City review of Atlanta, GA

03 July 2011

One of the most important business hubs in America, Atlanta is the ninth largest metropolitan area in the whole of the US.  Companies such as Coca-Cola, UPS and Delta Air Lines have their World Headquarters situated there and subsequently the city has evolved around its corporate cliental.

That’s not to say there isn’t plenty for the general tourist to appreciate and find welcoming.  Quite the opposite, in fact the need for major businesses to have good transport links, makes Atlanta an easy city to get around.  It also means that the range of restaurants, bars and cafés provide ample choice for all tastes.

A must for any visitor is a trip to the Fox Theatre.  This is one of the biggest grossing theatres in the world and is something of an historic landmark.  There are also the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, the Ballet and many Choirs.  Certainly there’s lots of choice for classical music lovers.

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Manhattan Sky Tour New York Helicopter Flight

11 June 2011

To get a really perfect view of New York a Manhattan Sky Tour helicopter trip is simply out of this world. On arrival at the heliport passengers are greeted by a team of friendly professionals who will take them for a helicopter tour right over this amazing city. The tour lasts around 12 exhilarating minutes with a bird’s eye view of the New York skyline as the chopper soars above the most famous landmarks in the world.

From start to finish this tour has the safety of all the passengers very much at the fore front of the every tour they organise. Their friendly team shows a safety video in the hangar prior to take off to ensure that everyone is put at ease before they get on board for the ride of their lives.

The experienced pilot knows every landmark that he flies passed so passengers can get their cameras out and ready for some great shots as they fly over them. This helicopter tour is a must for any visitor to New York as it offers them a once in a life time opportunity of not only taking photos of the Manhattan skyline but it’s also a great way of learning some of the history of this great Metropolis.

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City review of Lake Havasu City

04 June 2011

The state of Arizona hosts a variety of cities with good tourist attractions.  Lake Havasu City is one of the most popular, and is the largest city in Mohave County.  A former World War II Army Air Corps rest camp, the city was established in 1963 as a planned community, and currently has a population of around 53,000 inhabitants.

Lake Havasu itself was created in 1938 when Parker Dam was built in the Colorado River.  This followed the creation of our significant lakes such as Lake Mohave (at David Dam) and Lake Mead (at Hoover Dam).  Of all of these lakes on the Colorado River, Lake Havasu currently has the highest levels of nitrate and uranium.

The city gain world wide exposure in 1968, when it purchased London Bridge from the City of London for $2.5 million.  Over the course of three years, the bridge was taken apart piece by piece and reassembled on the opposite side of the Atlantic from where it originated.  The whole operation cast a further $7 million and since it’s opening in 1971, has become a major tourist attraction.

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City review of Albuquerque, NM

26 May 2011

Bugs Bunny often commented that he "should have taken that left turn at Albuquerque", if he had have stayed there instead, he wouldn’t have kept bumping into Elmer Thud that’s for sure.  He would have also experienced the largest city in New Mexico.

At the turn of the 20th century, Albuquerque thrived and prospered and the town boasted many modern amenities, such as an electric street railway.  This provided the 8,000 inhabitants with good access across the city and some of the buildings from this era still survive.

The popularity of Route 66 brought many travellers to the area and a growth in motels and restaurants followed.  The path of Route 66 changed slightly in 1937, however there are now brown, historical highway markers placed along the pre-1937 route, so those of you with an interest in motoring from that era can follow the original roads.

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Top of the Rock Observation Deck, New York

09 February 2011

The Top of the Rock Observation Deck in New York really is just that “Top of the Rock”! The panoramic views of Manhattan cannot be seen like this from anywhere else in New York.  Standing on the 70th floor of the Rockefeller Plaza the Top of the Rock Observation Deck gives the visitor an uninterrupted view of all the major sites of New York.  If you want to see man made landmarks in all of New York’s glory from the Chrysler Building to Times Square and the Statue of Liberty then Top of the Rock is the place to go.

The Observation deck is open 365 days a year from 8 am until midnight, even if you have visited during the day before the night time is a completely new experience.  The illuminations of the surrounding landmarks really come to life and cast a vibrant glow over the whole city, giving it clarity and a sense of surrealism.   Take as many pictures as you like but they will never express the feeling that you get when actually standing on the Top of the Rock personally.

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City review of Baltimore, MD

03 February 2011

Baltimore is located in the state of Maryland and it is an independent city that is the largest of its kind in the United States. Many people have overlooked Baltimore and not consider it as a place to spend part of a holiday. However after reading a city review of Baltimore, MD you may very well change your mind as there is a surprising amount of things to see and do in this exciting city.

Firstly there is an abundance of museums in Baltimore and this is something that many people are surprised to learn. The Antique Toy Museum is a must for any toy fans and fans of baseball will be keen to visit the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Memorial. In fact with well over 30 museums in the area it is easy to see why Baltimore is a favoured place for people who like to visit these attractions.

Baltimore is also home to the National Aquarium that has in excess of 650 different species of animals. It has plenty of attractions inside to keep even the busiest of children occupied and its multiple story shark tank is absolutely amazing to see. In 2006 Coastal Living voted the National Aquarium as the number one aquarium in the United States.

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City Review of Anchorage, AK

21 January 2011

The city of Anchorage is nestled amongst the snow capped mountains and forests of Alaska, rich in culture, wildlife and friendly greetings it is a place to be welcomed and explored.   The cosmopolitan city of Anchorage has no shortage of culture which you can see expressed through its music, dance and art in many of the cafes and restaurants dotted around the city.  With the city sitting on the edge of the coast and the abundance of marine life available, it is no wonder that you can find some fabulous seafood restaurants in Anchorage.

If wildlife and outdoor pursuits is your thing then you will be excited to get out into the wilderness to experience this breath taking scenery first hand.  You can literally lose yourself in the beauty of the fjords, glaciers and waterfalls of the small bays on the outskirts of the city. The array of different wildlife; from fish catching bears, bounding deer to the occasional whales tail  or dolphin breaking the surface of the still waters, will seem like time has stood still in Anchorage.

There are various tribes of natives that live across Alaska but they only make up about 16% of the population.  The cold climate of has taught them excellent survival skills and they have learnt over the years to live of the land even in the world worst extremities.  You can see an array of culture and heritage in the Anchorage Museum and the Alaska Native Heritage Centre.  There is a mix of Russian and native history in the Museums’ with a strong sense of the indigenous natives coming through in the art work on display.

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A review of Shopping in Orchard Road in Singapore

14 December 2010

Singapore is a world shopping hub, with thousands upon thousands of visitors flocking to the country every year to make the most of the bargains and masses of shopping malls and store. The most famous shopping area is Orchard Road.

This review of shopping in Orchard Road, Singapore is designed to help you get the best out of your trip to the "must see" area of the island.

This well-known road was not much until the 1970’s, when the first malls began to open as the housing began to extend out, increasing the population and popularity of the district.

Prior to this, in the 1840s the road was lined with various types of orchards including nutmeg and pepper orchards, hence the name Orchard Road.

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A Short Review of Los Angeles, CA

08 December 2010

Choosing whether a place is your cup of tea before you’ve seen it can be tough, so here is a short review of Los Angeles, CA, to help you decide if it’s for you.

LA has got to be one of the trendiest cities in the world, set in the beautiful state of California in the US. It’s packed border to border with daydreamers in search of their big break, since it’s home to the world’s most famous neighbourhood -- Hollywood.

And it doesn’t end there. It also houses the wonderfully wealthy neighbourhood’s of Beverly Hills where many of the Hollywood celebs have made over sized mansions their homes, and Bel Air, the famous set of the Fresh Prince.

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City Review of Burlington, VT

04 October 2010

One of the smallest cities in America to make up the largest metropolitan area of a state, Burlington, Vermont is unique in many different ways - none of the least of which is its small size for a city. As of the 2000 census, Burlington had less than 40,000 residents, and that number isn’t expected to have increased much over the past decade.

Burlington is a little larger when speaking of the entire Burlington-South Burlington metro area and not simply the city itself. With the counties of Franklin, Grand Isle and Chittenden lending to the overall area, Burlington plays host to about 200,000 permanent residents in northwest Vermont.

 In 1763, when much of America was still being colonized and the northeast was definitely in its infancy, Governor Benning Wentworth awarded 64 New Hampshire grants, Burlington was included. The coming revolution delayed immediate settlement, but a small town was organized in Burlington by 1785.

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City Review of Bridgeport, CT

30 September 2010

Although it’s a relatively unheralded destination on the world scale, Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA, is one of the most historic and most populated cities in the country. Bridgeport is the core of the Greater Bridgeport area, and is also part of the New York statistical area which includes all five boroughs and even parts of New England.

Unlike many other vacation destinations and famous cities in the United States, Bridgeport doesn’t bring in gamblers, those looking for entertainment, or even really the honeymooner crowd. Bridgeport offers more history than anything, and with famous people like circus promoter P.T. Barnum to its credit, Bridgeport is steeped in the historic.

When Bridgeport was first inhabited, most of its residents were either farmers or fishermen. Its proximity to water and mass of fertile soil made this area very appealing to settlers hoping to carve out their respective niche in the American landscape.

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