neighborhoods. The city houses a myriad of workers, diplomats, politicians and immigrants from many lands. It is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the US with numerous ethnic neighborhoods and restaurants featuring a wide variety of exotic cuisines. Suburban communities in nearby Virginia and Maryland house an army of government workers and businesses supporting the operation of our huge federal bureaucracy.

Most of it is free

There is a lot to see in Washington DC and most of it is free. You can tour the US Capitol Building, the White House, the Supreme Court and many federal government agencies like the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (where they print the money) and the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) (where they shoot a machine gun). You can visit the Washington Memorial, the Lincoln, Jefferson and Roosevelt Memorials. You can see Arlington National Cemetery, the Vietnam memorial, the Korean War memorial and the Battle of Iwo Jima memorial. You can even spend several days touring the many parts of the Smithsonian Institute, one of the largest and finest collection of museums in the world. None of it will cost anything!

Washington DC offers many historical and educational attractions, a variety of cultural and entertainment activities, plenty of multi-ethnic dining experiences and an array of shopping opportunities. Outside of the city, there are many civil war battlefields within a short drive; and President Washington's home at Mount Vernon is just south of DC. The port city of Baltimore and Anapolis, home of the US Naval Acadamy, are within an hour drive. Even Piladelphia and New York City are within a half-day drive.

Three major airports

DC is served by three major airports. Washington National Airport, now called Reagan International, is just across the Potomac river from the district. It offers many domestic flights to cities throughout the USA. Dulles Airport is located in suburban Virginia 30 miles west of the city. It offers many international flights and a variety of domestic connections. Baltimore Washington International Airport (BWI) is about 30 miles north of DC near the outskirts of Baltimore. It offers both domestic and international travel options.

The DC Metro, or subway system is quite good. It offers easy access from Washington International Airport and from numerous "Park and Ride" locations around the city to most of the major attractions. On weekdays, the parking situation in the city can be quite difficult. I recommend parking outside of the downtown area and using the Metro. On weekends and holidays when the government beaurocrats desert their offices, downtown parking is readily available.

Navigating the baffling street system

Driving in DC can be frustrating. The beltway system around the city is quite good, but access to and from the central area is not so easy. All major roads often become congested during the busy hours of early morning and late afternoon.

The well-planned street system is an easy to comprehend grid that is often difficult to maneuver. The north-south streets are numbered and the east-west streets are lettered beginning at the Capitol and extending in both direction. You can have two 3rd streets (one to the east of the Capitol and one to the west), and you can have two "D" streets (one to the north of the capitol and one to the south). That is why the city is divided into quadrants. The intersections of 7th street and "C street" can occur in the NE, SE, NW and SW sectors. You must specify the quadrant to find an address. There is a series of broad avenues that radiate out from the Capitol like the spokes of a wheel. They produce some complex angular intersections that can baffle even the most experienced drivers.

Visit our Washington D.C. Attractions for information about the best sights in and around DC!

Written by: Mike Leco

Read More

Your Guide to an Amazing Hawaiian Vacation

Hawaii: beautiful beaches, perfect weather, amazing surf, exquisite cuisine, and one of the world's favorite places to visit on a much-needed vacation. Here's a quick tour of Hawaii with some highlights, hotel information and the key to an amazing Hawaii vacation. Here's the secret: find an inexpensive package that will get you a ticket to the island, a hotel, and a beach tour or restaurant all in one. Tons of places in Hawaii advertise their business by packaging with a hotel or airline. Below you'll find some good picks.


First of all, for the golfing enthusiast, you can find the Unlimited Golfing Package from Prince Resorts Hawaii. On three Hawaiian islands, you can visit any one of 5 breathtakingly beautiful golf courses with a total of 99 holes and golf the day away. With a breakfast buffet included, you can't go wrong with the Prince Resorts Hawaii. Next, you don't want to leave Hawaii without catching one of those famous waves. Pick Ohana Hotels, and you can “Catch a wave in Hawaii” over a five night luxurious stay.

One of the most famous things about a vacation in Hawaii is the delicious Hawaiian cuisine. For example, Tiki's Grill and Bar is one of those restaurants. With the look and feel of a '50s or '60s Hawaiian tiki bar, this restaurant is a great place to go for delicious food and a breathtaking view of the beach. For more information on Hawaii's delicious restaurants and restaurant reviews where visitors talk about their favorite Hawaiian cuisine, visit www.myhonoluluhi.us.

For those more interested in Hawaii's history and archaeology, visit Bishop Museum, home to more that two million Hawaiian artifacts. The museum now has a location at Hilton Hawaii Village Beach Resort, so it is easy to visit and view the amazing history of the beautiful state of Hawaii. With exhibits dating back to 400 AD and leading up to Hawaii's modern history, the museum includes weapons, shark teeth, historic sufboards, and feather lei capes worn by Hawaiian nobility. This is truly a great tourist site for some unique Hawaiian history.

For more information on Hawaii, including restaurants, movie times, camping, shopping, and hotels, visit My Hawaii.

About The Author

Jeff OReilly is an author of several books on many topics and a leader in seo and website production.

Read More

Colorado Dude Ranch Vacations, USA

by: Eric Morris

The usual summertime activities can be enjoyed at many Colorado dude ranches, including swimming, hiking, and fishing. During the winter months, guests may find that sledding, sleigh rides, ice-skating, snowmobiling and cross-county skiing are available. The season shouldn’t be a deterrent in choosing to vacation at a Colorado dude ranch, because there’s always something to do.


Dude ranches in Colorado offer numerous trails for riding or hiking. You can ride your horse over mountain trails, alongside rivers, or through open meadows. Your level of experience and comfort will determine your rides, and friendly staff are there to assist you at every turn.

There are also a number of adventures to be found off of the horse. River-rafting, mountain biking, and hunting trips are available at many ranches. On working ranches in Colorado, guests can help with the cattle alongside the cowboys and cowgirls at work.

Lodging can range from log cabins, to simple rooms, to full suites. Fireplaces are provided in many rooms and cabins, perfect for cold winter nights. Log furniture is commonly found, and the rustic charm is often paired with modern day luxuries.

Whether looking for a romantic retreat, bringing the family on vacation, or traveling as a solo cowboy, a Rocky Mountain adventure awaits you at any one of Colorado’s many dude ranches. Dude Ranch Info provides informatino on dude ranches in Colorado, Texas, Montana, Wyoming, Arizona, and California, and information on dude ranch jobs. Dude Ranch Info is the sister site of Mountain Vacations Web.

Read More