Tampa’s Native Americans and Seminole War soldiers, to Cuban cigar-rollers and today’s multi-national population, this great city’s cultural makeup has benefited from its rich diversity. Tampa’s stage fare spans a rainbow bridge of complexities from high-brow opera to festive street fairs.

Beginning in 1885, when Don Vicente Martinez Ybor, a Cuban cigar factory owner fled the political unrest of Cuba to establish his cigar empire Tampa; Ybor’s factories prospered and attracted Cubans, Spanish, Italians, Germans and Jewish immigrants to come work in his factories and later open up their own businesses such as a Tampa hotel or restaurant.

Ybor City was declared a National Historic Landmark District of Tampa in 1991 and is now considered very lively Latin Quarter attracting visitors to eat, drink and dance at the best nightclubs in all of Tampa.

Tampa Bay has a restaurant and hotel scene as diverse as the cultures that settled here, and that’s all due to Ybor’s vision to start his own business and raise his family. Ybor City is known for many things, but when visiting make sure to stop off at The Columbia restaurant , which is the oldest restaurant in the State of Florida and is the largest Spanish-Cuban restaurant in the world.

Atlanta offers several restaurants for tourists who are on a budget. Listed below are only a handful of restaurant that are within walking distance to several budget hotels and a few high-end hotels Atlanta offers its visitors.

First on our list is ‘The Varsity’, also known by locals as the Big V. It is located in downtown Atlanta and is right next to the 1996 Olympic Torch. The Varsity actually has 6 locations, but this one at 61 N. Avenue, which is conveniently located to many downtown attractions and hotels. The Varsity is a greasy food joint serving the classic hamburgers, fries, hot dogs and Frozen Orange. It has kept its doors open since the 1920s, and is the world’s largest drive-in, there are still carhops who will deliver your food if you opt to not get out of your car.

For great inexpensive Mexican foods with a Cuban twist, check out La Fonda Latina. Located next to Fellini’s, this is the best inexpensive pizza joint. La Fonda’s fish tacos and a huge margarita to wash it down with is a favorite amongst the locals. Fellini’s, is much like Starbucks: one on every corner, serves pizza by the slice with any topping you can think of. Both places are located at the 2800 block of Peachtree.

‘Six Feet Under’ , is not as morbid as it sounds; this seafood restaurant is located next to the Oakland Cemetery and serves the best seafood dishes in town. You can order shrimp to oysters to mussels to clams to crabs at a very reasonable price. It’s best to sit up on the restaurants roof to get a great view of the serene surroundings while you eat the freshest seafood cuisine.

Miami is a city that tries not to sleep, but when it does, it sleeps very deeply, and with a kind of reckless abandon. That’s one of the great things about urban environments with so much night life, and so much beach. The ones who understand the time and place in Miami like to do everything with gusto, and that includes staying out late, and sleeping in. So it attracts a great party crowd, coming to enjoy a Miami hotel and get in touch with the latest and greatest in world music.

It also attracts a fair number of people with more erudite pursuits, and academics, intellectuals, and artists who are interested in Cuban culture can find a wealth of information here. There are the neighborhoods, and the local culture, but one resource that should not be missed is the Digital collection at the University of Miami Library .

Their Cuban Heritage Collection is extensive, and contains some esoteric works along with some of the more well-known researchable areas of Cuban culture. One can find a wonderful archive on the work of Lydia Cabrera , whose anthropological work on Lucumi culture is extensive, and still unparalleled. Likewise, one can also find some of the archival materials of the great, itinerant artist Leandro Soto , whose paintings and performances have moved both physically and metaphorically through multiple worlds.

Honolulu is famous for a lot of things. When it comes to a prime spot for the world’s travelers, its claims to fame are the lovely beaches, the exciting night life in the rich urban center, and the luxury Honolulu hotels that keep people coming back year after year. It’s also got quite a claim to fame for the music. The mix of popular sounds from the mainland with the traditional Hawaiian beats made for hundreds of radio hits, and lots of famous local musicians.

There are, in fact, a number of rather famous vocalists and musicians that have made a name for themselves on the islands. There are also those who have started life here, and gone on to perform in other places. One of these is Gabe Baltazar , a jazz saxophonist of Filipino descent, whose life has been a series of accomplishments in the music world.

His greatest claim to fame, surely, was his work with Stan Kenton . Their work was some of the most innovative in the history of jazz. Looking at a list of their concerts, and the trajectories of their travels, is a vital who’s who of the jazz world. They played with everybody, and knew everybody, and changed the face of the music forever.

Global health insurance is becoming much more popular and well known across the world, and the benefits it provides are perfect for many families and individuals. There are greater options for health insurance coverage and policy structures now than there have been ever before and as the options diversify so do individual preferences. In addition, the changing nature of insurance and policy coverage is also causing a new attention toward specific needs. The idea that one insurance fits all is no longer the accepted norm and policies can be built to accommodate your lifestyle and health needs.

One of the great aspects of global health coverage is that it can be easily structured to provide insurance for people on extended trips. If you are going to be out of the country for a few months or even up to a year it is essential that you have proper health insurance while you’re away especially if your family will be with you. In addition, international citizenship is becoming more common and having homes in different countries and/or frequently traveling across international lines is a regular lifestyle for many people. For these, as well as other individuals, a global insurance policy is an extreme benefit and is probably the most logical and even simple choice. This can apply to students who are studying abroad , extended trips or frequent travelers for any reason. There are various policies available and an qualified consultant will make sure that your coverage is tailored for your specific plans and needs.

One of the best sights in the city of Hong Kong is from the harbour. Day or night the harbour gives a spectacular view of the city sky line and the mountain range behind it. It is also a very peaceful journey with only the boat’s motor noise and the wind blowing in your ear. Catch a ride from the Royal Plaza to the pier and see what you can find.  

There are plenty of historical boat rides that you can catch. One of them being the Star Ferry . Your hong kong hotel should have the information on this ferry service. It is a 1920 style double-decker ferry boat that will take you on the journey through the harbour. These ferry boats used to be the main passenger boats that floated between Hong Kong and Kowloon Peninsula.

This is a relaxing adventure were you can get a nice hot cup of coffee and a snack, sit along the edge of the railing and take in the fresh air. It makes its stops in Wan Chal, Tsim Sha Tsul, Hung Hom and Central so you can get off at these piers and explore the area.

Where can one find the oldest and biggest public art museum in Australia? For that, you’ll have to travel to Melbourne, one of the oldest cities in the country, founded in 1835, only 47 years after the European settlement arrived. Originally, the settlement was called “Bearbrass,” but renamed in 1837 to honor William Lamb, who was the 2nd Viscount Melbourne. In 1847, Queen Victoria officially declared Melbourne a city. By 1851, the city had become the capital for the newly established colony of Victoria. In 1861, ten years later, the National Gallery of Victoria was founded.

Located in St. Kilda Road, in the Melbourne Arts Precinct of Southbank, the museum was established just after the Victorian gold rush. Citizens made wealthy by the rush, including industrialist Alfred Felton, made it possible for the National Gallery to buy collections of works from overseas of old and modern masters. Today, the museum holds over 63,000 works of art.

Exhibitions include European Masters from the Stadel Museum, drawing from a collection in the 19th and 20th century, which is available until October 10th, 2010, and 100 Years of Fashion, available until January 23rd, 2011.

Art lovers who come to Australia and stay in a room of their choice at a Melbourne hotel will find among the permanent displays three collections, comprising International, Australian, and Indigenous art work and artifacts.

If the spirit of fun and adventure seem particularly high in Portland, it’s not something that’s gone unnoticed to all the citizens of the city. Particularly not the artists, who always seem to have an extra eye into the other dimensions. In cities that have a rather mundane character, artists have a way of looking into the hearts of the people to reveal an active imagination. But in cities like this one, where the top Portland hotels are booked based on excitement with the getaway, artists have an extra challenge.

It’s not so easy to find the spirit of playfulness in a city that seems to be ruled by it, and one of the best strategies for an artist is to simply represent it. That’s what Valerie Otani seems to be up to with her Folly Bollards. These are public art sculptures that serve as post caps throughout the city. They’re each based on a trickster figure from different cultural traditions around the world. Magwi Koyemsi from the Hopi, Anansi from West Africa, and Italy’s Harlequin are all found in Portland. It’s kind of an ingenious statement. It not only reflects the city’s multicultural population, but also gives a sacred space to the great clown figures that run through all populations through time.

Miami is a sizzling city that never seems to sleep. Whether you’re visiting to see the usual sights with your family or a group of friends or you’re in town for just a fun time on your own. August is an interesting time in Miami; it is the final burst of desperate energy before summer ends and everyone goes back home or school starts. This month is bound to be filled with events through out the city so be sure to ask at the desks of the best Miami hotels to see what events your concierge recommends you should not miss out on.

Be sure to register your pet reptile for the annual Snake Day festivities. This year held August 15, 2010. Each Summer, reptile fans and enthusiasts visit the Miami Science Museum for two very special events, Lizard Day and Snake Day. Where proud owners show off their cherished pet reptiles and enter in a competition with the chance to take home prizes for the largest, best of show, most unusual, people’s pick and junior herpetologist. In addition to the pet reptile show, visitors to this event will get a chance to sample insect cuisine prepared by professional chefs and if the tame pets of the competition didn’t enthrall you there’s the exciting live display and show of some of the most venomous snakes in the world which is sure to get your attention. If you’d like to enter your favorite scaled friend in the competitions online registration this year begin August first and lasts until 5:00 PM on the 14th of August.

Also, if you’re looking for a chance to see some television personalities while helping a good cause there is this year is the 22nd Annual Festival of Chefs . This year, all proceeds from Festival of Chefs will go to Easter Seals South Florida Culinary Arts and Special Education to provide culinary training to teens and young adults with autism and other disabilities. While you’re helping them you get the added bonus of experiencing amazing music, fine wines, and sampling many of South Florida’s most acclaimed chefs’ signature dishes as well as dishes from Easter Seals’ Culinary Art Students. This is an event that is sure to leave you feeling good and full of good food.

It does not matter if you are a first time visitor, a seasoned veteran, or a resident; Las Vegas, Nevada has plenty to offer to all. It is the vacation and business destination for an average of about 30 million visitors a year and home to well over 500,000 people. A person has to wonder if any of the 800 residents that lived there on March 16th 1911, the day Las Vegas was incorporated, knew what their sleepy little village would be like 100 years later.

Today Las Vegas is the destination of millions of people coming from all over the world. In 2009 McCarran International Airport handled over 20 million arriving passengers. Having 124,270 hotel rooms it is a good thing they didn’t all show up at once. The vacationing or business traveler has no need to worry about accommodations. Las Vegas offers everything from Vegas four star hotels to budget rooms. The visitor can to choose to stay at hotels like The Bellagio with its famous fountains and stunningly beautiful Fiori di Como chandelier hanging in its lobby or The MGM Grand with its many fine dining restaurants, quaint cafes and coffee shops. If your choice is to stay in a high end hotel your options are practically limitless. If your stay requires a smaller budget even the nicest hotels have budget friendly rooms, so there is no need to fret there are plenty of options for you as well.

Did someone say they wanted to get married? Have you considered Las Vegas? There are on average 120,000 marriages performed in Las Vegas every year causing the industry to be very competitive. Locations for the ceremony are in abundance and services are performed by everyone from the Marriage Commissioner of Las Vegas to Elvis impersonators in small wedding chapels. You can even get married in some of the local restaurants. If you know of a special place in Las Vegas and you want to be married there you probably can. If your desire is a themed wedding you’re in luck because anything goes. You can find ceremony styles ranging from Hawaiin to Star Trek and everything inbetween.

After a day by the cool pool in the hot sun with pina colada’s, dinner and a popular Vegas show, it is time to take on the night. Save some of that gambling money to hit some of the hottest night clubs in the world. All of the best Vegas hotels have a great night club in them and if you had a month you could hit most of them. Like many people, you may only have a couple of nights to a week to spend hitting all the hot spots so your going to have to do some research.  

The club LAX is a super dance club with two levels of dancing fools. They attract some of the hottest DJ’s because they have the best in sound and lighting and a good crowd. If your traveling with a group, check out the VIP packages and see if you can sit in the celebrity section. You never know who might show up. This club is well known across the country with its great Gothic style decor. It has a real lush and modern atmosphere and filled with a hot crowd.  

Check out the DJ spin off at Club Tao . This club has some really fun things going on. In the past they have had a giant pillow fight. They throw parties for celebrities or they bring in the hottest DJ’s and let them throw the party. This club is an Asian decor that is modern and sexy. The staff is beautiful and so are many of the people who hang out there.  

Get on your best club attire and head over to The Bank. The Bank is the essence of modern and sexy with all the trimmings. They have some great special events going on and top notch amenities and service.

Murfreesboro, Tennessee is home to the ‘Go USA Fun Park’ , located at 2270 Armory Drive. This is family fun at its best, with super-fast go carts, an 18-hole miniature golf course, a driving range to improve your golf swing, video arcade, and a batting cage; all in one place. Go USA Fun Park is a great place when you’re on a vacation and need a day to unwind or let the children run wild, plus you can have your child’s birthday party in one of the party rooms. If you’re staying at one of the hotels Murfreesboro offers its visitors, ask if they have coupons for the park.

The Go Kart track is almost a quarter-mile long, and they have 20 great Karts. There’s more than enough to race all of your friends and family. It costs only $6.50 a ride and kids ride free with adults. The miniature golf course just had new carpet installed and features 18-holes of very challenging putt-putt golf, plus the course is fully lit, so you can putt-putt into the night; tickets are $5.00 for 13 years and up – $4.00 for under 13 and $3 for additional rounds. The Batting Cages offer both Softball and Hardball, with slow, medium and very fast speeds; tickets are $1.00 for 16 balls.

Practice your swing at one of their 30 fully lit golf tees. Plus, if the weathers bad, Go USA is where you’ll find most golfers practicing their swing, because Go USA Fun Park offers covered, heated tees for those cold and rainy days; tickets are $7 per bucket, which is about 80 balls. The arcades room features all the latest in video games, bazooka ball and a large Redemption Game area, which offers fabulous prizes for the children.

This park is well worth the money and is so much fun you’ll hear your children ask if they can come back the next day. There’s something for everyone at Go USA Fun Park, the entire family will have a blast, and the kids will remember that their summer vacation was totally awesome.

There are many museums in Delhi some of them are more personal to the local people and traditions. One of the more famous people who spent time in Delhi is Mahatma Gandhi and there are a few ways to see some of the items and stories left behind by this interesting person. You can ask your concierge at one of your chosen Delhi hotels for a map to get to the Gandhi Smriti Museum and the Indira Gandi Memorial. Both locations have information and the story of his life as well as many books and cassettes of his teachings. This is a good local way of tapping into Gandhi’s life journey. Check out the National Gandhi Museum this museum is located close to were Mahatma Gandhi was cremated in January of 1948.  

A great place to learn about the local and countries history to check out the National Gallery of Modern Art . They have quite the worldly exhibit of paintings, sculpture and other art featuring artists from India and from all over the world. Some of the current exhibits include The Master’s Strokes which is the art of Rabindranath Tagore. His followers believe him to be quite the genius and this is a fantastic collection of the gifts he has give the world. Their international collections feature artists from Germany, Japan, Switzerland, America, France, Italy, Britain and many more. The collection is exquisite.  

One of the ways that this country grew quickly in the mid 1800s. This form of transportation  gave trading a big leap into success and the effects were spread out into the world turning trading ports into big cities. The National Rail Museum is the perfect place to see how the railroad effected India. The exhibit is rather extensive with more than a 100 life sized displays of train models as well as many other artifacts like records, photographs and documents. Go and see what boosted the economy of India into what it is today.

Tours are always best done when the person giving the tour not only knows a lot about the area, but also loves the area. This could be no more true than The Street Teacher who offers a number of tours that range from going all over the New York City, to just around a few select blocks. The teacher is always helpful, has a lot of knowledge about the streets and has a lot of fun showing off.

The original idea for this was a brilliant one. People like to take tours, and there are a lot of people who come into New York City without a lot of working knowledge of where things are or where they want to go first. Many of these people are coming in on their own buses anyway, so why take them off one bus to put them on another one. It is called a step on tour, and the guide instead of getting their own bus to show a group around will step onto the tour bus and give the tour from there.

Like any good idea this one got a little out of control and has blown up into a full blown business with options to do a lot more than that. They now do walking tours of various areas, as well as advertising that they will help you find the place your great grandparents lived, or just give you a tour while you are waiting for your flight out of there.

This isn’t the only tour that is out there. If you want something a little more alternative once you have settled into one of the luxury hotels New York City has to offer take a food tour, or take a tour at your own pace with a hop on hop off tour line that will take you all over the city and let you get off at any of the sites.

Montenegro is one of the gems of Eastern Europe. Since ancient times it has always existed under one name or another that translated to “Black Mountain”. Filled with stunning scenery and several nature reserves and natural history sites there are an endless number of things to see scattered throughout Montenegro. These combine to make Montenegro a wonderful spot to head whether you are wanting to go to Europe for camping and hiking or you want to learn first hand about Montenegro’s history . If you love ancient architecture you won’t be left out as there are monasteries and even the remains of ancient Roman cities nestled into picturesque views.

Podgorica , the capital city of Montenegro, is located about 9 miles north of Lake Skadar. Meaning “under the Gorica” or “under the little hill” in the Montenegrin. The city is built around five rivers that flow through the region and is the commerce center of the country. Podgorica is filled with cultural sites from museums of art and natural history to bustling shops and even religious monuments. there are even ruins and remnants of ancient cities only a few miles outside city limits. Odds are you won’t want to dedicate your first trip to Montenegro with just one city so it’s a good thing this is also a major transit hub with many connections to other cities.

Skadar Lake, also spelled Scadar or Scutari, is a popular vacation spot. Skadar is surrounded by many picturesque villages whose architecture has been preserved for centuries. Whether you decide to sped the night in one of these wonderful villages or prefer to stay at a hotel in Montenegro ’s equally lovely cities you’ll have a hard time peeling yourself away from this beautiful landscape. Swimming is a popular pastime since the warm waters of Skadar are ideal for it and other water sports and surrounded by beaches for those wanting to relax ans sunbathe though the only sand beach on the shore of Skadar lake is in Murice, near the Albania border. One of the most popular beaches on this lake is only available by sea, at the heart of the lake is a hidden beach called Pjesacac; frequented by cruises on the lake and if you get a good tour agent you may even be able to book a room near this beach.

Located just north of Podgorica, for those who like visiting ancient ruins and historical sites is Doclea . Founded in 1st century AD by the Romans and demolished about 620 AD by the Ostrogoths, the ruins of Doclea still lay scattered. Doclea was the Roman capital of the region and as such was actually quite a large city one can still find remainders of a triumphal arch, three temples, a city bathroom, and a monumental housing palace. There is even a pre-Roman church and the remains of two early Christian basilicas.

Summer is approaching and there’s no better way to cool off than going to Miami Beach, Florida. There are hundreds of Miami Beach Hotels just waiting to give you the best deals in town and the greatest accommodations. Many of the hotels are located in the Art-Deco Historic District. These vibrant, colorful buildings were built between the years of 1923 to 1943 and represent an era when Miami was heavily promoted as ‘the tropical playground’ for the rich and famous.

When you arrive to Miami Beach, the Art-Deco, besides South Beach, will capture your heart and imagination. Curvaceous, colorful designs of pastel stucco and glowing neon, will bring you back to a time when frivolity and playfulness mixed with futuristic looks of sleek streamlined designs, spires on top that look like old science fiction Buck Rogers space vessels, portholes, flaunted eyebrows and rounded corners were and still are the highlights and beauty of Miami Beach; where Turquoise, peach, and island sunsets are the colors on the palette and whimsy presides at every corner.

If you get a chance, take the Miami Beach Art-Deco walking tour; you’ll get to see the best Art-Deco structures and learn about their history, like the Post Office located on 13th Street and Washington. This structure was built in the ‘Strip Classic’ Art-Deco Design, also known as the Depression Moderne. Inside the Post Office you’ll get to see a famous WPA mural by Charles Hardman depicting Ponce de Leon’s invasion of Florida. Old City Hall, not to far from the Post Office, was destroyed by a hurricane back in 1926, but reconstructed in the Mediterranean Neo-Classical design. The new City Hall building is larger and located on Convention Center Drive, but it’s design is not as note-worthy as the Old City Hall. Too bad, Art-Deco fell out of favor in the post-war period, but at least there will always be plenty of these fabulously wonderful buildings in Miami Beach.

The charm of Positano, Italy, lying in tiers along the mountainside, is immediately apparent. With a choice of at least 32 places to spend the night , you’ll be able to soak in that charm at your leisure, with fantastic views of the town, beaches, and sea.

A short distance away, you’ll also find a series of islands, including the Isle of Capri. It’s a simple trip from Positano aboard a Capri Boat Tour to explore this island that rises out of the blue Mediterranean waters. You’ll discover here the Faraglioni rocks and the internationally known Blue Grotto (“La Grotta Azzurra”).

The Faraglioni rocks are three gigantic blocks which have managed to survive erosion by the sea and coastal landslides The rocks are known as Stella, Faraglione di Mezzo and Faraglione di Fuori, each rock stretching farther out into the sea than the one before it. The last rock is the home of a famous species of blue tinted lizard known as the Lacerta viridens faraglionensis, and this is the only spot in the world in which this lizard might be found. Evolution seems to have been at play when the lizards were separated from the mainland and adapted over time to create scales which mirrored the blue tones of both the sky and the sea.

The Blue Grotto was first described in 1826 but was used by the Romans well before that time, the evidence of which are antique statues found inside the Grotto. The place consists of a natural cavern with which sunlight pours in at one side, to illuminate the blue water. An ancient landing site has been discovered here, along with the Roman statues. The Blue Grotto can be reached via motorboat, and today tourists enter the cave by lying on the bottom of the boat as it’s rowed inside. Because of the tight enclosure of the Grotto, it’s inadvisable to visit during bad weather. For years, long before it became a destination spot, the Grotto, known to the locals as Grandola, was a place to avoid because it was supposed to be the home of witches and monsters. Apparently, the Romans before had no such problems.

Whether you decide to venture out to the Isle of Capri or stay in Positano and enjoy the view from your hotel, you should have an excellent time in this enchanting place.

Mexico City’s Historic Center is the most popular tourist attraction of this Megalopolis. The Historic Center is the roots of Mexico’s capital, it’s a plaza that occupies the original area with which the Aztecs aligned in accordance to the 4 cardinal points. Later, the Spanish retraced this core area in a checker board pattern, then it became an aristocratic metropolis and eventually has transformed into the microcosm of modernity that it is today.

Visitors will find the Historic Center to be a place of contradictions, a boisterous place, a lively place and a place that will stir-up a sense of history, intrigue and excitement. There are hundreds of Mexico City hotels within walking distance of the Historic Center, which gives a great opportunity to see up-close and personal the architecture of pink sandstone and red tezontle rock; to feel its rhythm, to walk under wrought-iron balconies; and to experience the Mexican culture and lifestyle. The Mexico Cathedral is a prominent tourist destination when at the Historic Center; its imposing and penetrating sun-bathed neoclassical, baroque facade can’t be missed and is a sight to behold, but make a note, the Cathedral is under constant restoration due to it being built on soft clay subsoil, excessive water exploitation, which is causing the structure to gradually sink and continuously move throughout the years.

There are 4 sectors or neighborhoods of the Historic Center: Santa Maria, San Sebastian, San Pablo and San Juan. These are the 4 Aztec cardinal points and are named after national heroes, saints, events and they all converge at the Zocalo , which is a massive concrete area with a giant flag, cafes and shops. There’s also an underground station at Zocalo plaza, where there is an excellent historical reproduction of the Square Artifacts that were unearthed from the ruins of a Mexican temple. The artifacts can be seen at the Templo Mayor’s museum, which is located adjacent to the station.

After checking out the Zocalo, take a walk to the east side of the plaza and stroll through the Palacio Nacional, which is a group of buildings used by the Viceroyalty. The interior has many patios, a stairway graced by murals done by Diego Rivera and beautiful corridors all representing Mexico’s colorful history.

The history that is left for each generation to learn and be expired from in Philadelphia has Benjamin Franklin’s stamp of genius all over it. The more one learns about the man, the scientist and the philosopher the more impressed one becomes. Through out the big city of Philadelphia, visitors can see so many areas where Franklin put his thoughts and ideas to work for the good of a new country. He really cared about the people who made America their home and wanted the best for all. He also had so many gifts to bring in the way of through is inventions and writting. He was quite the statesman and political negociator. Not far from the many Philadelphia hotels visitors will find his legacy stored in many places. What would he say about one of the oldest science museums in the United States if he were alive today. The Franklin Institute is such a great extention of what he started. It is really amazing what the generations have done with the inventions and legislation that he left behind. Take a walk in the newly revived Franklin Square. It is always interesting to walk were great men have walked. Maybe it will spark your creativity. Head over to Independence Hall  and see what was going on while Franklin was alive. See how he contributed to writing and signing of one of the most important documents of the world, the United States Declaration of Independence. He really helped make a bond with France that gave security to our independence and contribution to the great American document. His fellow statesman, Thomas Jefferson, was the writer of the document but Benjamin Franklin did sign it into power. While you spend time at Independence Hall you will get sucked into all the amazing history that is present. Enjoy your journey of walking in the foot steps of some of the greatest men who had ever lived. Let it bring more meaning to your life and what you make of it.

Pick a hotel, any hotel in Las Vegas and there will be something amazing to see, do and eat. The hotels are the major playground of the city and most people go to Vegas to play in the mainly adult playground. The minute one gets off the plane they notice the bing, bing, bing of the slot machines going as the coins hit the catcher during the jack pot win. This sound continues on for the whole stay. Even if there is a quick trip into a grocery store for something that wasn’t packed. Vegas is not just a gambling mecca. Vegas is also the home to many people with families. When one takes a trip off the strip and out into the rest of the area they will find many other things to see and do.

Step away from the craps table and out on a short road trip to the Red Rock Canyon . This is a chance to see some beautiful rock formations in the sandy desert. There are hiking trails for those who want to get a little burn in their legs and lungs. There is a museum there that shows how the Red Rock area was formed some millions of year ago. If one is not wanting to hike than there is a great drive that loops through the park that is a nice way to relax the mind and get one ready for a big win.

When it is time to work ones way back into the gaming arena hit downtown Freemont Street . Freemont Street is really great at night. There is a large canopy that covers a block or two of the street where the have a music and light show for all who are walking along to enjoy. There are lots of shops, entertainment and restaurants as well as some fabulous hotels with lots of games to hopefully win. If the kids are along for the trip they will really enjoy this street. In the winter, there is even an ice skating ring set up in the middle of the street for the young to speed around on.

When I think of performers that came from Minneapolis the first entertainer that crosses my mind is the major pop star Prince, or what ever he is called now. The city is now booming with even more amazing artists and performances.

Prince did help create a buzz in some of the great music clubs in the city like the First Avenue night club and also the 7th Street Entry. They are located in the same building which of course fall on the street names shared with the clubs themselves. This would a must experience if you are staying in town and love music. The building itself is a historical place because it was once a Greyhound bus station built in 1937. In 1970, a young new business man bought the old station and turned it into the first incarnation of a club called The Depot. The first act to play there was Joe Cocker and his band the Mad Dogs. Not to far from then the club to on life with the disco scene where it took on another name for a while, Uncle Sam’s.

Rock music made its way back into the hot spot and the club name was changed again to First Avenue and it started off big with a New Years Eve bash in 1981. This is when Prince made his appearance. Not only did he perform there he also made the club his set for his popular movie Purple Rain. This night club is were many famous acts got their start such as The Replacements, Soul Asylum, and Husker Du and Lucinda Williams got married on the famous stage after she gave a great performance of her own.

So all one needs a luxurious room. Minneapolis has many great places to stay and many great places to play. For the rock and pop fans the First Avenue Club is a must see. If there are a few nights booked in town than check out some of the other great venues and performances at places like the Minnesota Shubert Performing Arts and Education Center or the Hennepin Center for the Arts

It is well known that Los Angeles is the home of the American film industry, which just celebrated the 82nd Annual Academy Awards Ceremony . It is also well known that the Los Angeles area is home to some of the top professionals in the movie business. These two factors are one of the main reasons so many people visit Los Angeles every year. Of course another major factor is the fact that it is located right on the beach and it has some of the most intriguing beach social aspects in the country. There are many more reasons that Los Angeles is not only popular with tourists, you can click here to find information on the best places to stay, but is also the top choice for many people to live. And it’s not only actors, directors and other industry workers that are relocating to Los Angeles, people from all professional backgrounds gravitate to this western city.

One of the other main reasons people relocate to Los Angeles is its great educational institutions. It is home to the University of California Los Angeles as well as to the University of Southern California. In addition California State University Los Angeles and a number of other universities and educational facilities are in the city or surrounding area.

The University of California Los Angeles, UCLA, is one of the nation’s largest and most esteemed public research universities. The school’s mascot is the Bruins and the colors are blue and gold. They have a number of undergraduate and graduate programs and a variety of varsity sports teams. Their football team is part of the Pacific 10 and is generally considered to be a main rival of the University of California Berkeley Bears. The school’s academic organization is structured into five undergraduate colleges, seven professional schools and five professional health science schools. UCLA continually receives the largest number of applicants in the nation. The school is also one of the major cultural institutions of Los Angeles and has numerous events and performances by top professionals.

Dallas is one of the country’s most interesting cities, and there are millions of visitors every year.  Some come to see friends and family, because it is perhaps one of the friendliest and most amiable places on earth.  Some come here to do business because of Dallas’ thriving industries, where the local charm is merged with a cosmopolitan disposition, making for a smart and lively place to conduct work.  Some come as tourists, looking to discover what Dallas might have to offer.  The results are always good, and there’s a lot to do here for visitors of any age.

Check out the link for lodgings and you’ll be on your way to learning about this interesting place.  There are plenty of things for children here, and lots of nighttime fun for adults, and some places where everyone is welcome and entertained.  One place for visitors of all ages is the Dr Pepper Museum in Waco.  If you’re looking for a museum that’s truly unique, and if you like your nostalgia served up with a bit of self-conscious irony, then this is a place for you.

It’s enormously fascinating, but also quite amusing, too.   The museum isn’t devoted to Dr Pepper on its own, but is about looking at the whole spectrum of soft drinks, and also to celebrate the free market system and teach the principles of this economic method to visitors.  You’ll discover that this drink is actually older than the others, and also that there really is no period in the name.  As for the origin of the name, there are many different stories and theories, but that information is lost to history.  There are plenty of other facts to learn however, and lots of ephemera that will appeal to history buffs and the tragically hip alike, and so many others in between.

We came to London with the idea that we might see ghosts, but instead, we left completely enchanted.  This had nothing to do with our own personal charms, but only due to the lovely ambiance at our hotel.  London is a great place to be if you’re with the one you love.  It’s also a great place for ghosts, however.  A few years ago, I came here for a few weeks to work on a laboratory production of a collaborative piece.  We were developing it around the theme of ghosts and memory.  I remember it was a particularly gloomy winter here, and that made it seem even more perfect for the work we were doing.

It would be a year or so until I met my partner, so I was very much alone, and very deep into the idea of playing the part with as much truth as I could muster.  I saw my character as dark, haunted, angry, and very isolated in a kind of self-imposed exile.  I was really very difficult to be around, even more than now, but I really felt that it was for the good of the role I was playing.  Of course, since this was company-created, I was solely responsible for the role I was creating, and it was all up to me, really.  I still acted as though I were suffering for this, having to give up my usual good nature, which is a nature I have never been comfortable in.  I completely forgot that we were also supposed to be working with ghosts, but no one approached me on this, since I was already deep in my artistic suffering.

We were basing some of the work in Corporeal Mime, and it was a great experience for me, because I could see my own obsessions and thoughts spelling themselves out in extraordinary dimensions.  As the time progressed, I could also see my own boring preoccupations for what they were, and sometime before the opening, I panicked.  I was having a very useful and overdue meltdown, and I thought I could not go on because I was not like the thing I was portraying.  Of course, I was that, along with many other things besides, and that was the door that opened up to an interest in ghosts, and an ability to be enchanted.

We’ve hunkered down to ride out this extremely uncharacteristic winter weather in Seattle. We’ve been here for a week, staying almost exclusively in our luxury hotel in Seattle. We needed to get out, and it looked like it was finally letting up for the weekend. Who would’ve thought that we were actually looking forward to a forecast of rain? The news reporter today, commented we should wave the white flag of surrender to the weather, but that it’s so white outside, the flag would just blend into the background.

Transportation was a complete mess for the whole week! We heard that even the airport ran out of de-icer, the trains and buses cancelled service and road bridges closed. Luckily, our hotel in located downtown, so we didn’t need to worry about all the public transportation woes. It has been stressful all the same, our plans of seeing Seattle has been mostly shot down. But, the weather did let up and it was soon going to rain!

We headed out to the Seattle Center to see the winter wonderland, which we were absolutely sure would still exist, even in the rain. We made there just at sunrise, yes we could actually see the sun peaking through the clouds, and lighting up the snow laden branches; the whole area sparkled! Seattleites made snowmen that seemed to be guarding the silent and still blanketed white lawn. The peacefulness was broken by the spinning tires of a truck stuck in the parking lot. We went over to lend a hand and helped push him out of the rut.

Now that the snow stopped falling, we extended our stay and managed to be even more active then we were used to, must be something about the rare sight of a good snow storm that made Seattle all the more special for us, plus the weather forecast is predicting more snow!

Oklahoma is the state with the most Native American’s living in it. It is now wonder that the state and area names are mostly related to the Indian tribes who have been here for a long time. Oklahoma itself means red people in native tongue. The Ozark Bluff Dwellers are the earliest native people to inhabit the area. They are apart of the Paleo-Indian tribes that lived around 12,000 B.C..The Bluff Dwellers were known to live in caves or under that bluffs along the streams. The were true grazers which kept them moving until they started to realize a more agriculture approach to feeding there people.

At some point the Creek Indians followed the Trail of Tears into Oklahoma from the Alabama area. President Andrew Jackson has the Indian Removal Act of 1813 passed which was to have the Indian tribes moved from the eastern states to the mid west states of mainly Arkansas and Oklahoma. There were five major tribes involved with the move which included the Cherokee, Creek and Seminole who ended up primarily in Fort Gibson which is near the now city of Tulsa. Then there were the Chickasaw and Choctaw tribes that moves into the south part of Oklahoma which was then Fort Towson. The long migration was filled with hunger and disease which created so much sadness for the tribes forced to move. This is were the trails got the name.

Now many travelers search here for fantastic hotels in the state of Oklahoma because of the grand business of oil. In fact, Tulsa is booming because of oil. Some say it is the oil capital of not just the country but the world. It has its cultural attractions like some of the amazing architecture found in buildings like the Boston Building, the Philtower, or the Union Depot. The museums such as the Philbrook and the Gilcrease have some great exhibits to wonder through.

When my best friend became pregnant, one of the things on her mind was maternity clothing.  She was not thrilled at the thought of wearing baggy, un-fashionable clothing.  The other thing that was on her mind was spaghetti, non-stop.  We decided to take a trip to New York, to take care of both of those things at one time.  We planned a tour of Little Italy, to find the best spaghetti and meatballs, and we planned a trip to the fashionable stores in search of fashionable maternity wear.

We have taken these food based tours before, heading to Texas one time to find the best Barbecue, and we went to Boston a different time, in search of the best clam chowder.  For Mexican food, we go to Mexico, and for Italian, we usually go to Italy, but this time we had found a great rate on a room in New York here…newyorkcheaphotel.com so New York it was.  Our first stop was at a store known to be the hippest place for new moms to be, Veronique Maternity.  The prices were a bit steep, but my friend found a few great deals, and with that we headed for our first destination in Little Italy.  We found Il Palazzo, a great little place with a perfect patio, and some very, very good spaghetti.

The next day, we headed to a place our waitress told us about called A Pea in the Pod.  This was my friend’s favorite shops as the styles included everything from low rise jeans and great dresses…I even bought one of the dresses for myself.  That night we found our best spaghetti so far, at Casa Bella Ristorante.  The menu was huge, but we were just in the market for the spaghetti.  I asked for mine to be just a little bit spicy, and it was.  The chef came out to congratulate my friend, and made her a special desert…his grandmother’s recipe he said.  It was a beautiful ending to a very fine trip of shopping and the search for the perfect sauce in Little Italy.

For many people, a chill is a thrill.  This is not a statement about the weather, but a statement regarding the fun that people find, when they find themselves frightened.  Chilling tales are best heard when sitting around a campfire, on a cool autumn night.  I discovered this during one trip I had taken to Boston.  I was not around a campfire, however it was the season of autumn and I had left my Boston hotel room and went to a pub on the corner known for their clam chowder.  As I was waiting for my soup to cool, and old man of about 80 sat down on the bar stool next to me and he began to talk.  This was nothing new to me, from the bars on Coronado Island to the pubs of Soho in London, I talked to old people.

Over the years my friends have questioned this, as from the time I was old enough to get into bars, whom ever is the oldest person in the joint, was the one I ended up sharing stories with, and they for many years, had stories that were so much better than mine.  I have just always been fascinated by the stories people tell, the stories of the life they have experienced, and Jasper–that night in Boston, had some very interesting and chilling stories.  One was of the Boston Gallows.  Jasper’s story began in the 1630’s, in what is now a public park of Beantown .  Many people were hanged there, and he said that if I should take a walk through the part at midnight, they would tell me their tales.  I was not about to do that, at all.  For while this old man was telling tall tales, they were tales he believed, you could see it in his eyes.

I believed the tales too, that night.  He then told me about a time he had visited with the Lady in Black, a woman known to haunt Georges Island in the middle of Boston Harbor.  He said that over the years, the ghost of the woman had garnered a bad reputation, but the night he spoke with her, he just found her sad over the loss of her husband, a soldier of the Civil War.  Ghosts, for Jasper, were not scary entities, they were and are, a glimpse into history, the history of his home town of Boston, and the histories of the human spirit.  As I finished my bowl of soup, I considered all that he had told me, and while I would not be walking home through the Beantown Haunted Park that night, I knew that the next night, I would belly up to that bar, ordering another bowl of clam chowder, and looking for my old friend to return with more of his tall tales.

The forest and the trees analogy can easily be applied to the past and present in New York City.  For people who live here, the past is evident everywhere, and most know some of the multiple histories that make up the people who live in the city, but the specter that haunts is always in the present.  The energy here is very profound, and impossible to avoid, and it’s always based on where the citizens are, right here and right now.  Part of the rawness of the city is its immediacy, and it’s never easy to get over, but there’s probably no reason to try.  Coming here to look at the works of dead artists on the walls of museums has a very important role in how artistic personalities get shaped and nurtured.  But there’s a lot more to it than that.

When we arrived to the boarding desk, the attendant explained that since we’ve been upgraded to Business Class we could have boarded the plane to New York a while ago. We don’t know how we got bumped up, but we didn’t care, because there was free champagne, which I drank, since my husband would be the one driving our car hire in New York City.
 
We planned to sleep on the plane in order to avoid any jet-lag, but Business Class was way too exciting. Our seats turned into fully reclining beds, our meals were served on porcelain plates with real cutlery and real glasses. The hit it off with another couple on the plane, who were heading to New York to visit their family. When we arrived in New York and since we were in Business Class, we were the 2nd people off the plane, well, right after first class. What this meant was a quick trip through security and immigration. We collected our bags, and collected our car hire, a lovely Lexus hybrid.
 
We went on a small tour of Manhattan, before we headed out on to the highway, we were off to upstate New York for a conference. But, while in New York City, we just had to see some of the more interesting points of interest, like driving to Times Square, to Central Park, up Fifth Avenue, down Broadway, over to the Empire State Building and when we found parking, we parked and went to the closest restaurant, which was at Sardi’s!  We didn’t care how expensive it was, we just cared that we managed to get a table without reservations. After a marvelous meal, and a celebrity sighting, Sam Waterston from ‘Law and Order’, he was eating at a table across from us, all by himself! That was thrilling. We couldn’t believe our luck and finding parking, and it’s near a famous restaurant and we got to see a celebrity all within two hours of being in New York.
 
Too bad we couldn’t ride this ‘luck’ wave, because we really did need to be on our way. Maybe on our trip back to the city, our luck will still be with us