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July 15, 2013 by author

The Lovely Parks and Gardens of Washington

Washington is the seat of the national government and the political leaders of the United States of America. It is the place where laws and regulations that ensure the well-being of every American citizen are created and passed.

As the nation’s capital, it is home to various monuments and memorials of past president and leaders and heroes that helped to shape the country into what it is now. However, aside from these historic landmarks and government structures, there are certain places in the state where you can find relief from the serious political atmosphere of the place.

The Tidal Basin

Located adjacent to the Potomac River is a man-made inlet known as the Tidal Basin. It was constructed in the late 1800s in order to help drain the waters of the Washington Channel whenever the high tide hits. Aside from that, the beautiful park also serves as a wonderful retreat for those looking for a wonderful and relaxing time away from the hectic schedules of daily life. There are walking paths that take you around the place while you view the calm waters and smell the fresh scent of grass and trees. You can also rent boats if you tire from watching from the benches under cherry blossom trees.

Speaking of cherry trees, they are one of the main reasons why people keep coming back to the place, especially in the months of March and April when they are in full bloom, which is also when the National Cherry Blossom Festival is celebrated.

US National Arboretum

The arboretum is another famous outdoorsy place in Washington to visit. It is wide at over 440 acres, filled with various species of plants, trees, shrubs and so much more. One such collection is the more than 50 varieties of cherry blossom trees which are simply stunning when in bloom. Another famous thing in the arboretum is the bonsai exhibition, with finely trained bonsai trees arranged and displayed to evoke the natural beauty of the object. There are also seasonal exhibitions in the place from various planters, farmers, and plant lovers from the locality, various areas of the country and even foreign nationals and organizations. There are paved nature trails and hiking trails, which takes you on a walk under the shade of towering trees and in a field of blooming flowers.

Rock Creek Park

Another park that offers a great and relaxing escape from the busy city life is Rock Creek Park. The park has various things to offer. There are of course the usual walking trails where you can enjoy walking in the forest like surroundings, with creeks flowing and butterflies fluttering. Aside from these things though there are other attractions in the park like old civil war forts and cemeteries. You can go picnicking and biking and roller-blading in the park, and there are even horses available for those who would like to go for a ride.

Washington is filled with so many great things to see and explore. The natural beauty of the place as enhanced by the gardens and parks are some of the reasons why many people come, visit, and stay in the place.

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Photo by thomwatson on Flickr

January 16, 2013 by Arlene

Unusual Ways to Tour The Australian Outback

Whilst the country of Australia is undoubtedly one of the most remarkable places on the planet to visit, there are ways of crossing this enormously vast region that will make your adventure just that little bit more special. What is more, these unusual means of transport don’t have to break the bank. Simply jump on a camel or a horse or become a temporary postie.

By Camel

Let’s face it; you haven’t really seen the great Australian outback unless you have done so on the back of a camel. In fact, the camel was once the main form of transport for many a traveller and in a place as dry as Australia, the camel remains the ideal way to travel. Evoke the memory of the region’s early pioneers throughout the Red Centre. Take the tour of the Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park, which includes the fascinating Anangu Waai Uluru tour, which is both owned and operated by genuine Native Australians.

The tours can range from short trips through the farmland to full on tours around the stunning Uluru. Enjoy the sights of the sunrise and sunset behind this majestic mountain and enjoy a cool glass of ice-cold beer or sparkling wine at the end of the day. Snacks and meals will also be widely available.

By Horse

Alternatively, you could always swap your camel for a horse. Indeed, there can be nothing better and more evocative of this region’s past than saddling up and enjoying the great Australian outback with a specially designed cattle drive tour. The tour tends to last around five days and will offer the opportunity to assist with driving up to 500 cattle throughout the Oodnandatta Tracks of Southern Australia.

Furthermore, everything you could need will be provided for you as you go from portaloos to hot showers and from ice-cold drinks to some fantastic end of the day dining. However, whilst this tour is undoubtedly the best fun you will ever have, they are only staged once every two or three years, so check out the websites for more information.

If you can’t wait for the cattle drive, try the alternative Sunsets, Saddles and Shiraz tours. Stretching for three glorious nights this tour takes in the spectacular sights of the Flinders Ranges and offers the best in romance and fine dining and of course, there is always the fine Australian Shiraz.

By mail

However, we have saved what has to be the most unusual way of touring the Australian Outback and that is doing so literally by mail. Because driving across this vast country is perhaps the best way to experience this beautiful land, it can be extremely costly, that is unless you sign up as a postie for the day and take part in the Outback Mail Run Tour.

You will get to travel in a quality 4WD vehicle over 600km of lone, unsealed roads that will take you from Coober Pedy to Oodnadatta and then on towards William Creek. In the meantime you will get the pleasure of helping the local mailman deliver the post, offering the perfect opportunity to meet the local populations.

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This article was contributed by Tony, who himself runs various travel websites, and is currently writing on behalf of Cheap Flights Australia.

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Photo by georgiesharp on Flickr.

January 8, 2013 by Arlene

5 New York City Cheap Thrills

New York City is the “city that never sleeps,” which is thrilling on its own. While there are so many things to do and places to do at every time of day, many of them require a pretty good vacation budget. The expenses of seeing all the attractions, paying for the transportation and spending the night in NYC hotels all add up, but it’s all well worth seeing and doing at least once! The best way to do NYC is to sprinkle in a few of the inexpensive things to do that still give you the full NYC experience so that you can save your money for all the best NYC attractions like heading to the Empire State Building or Top of the Rock, eating in nice restaurants and shopping on Fifth Avenue.

Walk the Brooklyn Bridge

New York City is home to many world-famous attractions. The Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, and Times Square draw tourists from every country fluent in any given language, but another of the famous NYC icons that draws the public on their journey to the Big Apple is the Brooklyn Bridge. 5,989 feet long and 30 years old, the Brooklyn Bridge connects Brooklyn to Manhattan without having to hop on a boat atop the East River and makes for beautiful views of the two NYC boroughs and the water at any given time of day or night. The bridge is open to pedestrians, or for a speedier venture across, rent a bike for a few hours.

See a Broadway Show

Discounted Broadway Tickets are the best way to go about seeing one of NYC’s best selling shows on your trip. While there are TKT Booths that sell buy one, get one tickets for many shows, it’s important to be aware of scalpers or running the chance of your show selling out before you get to the front of the line. The best way to get your Broadway tickets for the show of your choosing at a time that works for you is by buying ahead of time online. You can usually even find tickets the day of the show if it’s a last minute decision, and can find great deals, without having to wait in line!

Ride the Ferry

Take the Staten Island Ferry for a free and fun form of transportation that runs 24 hours a day. It’s the only way to get over to Staten Island from Manhattan without a car, and provides beautiful, scenic views of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island and of the buildings and skyline of Lower Manhattan. This is one of the best cheap things to do in NYC for travelers of all ages. Kids love the boat ride just as much (if not more) as the adults who love the view, and since it’s free, everyone can afford to ride!

Head to Central Park

Visit Central Park for another free and iconic NYC attraction. The park is a top attraction at all times throughout the year, so no matter what the season is, you can surely have a great experience in Central Park. In the summer, don’t miss the chance to attend one of the free concerts that bands and musicians put on all season long. In the winter, there’s ice skating at Wollman Rink of Lasker Rink. If you’re here with the family, definitely head to the Central Park Zoo for a little while. Year round, Central Park is a destination for jogging, biking or strolling along the pathways, through the gardens and around the Lake. Definitely bring your camera not matter what you come to do.

Visit a Museum

New York City is home to world renowned museums and art collections, so heading to a museum is as educational and enriching as it is entertaining. Many of the museums are “pay as you wish” all the time like the Metropolitan Museum of Art, American Museum of Natural History, Museum of the City of New York and the Brooklyn Museum. The Guggenheim Museum allows you to pay what you wish for a few hours every Saturday. Even better, The Museum of Modern Art is free every Friday for a few hours. If you’re not visiting on one of the free museum days, there are still tons of NYC coupons that can get you access to one or several of the top attractions in New York City for less, to use at your convenience any time of the trip!

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This article was written by Lizz Riggs, editor of NYCTourist.com.

October 1, 2012 by Arlene

The 6 Best Countries For White Water Rafting

White water rafting is one of the prime adventure sports around the world. The thrill of navigating through rough white water is immense and adventure enthusiasts always search for new rivers to conquer. It has always been considered a very dangerous sport but the advancements in safety equipment have reduced the risk significantly.

There are various rivers around the world which are famous for their turbulent white waters. Some of those locations are presented below…

1. Río Upano, Ecuador

This river is present in South America and it has white water zones that range from Grade 2 to Grade 4. The wide variety of water currents that one faces in this river makes it suitable for all kinds of White water rafters. There are narrow canyons and huge waves that challenge the skills and courage of most rafters. The grade 4 region in the Namangosa Gorge is a must try for professional rafters and adventure travel enthusiasts.

2. Colorado River, USA

It is one of the primary rivers in USA which is used for white water rafting. The popular sites for white water rafting are situated in the higher altitudes of Rocky Mountains. National Geographic has named West water canyon region as “The West’s Best Short Whitewater Trip” as the journey is very thrilling and one will surely experience an adrenaline rush. There are various organizations and adventure travel clubs who organize rafting trips here.

3. Futaleufú River, Chile

Futaleufú is an untouched river that runs through Chile. It has natural surroundings and the raw power of the river water makes white water rafting a memorable experience. This river gets most of its water from the lakes present in Los Alerces National Park. The river water has a blue tint as the water comes from a glacier. The rapid water currents and dangerous rocks make it a paradise for adventure hunters.

4. North Johnstone River, Australia

It is the northern branch of the Johnstone River situated in Australia. This river is suitable for very good rafters as it provides Grade 5 and Grade 6 white waters which are mainly filled with large drops, big waves and fast currents. The river goes through the rain forests of Palmerston National Park .The rafting organizations use helicopter to carry people to the starting point of the course.

5. Sun Kosi River, Nepal

The Himalayas are home to various adventure sports and White Water rafting is not an exception. “The river of gold” can be visited any time of the year except the rainy season (June-August). It is grade 3- grade 5 white water and hence provides lot of excitement. Along with rafting one can also have the pleasure of admiring the beauty of the mountains.

6. Zambezi River, Zimbabwe

The Zambezi is the 4th largest river in Africa and it has fabulous white water zones like the Batoka Gorge. Other amazing rapids that are present here are Stairway to Heaven, Gulliver’s Travels and the Midnight Diner. There are 4 say and 7 day rafting packages. Multi day packages make it a complete experience as people have to spend the night on riverbanks and work as a team.