In addition, Gonzalez announced the event expects the participation of the general directors from important organizations, such as Margaret Chan from the World Health Organization (WHO) and Mirta Roses of the Pan-American Organization of Health. Likewise, he is counting on the presence of 40 ministers of health from different countries, as well as on the highest level specialists with the ultimate goal to inform the public about everything regarding the Influenza virus (H1N1).

“After a month and nine days of having lifted the warning in countries such as United States and Canada, Cancun has 65% hotel occupancy, only ten points below what we consider normal for this season, in comparison to last year, which represents that the state is recovering its tourism activity following the health crisis,” signaled the Governor.

“The Global Summit will not only position Mexico and Quintana Roo as a safe place for tourist activity, but also will serve as platform to exchange knowledge and information regarding Influenza A (H1N1) virus benefiting people around the worlds,” added Gonzalez.

“Mexico’s immediate reaction, taking control of the epidemic in a matter of a month, and acquired knowledge is proof that the world can only benefit from Mexico’s experience,” said the Minister of Health.

About Cancun

Cancun is located in the northern part of the southeastern Mexican state of Quintana Roo. The island of Cancun is in the shape of a “7” and is bordered to the north by the Bahia de Mujeres; to the east by the Caribbean Sea; and to the west by the Nichupte Lagoon. Cancun is Mexico’s largest tourist destination and boasts 146 hotels with a total of 28,808 rooms.
Opportunities for new experiences abound in Cancun, which offers visitors an ideal setting for interacting with nature and discovering Mayan culture.

Cancun Convention and Visitors Bureau www.cancun.travel

For international stories: For travel in the United States visit In The Know Traveler USA

For USA stories: For travel around the world visit In The Know Traveler

Advertisement: Wayfarer Digital Productions Travel promotions for HDTV, TV, and Podcast production and pro travel writing.

10. For your body. Walking is proven to rejigger cholesterol levels and mood, in a good way. So says the Mayo Clinic.

9. For your soul. They say you can get an “indulgence” for making this pilgrimage. I’m not promising time off from purgatory, but I’m just saying.

8. For the food. Including those little green peppers that drive Calvin Trillin wild with desire. They’re called pimientos de Padrón and we’ll be eating them at the source.

7. For the drink. There are delicate ciders for starters, and minerally white wines, and then there’s la queimada, one crazy firewater.

6. For The Girls. 5% of your Camino trip fee goes to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation® - they’re dedicated to preventing breast cancer and finding a cure in our lifetime.

5. For some magic. The mystical relics of St. James lie in Santiago de Compostela. But the Gallegos believe in hadas, woodland fairies who work magic along the route.

4. To follow in famous footsteps. St. Francis of Assisi, Shirley Maclain, Javier Bardem and Scarlett Johansson. What more do you want for company?

3. To be a scout. Though we’ve been planning this thing for almost a year, I’ll admit it straight out: this is an experiment for us, an exploration, an adventure.

2. To save some dough. A once-in-a-business-plan chance to take a tour priced for the fun of it, not for the profits.

1. All this will never be easier. A great trip: walking and eating, country inns, a friendly guide (that’s me). And the planning? Done. All you have to do is book a plane ticket and meet us there!

WALKING & EATING
On the Camino de Santiago
September 20-27, 2009
$1950 per person, double occupancy

I parked in a new multi-storey car park in Brindley Place and headed towards the centre of town. I was immediately impressed by the buildings, the cafes, and the cleanliness of the canals by the National Indoor Arena, with its roundabout for canal barges. I also had to smile at the presence of a National Sea Life centre in central England.

I walked along Broad Street, past Symphony Hall and the Birmingham Rep. The monument to Watt, Boulton, and Murdock flared on the opposite side of the street .The three figures are bronze with a gold finish that requires sunglasses to look at. These men were at the forefront of the technological revolution that made Birmingham a world leader in manufacturing in the 19^th Century. Heading through the central library, I emerged in Chamberlain Square, where an artificial beach had been set up. Women wearing burqas were sitting on deckchairs as their kids made sandcastles or watched the giant TV screen by the Victorian Town Hall.

New Street had been pedestrianised and was full of people eating at the cafes and enjoying the sunshine. This street used to be full of traffic with the buildings showing the effects of the air pollution.

At the junction with High Street, the Bull Ring rotunda has been retained as a symbol of modernism and to my mind, a reminder of how depressing this area of the city used to be. Heading towards Moor Street station the old indoor shopping precinct has gone. I turned right and saw what I had come to see. The distinctive round silver decorations of the new Selfridges headed up towards the bright blue sky. There are 15,000 of these aluminium discs bolted to the skin of the building and they are designed to reflect the sunlight. To some people this building is The Blob or the Digbeth Dalek. To me it is a bold design that flows in vertical waves around the west, south, and east sides of the city block. The wall sweeps upwards from the ground, tapers in slightly and then curves outwards again near the top.

Julian has written articles on Middle Eastern and European architecture for the US magazine Skipping Stones. He has written travel articles that were published in The Toronto Globe and Mail, Fate Magazine, National Catholic Register, and Northwest Travel. Julian has also written articles for the In The Know Traveler, Go Nomad, InTravelmag, and Go World Travel websites. He has also taken many photographs that have appeared in travel guides by National Geographic, Thomas Cook and The Rough Guides. Examples of his work can be found at http://www.photographersdirect.com/sellers/details.asp?portfolio=13734

Advertisement: Wayfarer Digital Productions Travel promotions for HDTV, TV, and Podcast production and pro travel writing.

A life-size 59 feet high Gundam statue, was created for the 30th anniversary of the first TV series in 1979. The Green Tokyo Gundam Project Committee, the organization to promote eco-friendly urban planning in Tokyo, decided to display this giant robot. The robot can move over 50 body parts as well as eject light beams and mist as in the TV series.

During the last three decades, Gundam has been a hot character in Japanese retail markets, drawing attention from pop-culture, fashion and contemporary art enthusiasts worldwide. Nippon Travel Agency (NTA), a Japanese tour operator, is selling the Green Tokyo Gundam Project tour available from July 10 through August 31, 2009. The tour offers hotel rooms with the best view of this Gundam statue, elaborate Gundam models, and other commemorative items. Go to www.ntainbound.com/index.asp for more information.

The Gundam statue can also be viewed from boats in the Tokyo Bay. Harumiya, a Tokyo Bay cruise service, runs a special 2.5 hour cruise with the Japanese traditional boat Yakata-Bune. The cruise includes Japanese dinner, drinks, and the great view of Gundam from the waterfront. For reservation, go to www.harumiya.co.jp (Japanese only).

Gundam is also popular in the fashion world. A Japanese casual apparel retailer UNIQLO has produced commemorative Gundam tee-shirts with eight different designs. UNIQLO’s creative and artistic tee-shirt collections are already known in the US, and this is the collaboration of Japanese designs and products that are recognized worldwide. For more information, go to
www.ut.uniqlo.com/gundam09 (Japanese only).

For international stories: For travel in the United States visit In The Know Traveler USA

For USA stories: For travel around the world visit In The Know Traveler

Safari specialist Aardvark Safaris, arranges vacations throughout Southern and East Africa, including Kilimanjaro climbs in Tanzania.

“Success rate for clients reaching the 19,340 Uhuru ft peak is currently 98% and the secret is to choose the right climbing operator,” says Aardvark co-director John Spence. “You get what you pay for in terms of professionalism and equipment. We recommend for anyone who is in good physical health and wants to rise to the challenge of climbing Kilimanjaro to look closely at the differences between a good climbing operator and a bad one.”

A professional climbing operation will offer:

· Good quality equipment and in good condition

· A low climber to guide ratio

· Fully trained, experienced and knowledgeable guides

· Choosing the right route (shorter trips mean less time to acclimatize on the mountain thus reducing success rate to more like 60%+)

· 24-hour emergency ground support for clients and crew

· Climbers, guides and porters all have the same provision for emergency evacuation off the mountain

· Porters’ loads are always within the limit set out for Kilimanjaro porters by Tanzania National Parks

· Strong ethical commitment; all crews are well cared for and properly equipped at all times and the porters are well paid

· Environmental responsibility; all rubbish is removed, and no harm is done to the mountain or its resources
The cost (exclusive of international flights) based on two people sharing a luxury specification tent on a Machame Route small group climb is from $3,650 per person to include all accommodation, tents and camping equipment, guiding and meals.

Best time of year to climb
The warmest months with the clearest trekking days, are from mid to late December, January, February, September and October. The rains often come in April and the start of May with the possibility of some snow.
June through to August are superb trekking months, though evening temperatures tend to be colder. The wettest months, are November and early December, where snow falls are likely. Note however, that as this is a mountain it is not impossible to get sporadic snow or rainfall at odd times throughout the year.

For more information or photos please contact John Spence or Victoria Langmead on Toll Free on 1 888 776-0888.www.aardvarksafaris.com.

For international stories: For travel in the United States visit In The Know Traveler USA

For USA stories: For travel around the world visit In The Know Traveler

The Kingdom of Thailand has for decades been the destination of choice for Asian golfers, thanks to its stellar courses, superb year-round climate and welcoming culture. By banding together to form ‘Golf in a Kingdom: The Thai Golf Experience’ (www.golfinakingdom.com), these courses and hotels mean to cement a place for Thailand alongside the world’s premier golf destinations.

“I think golfers in North America have an inkling that golf is played in Thailand; Europeans have slightly more of an inkling, but I don’t think golfers on either continent fully realize that this is a country with more than 250 courses, many of them as good as you’ll find anywhere in the world,” said Mark Siegel, president of Bangkok-based tour operator Golfasian.

The Tourist Authority of Thailand (TAT) has partnered with eight premium golf properties, Golfasian and six of the country’s premier hotels to form ‘Golf in a Kingdom: The Thai Golf Experience’.

The cooperative effort has been in the planning since 2007, but its launch this month is timely. According to TAT, some 3.2 million visitors arrived in Thailand the first quarter of 2009 — a 19 percent decrease from the previous year. It’s unclear whether this drop is attributable to the peaceful-but-ongoing political disquiet in Thailand or the worldwide economic slump.

“I live here and the reality is, the political issues in Thailand haven’t had any effect on the day-to-day lives of citizens or tourists — but the economic slowdown has surely affected tourists: prices have dropped across the board,” Siegel asserted. “I don’t think there’s ever been a more economical time to visit here. That’s not hype; it’s a fact. Launching ‘Golf in a Kingdom’ now has allowed us to offer value we could not have offered in 2008.”

In May 2009, a CNN International tourism poll asserted that Thailand, among first-world nations, represents the best value for travelers in the entire Asia Pacific region. Conducted across CNN English websites, the survey had more than 5,000 respondents globally.

“The world gets a bit smaller every day,” Siegel continued. “We hope to shrink it just enough with ‘Golf in a Kingdom’ to give North American and European golfers a taste of Thai culture and hospitality, because one visit is normally all it takes. The number of golfers who try Thailand then return for a second and third helping is pretty extraordinary.”

From the mystical hill country of Chiang Rai in the northwest corner to the breathtaking beaches of Koh Samui in the Gulf of Thailand, ‘Golf in a Kingdom: The Thai Golf Experience’ takes in some of the most lush and varied terrain on the planet. That sort of real estate — linked by Thailand’s enviably modern transportation infrastructure — translates into the Kingdom’s stunning golf properties, including:

* Banyan Golf Club, a new hillside course just outside the charming coastal town of Hua Hin, preferred holiday retreat of the Thai Royal Family for almost a century.

* Chiang Mai Highlands Golf & Spa Resort, an inventive Schmidt/Curley design 1,000 feet above sea level in the cool, northern region.

* Muang Kaew Golf Club, the closest course to bustling Bangkok, with sterling greens and a par 3 that looks eerily similar to the 12th at Augusta National.

* Santiburi Chiang Rai Country Club, where Robert Trent Jones II crafted 18 dramatic holes that either skirt a chain of lakes or flow over the low hills of Bang Bor.

* Santiburi Samui Country Club, site of the newest Asian Tour event, the Queen’s Cup, and traversing a jungle of towering coconut trees at the foot of Khao Pom Mountain.

* Siam Country Club, Plantation Course, this 27-hole Schmidt-Curley design played host to the 2009 Honda LPGA Thailand just two years after opening

* Siam Country Club, Old Course, always immaculately maintained, it hosted the 2007 Honda LPGA event and features perhaps the toughest closing stretch in the country.

* Thai Country Club, site of Tiger Woods’s 1997 Asia Honda Classic victory and the ‘Best Championship Course in Asia’, as voted by Asian Golf Monthly readers in 2008.

Thailand also harbors the Asia’s newest and broadest collection of 5-star accommodations — at prices North Americans and Europeans may not believe at first. ‘Golf in a Kingdom’ embraces that development by bridging rounds of golf with nights at posh, brand-name resorts, including:

* Anantara Phuket, a collection of 83 private pool villas set within indigenous gardens of jasmine, orchids and birds of paradise.Conde Nast Traveller magazine just named this property to its coveted worldwide “Hot List” for 2009.

* Bangkok Marriott Resort & Spa, located across the Chao Phraya River from the city center but with all the tranquility and kick-back appeal a traveler could wish for in an urban setting.

* Anantara Golden Triangle, a luxury nature retreat set amid 160 acres of tropical jungle, all of it hewing to the winding MekongRiver and a border dividing three countries.

* Anantara Hua Hin, nestled in 14 acres of luxuriant tropical gardens along the white sand beaches on the Gulf of Thailand.

* Anantara Koh Samui, serenely perched above a quiet stretch of sand, and just steps from the shimmering waters that lap SamuiIsland.

* Hua Hin Marriott Resort & Spa, whose architecture combines space, color and natural light with traditional Thai design themes to create a sense of harmony and grandeur.

“The beauty of this marked shift toward high-quality lodging, which has been taking place here for 20 years actually, is that Thailandremains affordable,” said Boyd Barker, Hua Hin Marriott’s general manager. “If there’s a positive to the hit tourism has taken here, of late, it’s that prices reflect this drop in demand. There’s no better place to go on holiday, and there’s no better time than right now.”

The attraction extends beyond golf and resorts. Never colonized by foreign powers and known as Siam until 1939, Thailand remains a constitutional monarchy. But during the past half century it has managed to seamlessly blend Western influences and Buddhist beliefs, producing a first-world destination with an Old World feel.

Six distinct geographical regions — ranging from 8,000-foot-high mountains in the north to a maze of limestone islands rising out of theAndaman Sea in the south — only add to the country’s diverse allure.

“Of all the countries in Southeast Asia, Thailand provides the greatest value,” said Santi Chudintra, Director of TAT Los Angeles. “The people are welcoming, the culture is unique and the scenery is spectacular. Thai food, which everyone wants to talk about, is just a small part of the menu.”

For international stories: For travel in the United States visit In The Know Traveler USA

For USA stories: For travel around the world visit In The Know Traveler

CampWatapana
Children ages 3 through 12 can explore nature and experience myriad aspects of Aruba at Hyatt Regency Aruba’s CampHyatt program, Camp Watapana. Recently enhanced through a partnership between Hyatt Hotels & Resorts and National Geographic Kids, the resort’s CampHyatt program offers fun-filled activities to expose kids to the natural and cultural wonders of the fascinating island – under the watchful supervision of trained camp counselors.

Young guests can enjoy a full day of Aruba-focused activities at Camp Watapana, now including lessons in Papiamento, the local Aruban language; Aruba-inspired scavenger hunts across the resort grounds; coconut painting on the resort playground; story time with Aruban tales; nature trail walks and waterslide races; sea shell hunting on the beach and much more.

Aruban Family Ambassador
To help ensure families get the most out of their culturally-inspired stay, guests need only contact Hyatt Regency Aruba’s “Family Ambassador,” Coral, prior to their visit. Coral has lived in Aruba for over 20 years and has an unmatched talent for arranging age-appropriate pursuits for young guests, such as Island tours, snorkeling excursions or the island’s latest offering, “Tom Car” rides. Let Coral assure your children start off on the right foot in their discovery of Aruba – and continue to step lively throughout their stay. Guests can contact Coral at: adventure.concierge@hyatt.com anytime prior to or during their visit, to answer family-related questions or seek out insider experiences.

Hyatt Regency Aruba’s NEW Summer Sale Promotion offers 30% off the resort’s best available rate, with no minimum length of stay required. The offer is valid from July 1 to September 30, 2009.

Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort & Casino will continue to promote additional aspects of the Aruban culture through the next three chapters of their newly-launched story: Aruban Music, Aruban Cuisine and Ultimate Aruba. The next chapter, Aruban Music, will focus on local Aruban bands, music and dance.

Rooms at Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort & Casino start at about $315 in summer, based on double occupancy. Call 1-800-55-HYATT or visit www.aruba.hyatt.com

For additional information, please contact Greta Peters, Hawkins International PR at (212) 255-6541 or greta@hawkpr.com.

About Hyatt Regency
Aruba Resort & Casino
Located on 12 acres of magnificent beachfront property on Aruba’s world-renowned Palm Beach, Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort & Casino is a year-round resort with a reputation for refined hospitality. Its 360 sumptuous guestrooms and suites offer garden or ocean views with deluxe amenities. Recreational facilities are abundant and include a 3-level pool complex, a spa with fitness center, tennis and basketball courts, a private beach, Aruba’s first championship golf course, Camp Hyatt for kids and the Casino Copa Cabana. On-site dining includes Ruinas del Mar restaurant, Café Piccolo, Café Japengo and the Palms Bar & Grill. Nine meeting rooms and extensive outdoor areas are ideal for catered special events. The resort is conveniently located just 15 minutes from QueenBeatrixInternationalAirport.

About Global Hyatt Corporation
Global Hyatt Corporation, headquartered in Chicago, is one of the world’s premier hotel companies. The hotels owned, operated, managed or franchised by its subsidiaries provide authentic hospitality to guests in 45 countries through a passionate commitment to personalized service, cultural relevance, and the environment. Global Hyatt subsidiaries own, operate, manage or franchise more than 365 hotels and resorts worldwide under the Hyatt®, Hyatt Regency®, Hyatt Resorts™, Grand Hyatt®, Park Hyatt®, Hyatt Place®, Hyatt Summerfield Suites® and Andaz™ brands with additional properties under development on five continents. Global Hyatt Corporation is also the owner of Hyatt Vacation Ownership, Inc., operator of Hyatt Vacation Club®. The success of Global Hyatt is driven by the commitment and energy of the thousands of men and women around the world who provide exceptional service to hotel guests. From the U.S. and Canada, reservations for any Hyatt hotel worldwide may be obtained by calling 1-800-233-1234 or visiting www.hyatt.com

For international stories: For travel in the United States visit In The Know Traveler USA

For USA stories: For travel around the world visit In The Know Traveler

Advertisement: Wayfarer Digital Productions Travel promotions for HDTV, TV, and Podcast production and pro travel writing.

This area, about a hectare in size, is similar in appearance to a limestone pavement and is scored by parallel channels up to 20 inches deep and 8 inches wide, with another 8 inches separating the two channels. These ruts run mostly in straight lines in no particular direction, though there are places where one set of ruts branches off from another, like a set of railway points. There are many ideas about what created these ruts. One theory is that a contraption, similar to the travois of the North American Indians, wore them away, though this is difficult to reconcile with the shape of the ruts, which to the hand feel smooth and rounded at their base, more consistent with wheels wearing away the rock. If travois were used, what heavy weight was transported on a regular enough basis, along the same path, to wear away the ruts so deeply and why was it being moved by the people of the time?

Large stones, salt and topsoil have all been postulated as the cargo. The stones might have been the ones used to build the megalithic temples found over the islands and therefore would have had the weight necessary to scrape such channels in the rock, though it is difficult to imagine stones weighing 50 tons being transported on a frame. Salt wouldn’t have been needed in such quantities to warrant it being transported in the amounts required to create the ruts. Topsoil is a distinct possibility as the ruts do conform to the patterns of the island’s oldest settlements. This would mean the topsoil was transported from the coast, which seems unlikely due to the exposed nature of the clifftops and the friable nature of the rock, which wouldn’t support good quality topsoil. However, the coastline may have changed since the ruts were created, the land having fallen away dramatically due to seismic activity. This idea is supported by the fact that in other parts of the country, some ruts disappear into the sea on one side of a bay and reappear on the other side. Those under the sea tend to be deeper than the ones on the land, they go on for longer in a straight line and stand proud of the seabed in places.

Julian has written articles on Middle Eastern and European architecture for the US magazine Skipping Stones. He has written travel articles that were published in The Toronto Globe and Mail, Fate Magazine, National Catholic Register, and Northwest Travel. Julian has also written articles for the In The Know Traveler, Go Nomad, InTravelmag, and Go World Travel websites. He has also taken many photographs that have appeared in travel guides by National Geographic, Thomas Cook and The Rough Guides. Examples of his work can be found at http://www.photographersdirect.com/sellers/details.asp?portfolio=13734

Advertisement: Wayfarer Digital Productions Travel promotions for HDTV, TV, and Podcast production and pro travel writing.

At first view from the lakeside the castle appeared to be more than the official 500 metres away across the lake. However, I was soon distracted by sail boats, people thrashing about in small green rowing boats and picnickers by the path. There were vendors selling amber jewellery, ice creams, and postcards.

Inside the castle there are many exhibitions to see, most of them in the keep. In the large courtyard people were taking photos of each other in the stocks and inside a rusty iron cage. The keep exhibits evoked what life would have been like in the medieval castle and also showed traditional Lithuanian garb. The most interesting piece was the interactive exhibit which showed how the castle evolved over the centuries and how little of it was left before restoration began - probably only 10% of the original castle remained. The castle is the most visited site in Lithuania and on summer weekends can attract as many as 10,000 people. These visitors not only benefit Trakai they also subsidise other places that aren’t as well visited because Lithuania’s museums are run as a whole entity. This helps places such as the Ciurlionis Museum in Druskininkai, which has 50 customers on its best day and sometimes none for days in the winter.

Julian has written articles on Middle Eastern and European architecture for the US magazine Skipping Stones. He has written travel articles that were published in The Toronto Globe and Mail, Fate Magazine, National Catholic Register, and Northwest Travel. Julian has also written articles for the In The Know Traveler, Go Nomad, InTravelmag, and Go World Travel websites. He has also taken many photographs that have appeared in travel guides by National Geographic, Thomas Cook and The Rough Guides. Examples of his work can be found at http://www.photographersdirect.com/sellers/details.asp?portfolio=13734

Advertisement: Wayfarer Digital Productions Travel promotions for HDTV, TV, and Podcast production and pro travel writing.

Why Crayfish and When Are the Parties?

The tradition of arranging a party dedicated to feasting on boiled crayfish originates from Swedish and Russian high society, who at the beginning of the 20th century indulged in the abundantly available crayfish when visiting Finnish resorts. Later, crayfishing season was limited to a couple of months to prevent over-fishing which led to the development of crayfish as a sought-after delicacy.

Crayfish parties are usually held in August or September to mark the end of summer. The relaxed and cheerful atmosphere at the dinners is enhanced by drinking songs and schnapps. Schnapps songs often have humorous contemporary lyrics that appear to be about anything and everything - from appreciation of the magnificent crayfish to the beauty of Finnish women.

How to Eat Crayfish

When eating crayfish, strict table manners are set aside. Only a small portion of the body of a crayfish is edible, so sucking and slurping is encouraged to fully enjoy the tasty meat and juices found inside the crayfish. Eating is done with one’s bare hands with the help of only a small knife for breaking the hard crayfish shell and claws. To protect clothing, it is advisable to tuck a napkin into collars or necklines or to wear a crayfish bib.

The decorations duplicate the theme color: brilliant red. The party may be set up outdoors or in gardens, patios or balconies, lit by candlelight and colorful lanterns. The aromatic herb crown dill is an important decoration that can also be tasted in many of the dishes. Chanterelle soup, potato salad, herring, and smoked fish are seasonal delicacies typically served with the crayfish.
CATCH YOUR OWN DINNER OR JUST SIT DOWN TO A SUMPTUOUS MEAL

Night-Time Crayfish-Catching

Consider an after-hours catching adventure. With the currently plentiful stock of crayfish, you may catch a full meal in just a few hours.

Country holiday destinations organize crayfishing trips, with dinner prepared from your own catch. For information, contact Uotila Villas and Holiday Cottages, www.uotilanlomamokit.com and Villa Hepolahti, www.villahepolahti.com.

Crayfish featured on Finnish restaurants from end of July to beginning of September

Many restaurants ask customers to pre-order their crayfish dinner a day or two in advance.

The most popular crayfish restaurant in Finland is the idyllic villa NJK in Helsinki which serves over 30 000 crayfish each year. NJK is located on the small Valkosaari Island and is a 3-minute ferry ride from the Helsinki city center.

Restaurant NJK, www.royalravintolat.com/njk

Restaurant Sipuli in Helsinki will be hosting a special Crayfish Festival on August 26 – 28, 2009. You can also enjoy your crayfish to live jazz music on August 20th and 27th at Kulosaaren Casino.

Kulosaaren Casino, www.royalravintolat.com/kulosaari

Restaurant Sipuli, www.royalravintolat.com/sipuli

Ranked number 12 on the 2009 list of ”The 50 Best Restaurants in Finland,” Restaurant Näsinneula in Tampere serves crayfish on top of the highest observation tower in the Nordic countries with a marvelous view of Lake Näsi.

Restaurant Näsinneula, www.sarkanniemi.fi/www/ravintola

Restaurant Rocca, located by the River Aura in Turku, serves gourmet crayfish meals as well as traditional boiled crayfish during the season.

Restaurant Rocca, www.rocca.fi

For more information about visiting Finland

Visit Finland www.visitfinland.com

Visit Finland image bank www.imagebank.visitfinland.com

For international stories: For travel in the United States visit In The Know Traveler USA

For USA stories: For travel around the world visit In The Know Traveler